The Power of Small Deviations: Why Incremental Change Wins Every Time

Here's the uncomfortable truth about transformation: most of us are addicted to the dramatic.

We want the complete life overhaul. The 180-degree flip. The before-and-after story that makes people's jaws drop.

But here's what I've learned from working with hundreds of clients: the people who achieve lasting change understand something the rest don't— balance is not your enemy.

Let me explain what I mean.

Your body, your habits, your entire system seek balance. When you're maintaining your current weight, hitting the gym sporadically, and eating relatively consistently—that's balance. Most people see this as "being stuck." I see it as your starting point for strategic disruption.

The magic happens when you create small, deliberate deviations in that balance.

Instead of going from 7,000 steps to 15,000 steps overnight, you gradually increase from 7,000 to 10,000. Instead of jumping from two gym sessions to seven, you progress to three. These aren't exciting changes. They won't get you likes on social media. But they work.

Here's why: you can't go past 100.

Think about it. If you immediately max out your effort—eating 1,000 calories, training twice daily, cutting out all enjoyment—where do you go when progress stalls? You've used up all your ammunition in week one.

But when you start with small deviations, you have room to grow. You have cards left to play. You maintain the psychological capacity to stay consistent when life gets challenging.

And life will get challenging. Work will explode. Family situations will arise. Your body will resist. This is where most people abandon ship—because they've built a system that requires perfection to function.

Sustainable change requires sustainable systems.

The clients who succeed long-term aren't the ones who can endure the most punishment. They're the ones who can stay consistent with imperfect execution. They understand that showing up at 70% beats not showing up at all.

This week, I challenge you to identify one small deviation you can make in your current balance. Maybe it's adding 2,000 steps to your daily walk. Maybe it's committing to one extra training session. Maybe it's measuring that peanut butter instead of eyeballing it (trust me, you're probably off by 200 calories).

The goal isn't to impress anyone. The goal is to prove to yourself that you can follow through on what you commit to. Because that self-trust—that confidence in your ability to do what you say you'll do—becomes the foundation for every future transformation.

Small deviations. Consistent execution. Compound results.

Your future self will thank you for starting small today.

What's one small disturbance you're committing to this week? Send an email to [email protected] with The Power of Small Deviations: Why Incremental Change Wins Every Time in the subject line — I read every response.

Stay Strong,

Paul Oneid, MS. MS. CSCS

Founder and Head Coach