Why the Myth of a Big Leap is a Lie

The Question: "Can one coin make a person rich?"

The Answer: "No."

This is known as the Sorites Paradox. If you give someone a pile of ten coins, you wouldn't call them rich. But what if you add another coin? And another? At what precise point does the person become "rich"?

Many of us live under the false impression that progress comes from big, breakthrough moments. The reality is that, in the vast majority of cases, progress comes from relentlessly working towards something, showing up each day, improving by 1% daily, and along the way learning countless ways that do not work.

At the core of lean production lies a Japanese philosophy called Kaizen, meaning "change for the better" or "continuous improvement". It focuses on making small, incremental, and daily improvements to processes.

Building a structured, systematic pattern of scientific thinking on this philosophy catapulted Toyota from an inefficient manufacturer struggling in post-WWII Japan to a global leadership position. This unprecedented growth came down to a shift in mindset, and creating a culture in which every employee was empowered and expected to identify waste and suggest small, daily improvements.

Similarly to manufacturing, progress in yoga rarely comes from forcing a dramatic breakthrough. It comes from showing up for a steady practice, and building focus and presence, strength and flexibility, bit by bit.

"Do your practice and all is coming." - Sri K Patthabi Jois, the Father of Ashtanga Yoga

Sri K Patthabi Jois, the Father of Ashtanga Yoga emphasised the importance of consistency in yoga practice, teaching that daily, or near-daily, practice is more important than achieving a "perfect" shape.

Process Over Performance

The bestselling book Atomic Habits by James Clear is built on the same idea: achieving big results through tiny adjustments.

An example he quotes is that of the British Cycling Team, led by Sir Dave Brailsford, who transformed from mediocrity to global dominance by applying the "aggregation of marginal gains"—the philosophy of improving every single aspect of performance by just 1%. This relentless pursuit of tiny, cumulative improvements in areas like nutrition, sleep hygiene, bike tech, and even handwashing, led to unprecedented success, including multiple Olympic gold medals and Tour de France wins.

James Clear encourages readers to shift their focus from setting out goals to creating a system of habits. Real achievement comes from refining daily habits, not from obsessing over KPIs.

Toyota’s methodology echoes this principle through its use of PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) cycles: a structured approach to problem-solving and iteration that seeks small improvements through disciplined experimentation.

When we shift our focus from the performance to the journey and the daily practice, both on and off the mat, we can be fully present and do our best each day.

Identity Before Outcome

Once we shift our focus to process, the next step is reshaping our identity.

What does that mean in practice?

I do not practice yoga because I want to become strong and flexible. I show up on my mat almost daily because I am a yoga practitioner. This is simply what I do. It is part of my daily hygiene, as natural as taking a shower or brushing my teeth.

A Toyota employee participates in problem-solving exercises because it is part of their culture. It is who they are as an organisation.

Our habits shape us.

The activities you fill your day with quietly define the kind of person you are becoming.

If you want to transform your life, start by identifying the type of person who would achieve the results you desire. Then begin acting accordingly. What habits would that person cultivate? How would they structure their days?

Small actions are votes for your future identity.

Embracing Discomfort as Data

Teaching yoga, one of my favourite cues to give to students is find their comfortable edge. The work and the progress happens when we get comfortable with discomfort, the subtle stretch and tension of the muscles. We don't shy away from it. We sit with it, learn from it, and gently move further into this new area of growth.

In Toyota Kata, teams run small experiments: rapid, iterative scientific tests used to overcome obstacles and reach a target condition. I love the word experiment. It removes the pressure to succeed and replaces it with the expectation to learn.

Even breakthrough inventions such as the electric lightbulb were preceded by a series of experiments and incremental refinements.

The Invisible Curve of Compounding

One class does not change your body.

One leadership workshop does not transform a culture.

One improved workflow does not revolutionise performance.

But repetition compounds.

Just as daily yoga practice slowly changes fascia and nervous system patterns, small habit improvements compound over months and years. Toyota’s culture of continuous improvement did not emerge from a single initiative — it emerged from decades of consistent micro-adjustments.

Getting 1% better every day does not sound like much, just as receiving one coin won't make you rich. But this is the power of tiny gains: over 365 days this change accumulates to becoming over 30 times more or better. And over the years of showing up and doing the work will make all the difference to our health, wealth, wellbeing and happiness.

The big leap is a myth.

The tiny step, repeated daily, is the real transformation.

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Thank you for reading and have a wonderful week ahead.

The light in me honours the light in you.

Namaste