"A habit must be established before it can be improved."

Establishing a habit before you can improve it is a bit like laying the foundation of a house. You can't start decorating or tweaking the details until there's a solid structure in place. The idea is that without a consistent routine, there's nothing to build upon or refine.

Think back to when this was first said—it's often attributed to James Clear in his book, "Atomic Habits." He emphasizes that the first step in making any kind of meaningful change is to make sure the behavior is a regular part of your life. Only once it's a habit can you begin to make it better.

Imagine trying to exercise more. You can't start by aiming to run a marathon. First, you need to establish the habit of running. So, you begin with the basics—maybe just putting on your running shoes and getting out the door every morning. It doesn't matter if you only walk around the block at first. What matters is that you do it every day. Once that becomes a part of your routine, you can start to improve. Maybe you add a bit more distance, or you start timing yourself. But the improvement comes later; the habit comes first.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start small. Focus on consistency rather than perfection. Got a big goal? Break it down into the smallest possible steps and commit to doing those steps every day. Want to write a book? Start with writing for just five minutes a day. Sounds almost too simple, right? But that's the trick. You’re more likely to stick with it if it’s part of your daily routine.

Let me tell you a story. There's this guy, let’s call him Mike, who wanted to get fit. He was out of shape and had tried tons of workout plans, but nothing stuck. This time, he decided to do things differently. For the first month, all he did was go to the gym and do just one exercise every day. Sometimes it was a few push-ups, sometimes it was lifting weights, but he went every single day without fail. By the end of the month, going to the gym was just part of his daily routine. Then he started adding more exercises, tweaking his diet, and gradually, he got into the best shape of his life.

The key takeaway? Think small and be consistent. If you want to start reading more, don’t aim to finish a book a week. Just read one page a day. If you want to learn a new language, don't try to master it overnight. Start with one new word a day. Consistency is what transforms actions into habits.

Remember, nobody becomes a master overnight. Habits are built slowly, brick by brick. And once the habit is there, you can start adjusting, refining, and improving. It’s all about laying that foundation first. So, next time you’re setting a goal, think about the smallest, most manageable step you can take to make it a daily habit. That’s your starting point. The improvements will come naturally as you go along.