Summary
I Was Done With Overhauls
I’ve done the “new me” thing before.
The 7-step plans.
The color-coded systems.
The massive vision boards and the perfect planners.
Every time I’d fall behind—even by a little—I’d feel like a failure.
So one day, I threw the whole plan out and I asked myself: “What if I just did one thing today that moved me forward?”
And that became my new rule.
The Rule of One
Every day, I choose one thing to move me forward.
That’s it.
One action.
One win.
One priority.
One kindness.
One honest moment.
Just one.
It didn’t have to be big. It just had to be done.
What This Looked Like in Real Life
On my worst days, the Rule of One meant:
- Getting out of bed and brushing my teeth
- Texting a friend instead of isolating
- Deleting 3 overdue tasks
- Drinking water before more coffee
- Saying “I’m done for the day” at 5PM instead of midnight
On better days?
It was writing a newsletter. Launching a mini product. Taking a walk and choosing joy.
No pressure to do everything. Just permission to do something.
Why It Works (When Nothing Else Did)
- It built self-trust—I said I’d do one thing, and I did
- It created momentum—one win made space for the next
- It removed decision fatigue—I didn’t need a giant plan, just clarity on one move
- It rewired my nervous system for progress, not panic
What I Want You to Know
You don’t need a 10-step reinvention plan.
You don’t need a morning routine that would exhaust a Navy SEAL.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire life.
You need one step.
One moment.
One tiny win.
And then another.
And then another.
The comeback isn’t built in one day.
It’s built in one day at a time.
Want the Rule of One Tracker?
I created a printable to help you celebrate one win per day—no matter how small.
Includes:
- Daily “one thing” box
- Mood + energy tracker
- Weekly reflection prompts
- One bold reminder: Small wins lead to big change.
You don’t need a master plan. You need one moment of power—and today can be it.
—Sterling Phoenix
