1%

For the past 14 years, I’ve grown accustomed to the entrepreneurial roller coaster—and this week was no different. I don’t really think of myself as the CEO or Founder, but more like the chief problem solver.

But it’s hard to solve problems when people don’t communicate. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to over-communicate, especially in person. The digital world doesn’t allow us to fully engage all our senses to truly understand what’s going on beneath the surface.

Through the school of very hard knocks, my family has learned a simple but powerful tool that I want to share. When we see a family member struggling—whether they’re angry, sad, lonely, or just having a tough time—we ask:

What could I do to make your day 1% better?

It’s remarkable how this question impacts both the person asking and the person being asked.

Just the other night, after a particularly rough day at work, I was sitting at the dinner table being a pretty miserable, cranky human being. My 16-year-old son, Zach, instead of reacting to my mood, paused, looked at me, and asked:

"Dad, it seems like you’re having a tough day. What could I do to make it 1% better?"

For a teenager to pause, not react, and offer that kind of thoughtful question—that’s amazing in itself. But the question completely shifted my mindset. I had to stop and reflect. My answer?

• Zach asking me that question made my day 1% better.
• It made me realize I didn’t have much reason to be grumpy after all. I thanked him and said I’d love to spend some time together that evening, doing something creative.

Being asked that question forces you out of your emotional autopilot. It brings you back into your frontal lobe, helps you assess your mood, and encourages you to be present. And that—being present—is really what makes a day 1% better.

Of course, asking the question takes skill and empathy. Recognizing when someone is struggling—whether they’re angry, frustrated, or sad—and finding the spark to ask how you can help can shift your own mindset too. I encourage you to keep this question top of mind and give it a try.

In our house, the “1% question” comes up once or twice a week. My next goal is to introduce it into the workplace.

Thanks for reading. I hope this gave you something useful to think about.

—Ben