One Degree Shift. Stop the Drift.
As a solopreneur, work can feel like you are just heads down and working through the daily checklist of action items. Without a set of tasks, the work doesn’t get done, right? Well, are you doing what is moving you in the right direction? Maybe you only need one small shift to make a huge impact.
Minor shifts in attitude, our work, and who we surround ourselves with can make a significant shift. Take a moment to read the summary of “A Mere One-Degree Difference” by Antone Roundy (on WhiteHatCrew) tailored for solopreneurs, with insights and action steps. (whitehatcrew.com).
Core Idea
The article argues that a small deviation (say, one degree off) may seem inconsequential at first, but over time it compounds into massive divergence. (whitehatcrew.com)
In business, this means that small missteps, poor habits, or neglecting course corrections can eventually lead you far from your goals. You can’t run your business on “auto-pilot.” (whitehatcrew.com)
Instead, you must monitor results constantly and make incremental adjustments to stay on track. (whitehatcrew.com)
Roundy illustrates the point with geometric and navigation examples:
Off by 1 degree: after 1 foot → 0.2 inch off; after 100 yards → approx 5.2 ft off; after 1 mile → approx. 92.2 ft off. (whitehatcrew.com).
Over longer distances: from San Francisco to Washington D.C., a 1° error would land you 42.6 miles off target. (whitehatcrew.com)
In a metaphor with climbing a mountain, one person takes no upward step (no incline), the other takes just a tiny upward slope (~0.5 inch per step). Over distance, the second person eventually reaches the peak, while the first never does. (whitehatcrew.com)
Lessons for Solopreneurs & Actionable Tips
Here are insights on how they apply to the solopreneur and what you can do today. Applications for the “one-degree difference” principle in a solo business:
Small habits compound
Minor inefficiencies or inconsistencies will grow into major hurdles over time.
Audit your daily workflow: what 1% inefficiency can you fix today?
Constant tuning beats “set and forget”
You can’t just set a plan and hope it works; periodic review and correction are essential.
Schedule regular check-ins (weekly or monthly) to compare outcomes vs goals, adjust your course.
Incremental improvements vs drastic overhauls
Rather than waiting for a big breakthrough, small tweaks are often more realistic and sustainable.
Pick one process (e.g., lead gen, pricing, customer onboarding) and improve it by 1% this week.
Awareness of trajectory
Awareness that you're drifting matters more than the speed of drift. If you never check the direction, you could be way off before you notice.
Use metrics, dashboards, and KPIs. Ask: “Am I drifting off?” regularly.
Don’t settle for “close enough”
“Close enough” often becomes “off enough” in the long run.
When something seems slightly off (in strategy, messaging, offering), treat it as a red flag, not a trivial detail.
Simplified “Solopreneur’s Check & Adjust” Framework
Here’s a mini framework inspired by the article:
Define your desired “destination” (where do you want your business to be in 1–3 years?)
Pick key metrics/milestones that signal you’re on course (revenue, clients, traffic, margins).
Review regularly (weekly, monthly): compare actual vs target.
Make small corrections early (tweak offers, workflows, marketing) before misalignment grows.
Repeat cyclically — treat your business as a journey, not a set-it-once project.
You may not have all the answers to figure out the 1 degree. Join our working session to hear from other solopreneurs and ask for feedback, share ideas, learn, and challenge each other. BoldLEAP Collective is about pushing for performance.
About Charissa
Charissa Gant, Change Strategist with over 30 years of experience driving change for Fortune 500 companies. Most recently, a Principal Director at one of the largest consulting firms. Leading change with empathy. Unlocking leadership potential. Owner and Founder of BoldLEAP Collective, a community for courageous solopreneurs. Charissa@boldleapcollective.com