#153 The 1% Better Method: Small Steps That Actually Build Discipline - Kerrin Watson-Smith

The boring middle is where most goals quietly die, long after the excitement has gone.

1% Better is a first for the show. It is a four-part series across the year. Before each episode my running coach and I run the same 5k together on camera, then walk straight into the studio and hit record. The idea is to track my 5k getting faster and to show the part of a goal that usually gets edited out. Because the discipline it takes to train is the same discipline it takes to build a business.

There is no one I would rather do this with than Kerrin Watson-Smith, founder of Chi-Me, a mental fitness framework that helps people train their mind the way they train their body. In 2010 she entered a full Ironman on three months of training, having never ridden in cleats or run a marathon, and finished first time out. She has also run the Comrades Marathon (86.9km) three times.

We talk about why we train the body but expect the mind to just cope, why small steps beat grand resolutions, why stopping can be more disciplined than pushing through, the three word mantra that carried her through her first Ironman, and the year of training she lost to a torn calf two weeks out. If you are somewhere in the boring middle right now, start here.

Mentioned in This Episode:
0:20 Why people quit on the boring middle, not the big goal
2:03 Why the discipline to train is the discipline to build a business
2:38 How a dog on a first run made Kerrin a coach and friend
14:03 Training the mind with the same intention as the body
16:01 When stopping beats pushing through
20:54 Small daily steps over grand resolutions
38:58 The three word mantra from her first Ironman
52:47 What a torn calf taught her about disappointment
59:12 Why the limits you place on yourself are hardest to beat

About Kerrin:
Kerrin Watson-Smith is the founder of Chi-Me, a mental fitness framework built around self-esteem, clarity of goals, social connection and wellness. A three time Comrades runner and Ironman finisher, she believes the mind should be trained with the same intention as the body. She lives, coaches and runs in Perth.

Connect with Kerrin:
Instagram @thatgirlwhoruns | Instagram @chi_me_australia | Facebook | inspire@chi-me.co.za

This episode's sponsors:
• Cuppa Cartel, the coffee fuelling our conversations. Enjoy a special rate on all coffee beans with code TRBLC at checkout. 

• MyGene, personalised genetic testing and healthspan programs. Use code REALBIZLIFE26 at checkout to get the Inform Me Plus program for the price of Inform Me, a free upgrade worth $403.   

• Chi-Me, Kerrin's mental fitness framework.

• Design Studio Perth, the branding studio behind the show.

• Beam Theory, dentist designed, enamel safe teeth whitening.

• Project Rhino KZN, protecting rhino populations across KwaZulu-Natal. 

Discover your brand's potential with a free Brand Discovery session at designstudioperth.com.au/brand-discovery

About Tracy:
Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real-blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success.

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