"10% is all you need." - Ever heard of a mindful shift that doesn't disrupt your life but improves it?
| From the desk of Miles Everson: Hello! It’s Friday! Who’s excited for the weekend? Today, I’m excited to share with you a topic that would be highly beneficial for all of us. In these “Mindfulness by Miles” articles, I talk about health, wealth, well-being, happiness, future of work, book reviews, marketing, tips, etc. with hopes to help you thrive, not just survive. Ready? Check out the article below to learn about this book author’s proposition. |
"10% is all you need." - Ever heard of a mindful shift that doesn't disrupt your life but improves it? What if everything you thought about stress relief was just a little off? You’re rushing through your to-do list. Your phone buzzes. Another email. Another meeting. Another missed moment. You try powering through with coffee, multitasking your way to success—only to find yourself lying awake at night, replaying the day like a broken record. You’re doing everything right… so why does it still feel like you’re just surviving? Now, imagine this: You don’t quit your job, move to a mountaintop, or renounce ambition. You just get 10% better at handling everything. 10% less reactive. 10% more aware. 10% calmer, clearer, and—yes— happier. That’s the unlikely promise explored in Dan Harris’ book, “10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works—A True Story.”
This book begins with a story about a live, on-air panic attack and ends with a grounded, no-nonsense approach to mindfulness. Even the most cynical achievers can embrace this! Let’s delve into that deeper… The News Anchor Who Cracked Under Pressure—And Then Found A Way Out Truth be told, Harris wasn’t a yoga-loving, incense-burning spiritual guru. In fact, he was a fast-talking, adrenaline-fueled ABC News anchor chasing stories in war zones and winning Emmy awards—until the stress caught up with him. In 2004, he had a panic attack on live TV during “Good Morning America.” His body froze. His heart pounded. Millions of viewers watched as he lost control. Uh-oh… This meltdown led him on a reluctant journey through therapy, self-help books, and eventually to an unexpected solution: meditation .
At first, he didn’t buy into it. He rolled his eyes at the jargon and spiritual overtones. Yet something about it worked. Sure, it didn’t fix everything overnight and it didn’t promise enlightenment… but it made him incrementally better . 10% , to be exact. At its core, the “10% Happier” book is part memoir, part self-help, and part myth-busting manifesto. Here, Harris strips away the fluff around mindfulness and presents meditation as a tool for skeptics—a simple, science-backed practice that anyone can use to reduce stress, improve focus, and make more intentional decisions. The book is refreshingly honest, often hilarious, and deeply relatable! Harris pulls back the curtain on his own anxieties, ego struggles, and even career missteps, showing how mindfulness helped him stop operating on autopilot. Disclaimer, though: You won’t find any mantras or magical thinking here. Instead, you’ll find:
Here’s how Harris’ book helps in life, career, and mental health: The Real Power of Just 10% By now, maybe you’re still skeptical. Don’t worry, it’s okay. Harris was too. … but that’s what makes his message so powerful! He doesn’t try to sell you bliss or eternal peace—just a little more control over your mind, and a little less chaos in your day. Sometimes, that’s all we really need. Because 10% calmer can mean fewer arguments… 10% more mindfulness can mean fewer regrets… 10% happier can mean a life that’s not just endured but enjoyed… So, if you’ve ever felt like self-help books speak in riddles or spiritual clichés, “10% Happier” is your antidote! It’s sharp, real, and rooted in the very modern, very messy experience of trying to juggle ambition, anxiety, and adulthood. You don’t need to transform into a monk to read this book effectively. You just need to sit still for a few minutes a day and watch what happens. … because sometimes, a small shift in mindset is what changes everything. Hope you find today’s topic enlightening! I wish you all a meaningful weekend! For a daily version of this newsletter, please subscribe here. |
Miles Everson
CEO of MBO Partners and former Global Advisory and Consulting CEO at PwC, Everson has worked with many of the world's largest and most prominent organizations, specializing in executive management. He helps companies balance growth, reduce risk, maximize return, and excel in strategic business priorities.
He is a sought-after public speaker and contributor and has been a case study for success from Harvard Business School.
Everson is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. He graduated from St. Cloud State University with a B.S. in Accounting.
