🎯 The One Lever Rule

The single change that improves multiple areas.

Read time: 4.0 minutes

Welcome to Better at Life, the weekly newsletter where I share one simple, actionable idea you can put into practice today to build better habits, sharpen your mindset, and live with more intention.

I used to think improvement meant adding more things.

More habits.
More systems.
More goals.

If life felt off, the answer was apparently another routine.

But over time, I noticed something different.

Some changes barely moved the needle.

Others quietly improved everything around them.

Getting better sleep made my patience better.
My workouts more consistent.
My thinking clearer.
My evenings calmer.

Planning tomorrow the night before reduced stress, procrastination, and decision fatigue all at once.

One change.

Multiple effects.

That’s when I started thinking about leverage differently.

I call it The One Lever Rule.

The idea that certain habits create ripple effects across your entire life.

Write this down:

The best improvements solve more than one problem at a time.

This Week’s Action

Ask yourself:

What is one change that would improve multiple areas of my life right now?

Not ten things.

One.

Look for leverage points.

Examples:

  • sleeping earlier
  • exercising consistently
  • reducing alcohol
  • planning your mornings
  • setting clearer boundaries
  • spending less time on your phone at night

The right lever often improves:

  • energy
  • focus
  • mood
  • relationships
  • consistency
  • stress levels

Choose one lever for the next seven days.

Keep your attention there.

Why This Works

Most people spread their effort too thin.

They try to fix everything separately.

But life is interconnected.

One meaningful change often creates momentum elsewhere.

Better sleep improves better decisions.

Better decisions improve consistency.

Consistency improves confidence.

The One Lever Rule works because leverage compounds.

Instead of forcing progress in ten directions, you create movement from one strategic point.

Try This

Make a short list of recurring frustrations in your life right now.

Then ask:

What might these problems have in common?

Sometimes the answer is surprisingly simple.

Poor sleep.
Too much distraction.
Lack of planning.
No recovery time.

Find the root issue before adding more solutions.

Weekly Reflection

Before you move on from this email, pause for a moment.

Ask yourself:

What change would make other changes easier?
What habit creates the biggest positive ripple effect for me?
Where should I focus instead of dividing my attention?

Write it down.

Then pull the right lever this week.

If this idea feels useful, feel free to pass it along to someone who might need it this week.

You do not need to improve everything at once.

You need to find the thing that improves many things.

See you next week β€” a little better at life.

______

Dr. Chris Mullen

Bring Better at Life to Your Organization

If these ideas resonate, this is also the work I bring into organizations and leadership teams.

I partner with organizations that want clearer thinking, stronger decision-making, and more sustainable performance.

Engagements typically include:

  • Keynote speaking for conferences and leadership events
  • Leadership development workshops for teams and managers
  • Team strategy sessions focused on alignment and execution

For senior leaders seeking deeper application, I also maintain a small executive coaching practice.

Bring these ideas to your team

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