The Compound Effect: How Tiny Choices Create Massive Results Aisha had a problem.

No, it wasn’t world hunger or climate change. It was something much worse.

She wanted abs.

But every time she started working out, something mysterious happened—she got hungry. And somehow, that hunger always led to jollof rice, soda, and a promise to “start again on Monday.”

One day, her friend Tolu sighed and said, “Aisha, you don’t need to suffer. Just start small. Do 10 squats today, then 11 tomorrow. That’s how the compound effect works.”

Aisha squinted. “The what?”

Tolu smirked. “The thing that makes people rich, fit, and successful—while others wonder how it happened.”

Aisha rolled her eyes. “Sounds like sorcery.”

Tolu laughed. “Nope. Just math. Let me explain.”

What Is the Compound Effect?
The compound effect is the idea that small, consistent actions lead to massive results over time. It works like this:

If you save $1 daily, in a year, you’ll have $365.
But if you invest that money, it grows, and in 10 years, you’ll have way more than $3,650.
If you read just 10 pages a day, that’s 3,650 pages a year—about 12 books!
If you eat one extra cookie daily… well, let’s just say your jeans will notice.
It’s the little things that add up—good or bad.

Aisha blinked. “So, this means…?”

Tolu grinned. “It means you don’t need to do a thousand crunches tonight. Just start with 10 and build from there.”

How to Apply the Compound Effect in Your Own Life

1. Start Ridiculously Small
Aisha liked the sound of this. She had tried the “wake up at 5 AM and run 10km” approach before, and it lasted exactly two days.

Instead, she did just 10 squats before bed.

The next day, she did 11. Then 12.

By the end of the month, she was doing 40 squats a day—and it felt normal.

The key? Start so small that it’s impossible to fail.

Try this:

Want to read more? Start with one page a day.
Want to save money? Start with $1 a day.
Want to get fit? Start with one push-up.
Sounds too easy? That’s the point.

2. Stay Consistent (Even When It’s Boring)
By month two, Aisha’s squats were easy. But instead of stopping, she kept going—because the magic of the compound effect happens when you stay consistent.

It’s like brushing your teeth. Skipping one day won’t ruin your teeth, but skipping for months? Well… your dentist will cry.

Small daily actions = big long-term results.

Try this:

Set a habit tracker to keep you accountable.
Link your habit to something fun. (E.g., do squats while watching Netflix.)
Find a habit buddy (like Tolu) to keep you in check.

3. Trust the Process (Even When It Feels Slow)
By month three, Aisha checked the mirror. No abs.

She groaned. “This isn’t working.”

Tolu shook his head. “Patience, grasshopper. You don’t notice change in the moment—it sneaks up on you.”

Sure enough, a few weeks later, Aisha realized:

Her legs were stronger.
She had more energy.
People were saying, “You look different!”
The compound effect was doing its thing.

Try this:

Remind yourself: Small progress is still progress.
Celebrate tiny wins (even if it’s just “Hey, I did 10 more squats today!”).
Keep going—even when it feels pointless.

4. Apply It to EVERYTHING
One day, Aisha had a genius thought:

“If this works for fitness, what about money?”

So, she started saving $1 daily. A month later, she increased it to $2. By the end of the year, she had saved more than she ever had before.

Then, she tried it with reading. Instead of scrolling TikTok before bed, she read just 5 pages. Soon, she was finishing books.

The compound effect wasn’t just about abs—it was about life.

Try this:
You want better relationships? Text one friend daily.

Want to be happier? Write one thing you’re grateful for.
Want a new skill? Learn one word in a new language daily.
Final Thoughts: Tiny Habits = Big Results
Aisha started with 10 squats.

One year later, she had stronger legs, more energy, and a savings account that wasn’t empty.

All because she started small—and stuck with it.

As James Clear said in Atomic Habits:

“Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become.”

So, what tiny habit will you start today? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear!