Book Review: The 2% Way by Dr. Myron L. Rolle, MD MSc

The 2% Way by Dr. Myron L. Rolle, MD MSc

“Let your actions be driven by your expectations for yourself, not external forces”

Summary:

First, let me say that this book will make you feel that you have underachieved, no matter how much you’ve accomplished.  Dr. Rolle is a former No.1 football recruit who played at the highest level collegiately, graduated early, passed on the NFL draft the first time as he accepted a Rhodes Scholarship, then was drafted in the NFL, bounced around teams for a few years, went to medical school, and became a neurosurgeon.  Needless to say, he has quite an interesting perspective on what it takes to achieve lofty goals. 

Dr. Rolle focuses on small incremental improvements every day to get 2% better.  While the terminology of “getting 2% better” was introduced to him in college by one of his coaches, this method was already ingrained in him as he had been achieving his own lofty goals and practicing a high level of self-restraint from an early age.  As you travel with him through his life, you see how this approach plays out: getting closer to starting for his college team, preparing for his Rhodes Scholarship interviews, improving his 40-yard dash time for the NFL draft, and becoming more proficient at surgical procedures.  In walking through his achievements, you’ll notice that, by design, he doesn’t leave anything up to chance or to be decided by someone else.  He is his own driving force behind his will to succeed, and because of this, he is able to exhibit the great self-control and discipline that he possesses.  He is writing his own story and is in charge of his own destiny.

However, the book is not all highlights and lofty achievements, as you get an insight into his struggles with his race and his efforts to balance scholarly pursuits in the world of premier athletics.  His unwavering determination to achieve his goals is apparent throughout, as those struggles are always viewed in the light of the bigger goal from which they could distract.  In providing these objective views of very personal moments in his life, he utilizes each incident and encounter as a potential lesson for us all. 

In bringing his 2% way to life, Dr. Rolle explains how it has benefited him and provides practical applications for us mortals to apply to our lives.  This truly was a great book by an extraordinary man who has always found a way to motivate himself to improve and achieve his goals.  Dr. Rolle does a fantastic job at making the extraordinary relatable and seemingly achievable. 

Key Takeaways:

After finishing this book, I’ve begun to view wanted changes in a different light.  For example:

[Inner monologue alert]

I want to be in good enough shape as I get older to be able to play with my kids and their kids.  Great – how are you going to do that?
I’ll get in better shape and work to maintain that? Great – how?
Let’s try to get 2% more steps today?  Good start – anything else?
I’ll try to eat healthier. Another good idea, but how?
Okay, 2% less candy? Do you think that’s enough?
Okay, fine – I’ll swap the candy for a banana instead.  That’s the spirit.

In addition to the importance of daily incremental improvements, a big emphasis is placed throughout the book on setting actionable steps to achieve goals.  This step cannot be stressed enough – to achieve big goals, it is hardly ever a one-step process, but is a complex, multifaceted maze that must be navigated.