Dr. No #51 – How to Get 1% Better (and End Up Miles Ahead)

Hey lawyer,

Rosa and I have been chewing over The Greatness Mindset by Lewis Howes — the kind of book that makes you check if your brain’s been on “airplane mode” for the last year.

It’s not about vague inspiration. It’s about practical tools for being better — at home, at work, and in the middle of that 17-email chain with Procurement.

1. Food for Thought

If your legal team improved just 1% every day for the next year…
…what would it look like?
(And scarier: what happens if it doesn’t?)

2. Book Insight – The Greatness Mindset (GC Edition)

The 1% Rule
Small improvements compound. 1% better each day for a year = 37x better.
GC takeaway: What’s your daily “1% upgrade”?

• One clause made simpler.

• One risk explained in business language.

• One meeting replaced with a 3-line email.

Define Your Mission Clearly
Greatness needs a destination.
GC takeaway: If your CEO asked you today what Legal’s top 3 strategic goals were, could you answer without mumbling?

Reframe Fear as a Signal
Fear means growth is nearby.
GC takeaway: If a project makes you uncomfortable — like leading on an AI project or negotiating in a new market — it’s probably the one that will move the dial.

Create a Championship Environment
Surround yourself with people whose standards force you to level up.
GC takeaway: Stop hiring for “safe.” Hire for “scary good.” And yes — that includes external counsel who intimidate you (in the right way).

Serve Before You Seek
Make yourself indispensable by helping others win first.
GC takeaway: Solve a business unit’s problem before they even ask. They’ll never again see Legal as a cost centre.

3. Mental Model – The Compounding Effect (Buffett/Munger Classic)

Most people underestimate compounding because they think linearly.
Small changes today look insignificant… until they’re game-changing tomorrow.
For GCs, compounding is:

• Process tweaks that save hours every week.

• Contract playbooks that get sharper with each deal.

• Credibility that makes the next “yes” easier.

4. AI Booster – Keepmind

Turn your notes into mind maps, flashcards, and quizzes.
Perfect for GCs training teams, onboarding new joiners, or prepping for that 400-page regulatory update without losing the will to live.

5. Quote to Reflect

“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” – Warren Buffett

P.S.
Some legal tasks require niche expertise, speed, and fresh eyes:

• Complex tech or pharma contracts with tangled IP/IT ownership clauses

• Negotiating massive contract portfolios under impossible deadlines

• Untangling software licensing nightmares before a big acquisition

• Outsourcing hyper-specialised contractual work so your core team stays strategic

That’s where Ámbar steps in — fractional IP/IT experts who live in this world every day, without adding to your payroll.

Book a quick call and let’s find the specialist who can get you that 1% (or 37x) improvement you’ve been promising yourself.

— Dr. No