Adjustment – The Secret to Success
They say an airplane is off course 95% of the time. Think about that. If you were sitting in your seat, sipping a soda, and the pilot came over the speaker to announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are currently off course,” you’d probably panic. But the reality is, every plane flying from New York to Los Angeles is constantly adjusting. The pilot doesn’t set a perfect course and sit back. The wind pushes, turbulence bumps, and adjustments must be made—hundreds of them—until the plane lands right where it’s supposed to.
The same principle applies to life. If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting. If you want different results, you must make adjustments.
The Power of Revision: Writers Who Rewrote Their Way to Greatness
Great writers don’t just write. They rewrite, edit, adjust, and improve. Ernest Hemingway famously said, “The first draft of anything is garbage.” J.K. Rowling rewrote the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone multiple times before she got it right. Even more impressive, James Joyce spent an entire day working on two sentences in Ulysses—and still wasn’t satisfied.
It’s not just about fixing mistakes. It’s about refining, sharpening, and making something better than it was. That’s the power of adjustment.
Athletes Who Changed the Way They Do Things
Take Michael Jordan. He was cut from his high school basketball team. Instead of giving up, he adjusted. He worked tirelessly on his game, and when he reached the NBA, he didn’t just rely on raw talent. He developed new skills, including a deadly fadeaway jumper that became his signature shot in his later years.
Patrick Mahomes wasn’t always the MVP-caliber quarterback we know today. Early in his career, he relied on improvisation and arm talent, but as defenses adjusted to him, he had to adjust, too. He worked on his footwork, decision-making, and discipline, turning himself into a more complete quarterback. Now, even when his flashy plays aren’t working, he can rely on solid fundamentals.
Serena Williams did something similar. As she aged, her power game alone wasn’t enough. She adjusted by improving her strategic play, using angles, and increasing her net presence. That’s how she stayed dominant for decades.
The Japanese Concept of Kaizen – Constant Improvement
The Japanese have a term for this philosophy: Kaizen, which means “continuous improvement.” Instead of waiting for big failures to make changes, they believe in making small, daily improvements. This principle has transformed companies like Toyota and Sony, leading them to dominate their industries. But it’s not just for businesses. It’s a mindset that can transform your personal life, too.
Bill Gates didn’t launch Microsoft and call it a day. He adjusted with every technological shift. When he saw the internet rising, he pivoted. When mobile devices took over, he shifted again. Constant improvement kept Microsoft relevant.
Clyde Tombaugh, the farm boy from Kansas who discovered Pluto, didn’t get there by accident. He spent years adjusting his telescope techniques, refining his approach, and learning from every miscalculation.
LeBron James evolved from a high-flying young star into a seasoned, strategic player. Early in his career, he struggled with three-point shooting. Instead of accepting that as a weakness, he adjusted his training and developed a reliable outside shot. That adjustment helped him stay dominant even as his athleticism declined.
The Key to Lasting Success: Keep Adjusting
It’s not enough to evaluate where you are. You must adjust. Are you struggling in an area of your life? Try something new. Stuck in a rut? Make a change. Small, consistent improvements lead to massive results over time.
Think about where you want to go. Like an airplane adjusting mid-flight, you may not be exactly on course today—but if you keep making small corrections, you’ll land exactly where you’re supposed to.
