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ONE SMALL STEP CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE: the Kaizen Way by ROBERT MAURER
- GenresNonfictionProductivity
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About the author
Robert Maurer
28 books74 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Robert Maurer, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist on the faculty of the UCLA and the University of Washington Schools of Medicine. He is the founder of the Science of Excellence, a consulting firm, and travels extensively presenting seminars and consulting on kaizen to diverse organizations, including corporations, hospital staffs, universities— even the U.S. Navy. Dr. Maurer lives in Spokane, Washington.
Robert Maurer, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist on the faculty of the UCLA and the University of Washington Schools of Medicine. He is the founder of the Science of Excellence, a consulting firm, and travels extensively presenting seminars and consulting on kaizen to diverse organizations, including corporations, hospital staffs, universities— even the U.S. Navy. Dr. Maurer lives in Spokane, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 19, 2025
Enjoyed this book. I have always been interested in the Kaizen concept since I came across it in a Tony Robbins book.
I like the principle. But the examples were basic and mostly not that interesting. Best example was how they manage to land planes on ships, but it did not go deep enough.
I like the principle. But the examples were basic and mostly not that interesting. Best example was how they manage to land planes on ships, but it did not go deep enough.
June 15, 2025
If you are a person who is invested in big dreams , this book will not be an easy read. And so one may struggled a bit in deciding if the book is great or not that great read given emphasis of small steps.
Yet after keeping the book down several times and taking time after reading this, i realised, some aspects are gifts with stabilising concepts needed for a firm and sustained moment towards goals. To put in perspective. When people are asked to get up early, there are two kinds , one would say i need few weeks, ill get up 10 mins early each day and other just start waking up at 4 am .
Now the question comes , who will sustain for longer. Per the book its first one, but i feel it depends on person to person and there feelings on distributions between effort and reward. For some continuing small changes for longer period is not attractive because the reward is not that exciting or enough. For some the seemingly less reward is much more than the pain of less sleep.
So is this book worth a read -- yes and here are three reasons why:
1. It emphasis on the importance of fixing small things,and awareness of small things with many unexpectedly intresting stories.
2. It gives a great framework for pivoting action to things that may not seem exciting but are useful or needed actions.
3. It has noteworthy breakdown on three parts of brain and how different kinds of work have different impacts on activating different parts. The difference between categorising something as stress or something as fear brings new perspective to understanding interactions of brain and daily work.
All in all its a good read with many hidden gems. As provoking as word "small" is to a simulated mind, one cannot deny it being a great handbook on the slump or humbling days to get back on track..one step at a time.
Yet after keeping the book down several times and taking time after reading this, i realised, some aspects are gifts with stabilising concepts needed for a firm and sustained moment towards goals. To put in perspective. When people are asked to get up early, there are two kinds , one would say i need few weeks, ill get up 10 mins early each day and other just start waking up at 4 am .
Now the question comes , who will sustain for longer. Per the book its first one, but i feel it depends on person to person and there feelings on distributions between effort and reward. For some continuing small changes for longer period is not attractive because the reward is not that exciting or enough. For some the seemingly less reward is much more than the pain of less sleep.
So is this book worth a read -- yes and here are three reasons why:
1. It emphasis on the importance of fixing small things,and awareness of small things with many unexpectedly intresting stories.
2. It gives a great framework for pivoting action to things that may not seem exciting but are useful or needed actions.
3. It has noteworthy breakdown on three parts of brain and how different kinds of work have different impacts on activating different parts. The difference between categorising something as stress or something as fear brings new perspective to understanding interactions of brain and daily work.
All in all its a good read with many hidden gems. As provoking as word "small" is to a simulated mind, one cannot deny it being a great handbook on the slump or humbling days to get back on track..one step at a time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2025
What I appreciated most about” One Small Step Can Change Your Life – The Kaizen Way “ is that it never guilt-tripped me. It didn’t make me question, “Where am I in life?” or “Why haven’t I changed yet?” Instead, it gently reminded me that change doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic—it can be quiet, slow, and consistent.
The book helped me believe that small steps truly matter—whether it’s pausing before saying something in anger, going for a short walk, or simply choosing to close Instagram a little earlier than usual.
I may not feel “fixed” today, but I do feel hopeful. And that, for me, is a big step forward. This book didn’t just offer practical tools—it gave me a sense of calm and confidence. For the first time, I’ve stopped chasing perfection and started focusing on just getting 1% better every day. It’s more sustainable. And far more self-compassionate.
I’m still on the journey, but now I’m moving forward gently—and that feels right.
A heartfelt thank you to Renuka for introducing me to this book, and to my book club for creating such a thoughtful and supportive space to grow in.
The book helped me believe that small steps truly matter—whether it’s pausing before saying something in anger, going for a short walk, or simply choosing to close Instagram a little earlier than usual.
I may not feel “fixed” today, but I do feel hopeful. And that, for me, is a big step forward. This book didn’t just offer practical tools—it gave me a sense of calm and confidence. For the first time, I’ve stopped chasing perfection and started focusing on just getting 1% better every day. It’s more sustainable. And far more self-compassionate.
I’m still on the journey, but now I’m moving forward gently—and that feels right.
A heartfelt thank you to Renuka for introducing me to this book, and to my book club for creating such a thoughtful and supportive space to grow in.
June 13, 2025
I genuinely feel this book came into my life at the right time. It lays out seven Kaizen steps so clearly, each in its own chapter, making the idea of change feel totally manageable. What really resonated with me were the real-life examples covering everything from work to family and even love – they made it incredibly easy to see how I could actually use these techniques in my own day-to-day. And honestly, the fact that the author backs up his points with biological facts about the brain was a game-changer; it felt like solid advice, not just airy suggestions. This book truly made me pause and reflect on my own life, which is something I really needed.
April 4, 2024
One of those books that has deeply changed my approach towards everything in my life in general... An Impactful book with tips & tricks...
January 27, 2025
Even when Im reading this book, i tried to apply them in my life by introducing small changes to my usual routine and its working !!
March 11, 2025
Very good informative book and an easy way to start changing your life and others around you for the better.
May 20, 2025
Interesting stories with some good reminders about things I’ve previously read in atomic habits. I really enjoyed the case studies/applications.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews