My Year of Success: How Small Changes Created My Biggest Wins

2024 was the most successful year of my life. I got married, won NBL Finals MVP, played at the Paris Olympics, and signed my first NBA contract. Most people doubted I could pull it off—too slow, too skinny, not talented enough. But talent and genetics only take you so far. Long-term success is driven by your ability to improve, and I’ve come to see myself as a “professional improver.”

It hasn’t always been that way.

The Early Failures That Shook My Confidence

Back in 2012, I played in the Australian Under-20s Nationals—arguably my best performance as a junior athlete. My team finished second, and I won MVP of the tournament. The next year, I wanted to replicate that success, but everything went wrong: we came second-last, my stats sucked, and there was no growth.

A similar pattern emerged in college.

• Sophomore year: I ended conference play strong, averaging 9 points a game.

• Junior year: Statistically, I regressed and got benched for most of the season.

Despite always working hard—touching the line on every sprint, putting in extra shooting, and giving it my all in training—my results didn’t match my effort. The truth was, the rest of my life was a mess. Poor nutrition, shaky relationships, and neglecting mental and physical health were sabotaging my progress without me realizing it.

A Game-Changing Example: British Cycling and the 1% Rule

Everything clicked when I read about the British National Cycling Team in Atomic Habits by James Clear. For nearly a century, they’d won only one Olympic gold medal. In 2003, they hired Dave Brailsford, who introduced the concept of the “aggregation of marginal gains.”

They looked for small, 1% improvements everywhere:

• Redesigned bike seats for comfort

• Rubbed alcohol on tires for better grip

• Used wind tunnel testing for aerodynamics

• Taught riders better sleeping positions

• Tested multiple massage gels for optimal recovery

• Tweaked nutrition for maximum energy efficiency

These tiny upgrades compounded into massive success. Within five years, British cyclists dominated the 2008 Olympics, winning 60% of gold medals, and repeated the feat in 2012. Inspired by their story, I realized I needed to optimize every aspect of my life if I wanted to see real change.

Overhauling My Own Systems

When I reviewed my habits, it was clear I had major gaps:

1. Swapped Video Games for Basketball

   I spent more time playing games than playing basketball

   Instead, I started watching every NBL game, studying schemes, and improving my basketball IQ.

   Within a month, the game slowed down in real time, and my workout moves were translating to practice and games.

2. Swapped Sugar for Steak

   I was “skinny-fat,” snacking on junk and eating mindlessly.

   My wife and I went a full year without sugar. Now, we avoid processed foods altogether.

   I lost 8% body fat, got stronger, and started moving better than ever.

3. Swapped Late Nights for Early Mornings

   I used to stay up late, scrolling social media.

   One off-season, my training group met at 6 AM daily, forcing me to become a morning person.

   I now get more done, have more energy, and feel a sense of accomplishment starting every day.

4. Swapped Alcohol for Water

   In 2020, I wore a device tracking my heart rate, breathing, and sleep.

   Every time I drank, my heart rate stayed elevated all week, and my recovery suffered.

   Quitting regular drinking became a no-brainer to boost performance.

Why 1% Changes Lead to 100% Transformations

Day to day, it’s almost impossible to notice the impact of these tiny shifts. But over weeks and months, they add up to a different version of you—a better basketball player. That’s how I went from a college bench player to the NBA, and it’s how I continued to improve each year in the NBL, creating my 2024 year.

Actionable Advice

1. Start with a 1% Mindset

   Pinpoint one area (nutrition, sleep, mindset, skill work) to improve by just 1%.

2. Conduct a Lifestyle Audit

   Jot down your daily habits—everything from eating and sleeping to free-time activities.

   Highlight where small, consistent tweaks could create big benefits.

3. Create Habit-Stacking Routines

   Pair a new habit (e.g., film study) with an existing routine (brushing your teeth).

   This makes positive changes feel more natural and easier to stick with long-term.

4. Stay Accountable with Community

   Find a mentor or a training partner who shares your goals.

Conclusion

Huge breakthroughs result from tiny, incremental changes. Whether it’s cutting out late-night scrolling, removing sugar from your diet, or analyzing more game film, each small improvement compounds into creating unprecedented growth.

If you’re waiting for a sudden, monumental leap forward, you might be missing the real key to success: consistent, everyday refinement. Embrace the “1% better” mindset, optimize each corner of your life, and watch as those seemingly minor shifts propel you to levels of performance you once

thought impossible.

What’s one small change you can make this week that could yield outsized returns in your performance?