Ed Mylett – The Power of One More: Book Review & Audio Summary

Book Info

• Book name: The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success
• Author: Ed Mylett
• Genre: Self-Help & Personal Development
• Published Year: 2020
• Language: English

Audio Summary

Synopsis

Ed Mylett’s “The Power of One More” presents a transformative philosophy that success isn’t about massive overhauls—it’s about incremental improvements. Mylett argues that doing one more rep, making one more call, or building one more relationship could be the difference between mediocrity and greatness. Drawing from his journey as an entrepreneur and peak performance coach, he breaks down how small, consistent actions compound into extraordinary results. The book challenges conventional thinking about time management, emotional intelligence, and personal responsibility, offering practical strategies to reshape your mindset and maximize your potential through the power of “one more.”

Key Takeaways

• Small, incremental actions compound over time to create extraordinary results—doing “one more” of anything moves you closer to your goals
• Shift from “clock time” to “mind time” by breaking your day into shorter chunks to create urgency and maximize productivity
• Take full responsibility for your mindset and thoughts, as repeated thinking shapes your identity and determines your outcomes
• Embrace negative emotions like fear and anxiety as motivators rather than obstacles to avoid
• Invisible progress accumulates with every attempt—keep trying even when you can’t see immediate results

My Summary

Why “One More” Might Be All You Need

I’ll be honest—when I first picked up Ed Mylett’s “The Power of One More,” I was skeptical. Another self-help book promising to change my life? I’ve read dozens of these. But there’s something refreshingly different about Mylett’s approach that grabbed me from the first chapter.

The premise is deceptively simple: you’re probably closer to achieving your goals than you think. The gap between where you are and where you want to be might just be one more action away. One more sales call. One more workout. One more meaningful conversation. It sounds almost too simple, right? But as I dug deeper into the book, I realized Mylett isn’t just offering empty motivation—he’s presenting a complete framework for rethinking how we approach success.

What struck me most about this book is how it acknowledges a truth many self-help authors ignore: we’re not in control of everything. External forces shape our lives in ways we can’t always predict or manage. But instead of using that as an excuse for inaction, Mylett flips the script and asks us to focus intensely on what we can control—our thoughts, our actions, and our persistence.

Taking the Wheel: Personal Responsibility as Your Starting Point

The foundation of Mylett’s philosophy rests on a concept that’s both empowering and uncomfortable: radical personal responsibility. He doesn’t sugarcoat it—you need to own your life completely, starting with your mindset.

Here’s where things get interesting. Mylett explains that our brains work through repetition. Whatever thoughts you consistently feed yourself become part of your identity. If you’re constantly telling yourself you’re not good enough, not smart enough, or not capable enough, guess what? Your brain believes it and acts accordingly.

I found this section particularly powerful because it reminded me of my own journey as a writer. When I first started blogging, I constantly doubted myself. “Who am I to share book reviews? There are thousands of better writers out there.” Those thoughts became a self-fulfilling prophecy. My writing was tentative, my voice unclear, and my audience minimal.

The shift happened when I started changing that internal dialogue. Instead of focusing on what I lacked, I began emphasizing what I could control—reading one more book, writing one more post, engaging with one more reader. The transformation wasn’t overnight, but it was real.

Mylett argues that this mental shift requires more than positive thinking—it demands a complete reevaluation of your identity. You can’t just slap affirmations on top of deep-seated negative beliefs and expect change. You need to dig down and plant new seeds, cultivating them through consistent, repeated thought.

The practical application here is straightforward but not easy. Start monitoring your self-talk. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, pause and reframe. Replace “I can’t” with “I’m learning how to.” Swap “I failed” with “I’m making progress.” These aren’t just semantic games—they’re rewiring your brain’s default patterns.

The Truth About Trying: Why Effort Equals Achievement

One of the most refreshing aspects of “The Power of One More” is Mylett’s perspective on failure and persistence. He uses two brilliant analogies that completely reframed how I think about progress.

First, there’s the child learning to ride a bike. We all understand this process intuitively. No parent expects their kid to hop on a two-wheeler and nail it immediately. There’s a progression: training wheels, assisted balance, wobbly attempts, skinned knees, and finally, that magical moment when everything clicks. We accept this learning curve for children, but we’re brutally impatient with ourselves as adults.

The second analogy hit even harder for me—the piñata at a birthday party. Each kid takes a swing expecting candy to pour out, but the first several attempts produce nothing visible. Some kids get frustrated and give up. But here’s the thing: every single swing is doing damage. Every hit weakens the structure. The progress is invisible until suddenly it’s not, and candy explodes everywhere.

This concept of “invisible progress” is something I wish I’d understood earlier in my career. When I was writing my first book, I spent months feeling like I was getting nowhere. The manuscript seemed terrible, the plot felt flat, and I couldn’t see any improvement despite daily writing sessions. I was ready to quit.

What I didn’t realize was that each writing session was strengthening my skills, clarifying my voice, and building the foundation for breakthrough moments that would come later. The progress was happening; I just couldn’t see it yet.

Mylett’s message is clear: trying is achieving. Every attempt moves you forward, even when you can’t measure the movement. This perspective transforms how we view setbacks. They’re not failures—they’re data points, learning opportunities, and invisible progress accumulating toward your breakthrough.

In practical terms, this means committing to consistency over perfection. Don’t wait until you feel ready or until conditions are ideal. Just do one more thing today. Make one more attempt. Take one more swing at your personal piñata. The compound effect of these efforts will surprise you.

Reimagining Time: From Clock Time to Mind Time

This section of the book genuinely challenged my thinking. Like most people, I’ve always operated on the assumption that I have 24 hours in a day—no more, no less. Time management, in this framework, becomes about squeezing more tasks into those fixed hours.

Mylett introduces a concept he calls “mind time,” and it’s a game-changer. Mind time is about perception rather than objective measurement. It’s how time feels to you, and here’s the kicker—you can manipulate it.

His personal strategy involves dividing his 24-hour day into three separate “days,” each lasting about six to eight hours. Each mini-day has its own goals, priorities, and sense of completion. Instead of having one long day where tasks blur together and deadlines feel distant, he creates three distinct periods with built-in urgency.

When I first read this, I thought it sounded exhausting. Three days in one? But as I reflected on my own productivity patterns, I realized the brilliance. How often have you started your day with good intentions, only to reach 3 PM and realize you’ve accomplished almost nothing meaningful? The day feels long, so there’s always “time later” to tackle important work.

By compressing your timeframe, you create artificial urgency that drives focused action. If you only have six hours to accomplish your goals for this “day,” you can’t afford to waste two hours scrolling social media or getting lost in busywork.

I’ve started experimenting with this approach in my own life, though I’ve modified it slightly. I break my day into two chunks: morning and afternoon. Each has specific goals, and when I complete them, I mentally “close out” that period. The psychological shift is remarkable. I feel more accomplished, less overwhelmed, and more in control of my time.

The broader principle here is about controlling time rather than letting time control you. We often feel like passive victims of the clock, rushing from one obligation to another. Mylett encourages us to become active architects of our time, shaping how we perceive and use it.

This means being intentional about prioritization. Don’t just knock out easy tasks to feel productive. Identify your urgent, high-impact activities and tackle those first within your compressed timeframe. Measure your performance not by hours worked but by meaningful progress made.

Emotions as Fuel: Harnessing What You Feel

Here’s where Mylett diverges from a lot of traditional self-help advice. Many authors in this space preach positivity at all costs—eliminate negative emotions, avoid fear, stay in a high-vibe state constantly. It’s exhausting and, frankly, unrealistic.

Mylett takes a more nuanced approach. He acknowledges that we’re emotional beings experiencing a full spectrum of feelings, and that’s not just okay—it’s useful. Even negative emotions like fear, anxiety, and anger can serve as powerful motivators when properly channeled.

This resonated deeply with me. Some of my best work has emerged from uncomfortable emotional states. Frustration with the publishing industry pushed me to start my blog. Anxiety about financial stability drove me to build multiple income streams. Fear of irrelevance motivated me to constantly learn and adapt.

The key, according to Mylett, isn’t to suppress or avoid negative emotions but to embrace them as information and energy. Fear tells you something matters to you. Anxiety signals that you’re pushing beyond your comfort zone. Anger can fuel the determination needed for difficult changes.

Of course, this doesn’t mean wallowing in negativity or letting emotions control you. Mylett emphasizes that while you can’t always control which emotions arise, you can decide what to focus on and how to respond.

The practical application involves developing emotional awareness and intentional focus. When you feel fear before a big presentation, acknowledge it rather than fighting it. Recognize that the fear means you care about the outcome, then channel that energy into thorough preparation. When anxiety creeps in about a project, use it as fuel to take one more action toward completion.

Mylett also advocates for meditation as a tool for emotional regulation. I’ll admit, I was resistant to meditation for years—it seemed too woo-woo for my practical mindset. But after reading this section, I gave it another shot, approaching it as a mental training exercise rather than a spiritual practice.

Even just five minutes of focused breathing and mental stillness helps me reset emotional patterns. It creates space between feeling and reaction, allowing me to choose my response rather than being hijacked by emotion.

Applying “One More” to Your Daily Life

The philosophy sounds great in theory, but how does it actually work in practice? Let me share some specific applications I’ve implemented and seen work:

In your health and fitness: Don’t overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight. Just do one more rep, one more minute of exercise, or eat one more healthy meal this week than you did last week. When I applied this to my own fitness journey, I stopped setting ambitious goals like “work out five days a week” and instead committed to “one more workout than last week.” The psychological pressure lifted, and paradoxically, I became more consistent.

In your career: Make one more sales call, send one more follow-up email, or have one more meaningful conversation with a colleague or client. As a blogger, I committed to reaching out to one more author per week for potential collaborations. That simple practice has opened doors I never expected and built relationships that enriched my work.

In your relationships: Send one more thoughtful message, ask one more meaningful question, or spend one more quality hour with someone you care about. I started applying this with my family, and it’s transformed our connections. One more phone call to my parents, one more date night with my partner—these small additions compound into deeper bonds.

In your personal growth: Read one more chapter, learn one more skill, or practice one more minute of meditation. The beauty of this approach is its sustainability. You’re not committing to reading 50 books this year; you’re just reading one more chapter today. The long-term results take care of themselves.

In your finances: Save one more dollar, cut one more unnecessary expense, or invest one more hour learning about money management. Financial transformation doesn’t require dramatic sacrifice—just consistent, incremental improvement.

Where the Book Shines and Where It Falls Short

Let me be balanced here. “The Power of One More” has significant strengths, but it’s not perfect.

On the positive side, Mylett’s writing is accessible and practical. He’s not an academic theorist—he’s someone who’s built success in the real world and shares strategies that actually work. The book avoids the trap of being overly prescriptive. Instead of demanding you follow a rigid system, it offers flexible principles you can adapt to your circumstances.

The “one more” concept itself is brilliant because it removes the paralysis that often comes with big goals. You don’t need to figure out how to lose 50 pounds; you just need to do one more healthy thing today. That’s manageable, and management leads to momentum.

I also appreciate that Mylett acknowledges limitations and external factors. He’s not selling the toxic positivity narrative that you can manifest anything if you just believe hard enough. He’s realistic about the role of circumstances while empowering you to maximize what’s within your control.

However, the book does have some weaknesses. At times, the content feels repetitive. Once you grasp the core concept, some chapters seem to circle back over familiar ground without adding substantial new insights. A tighter edit could have made this a more powerful read.

Additionally, while Mylett shares personal anecdotes, the book could benefit from more diverse examples and case studies. His experiences as a successful entrepreneur and coach are valuable, but readers from different backgrounds might struggle to see themselves in his stories.

There’s also limited discussion of systemic barriers and how the “one more” philosophy applies when you’re facing significant obstacles beyond mindset—poverty, discrimination, health challenges, etc. The book’s focus on personal responsibility is empowering but could be more nuanced in acknowledging that not everyone starts from the same place.

How This Book Compares to Others in the Genre

If you’re familiar with the self-help landscape, you might wonder how “The Power of One More” stacks up against similar books. Having read extensively in this genre, I can offer some perspective.

James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” covers similar territory with its focus on small, incremental improvements. Both books emphasize that tiny changes compound into remarkable results. However, Clear’s approach is more systematic and research-based, while Mylett’s is more motivational and personal. If you want detailed habit-formation strategies, go with Clear. If you need inspiration to start taking action, Mylett might resonate more.

Compared to Tony Robbins’ work, Mylett is less intense and more accessible. Robbins can feel overwhelming with his high-energy approach and massive action demands. Mylett’s “one more” philosophy feels more sustainable for ordinary people living ordinary lives.

Mel Robbins’ “The 5 Second Rule” shares the focus on simple, actionable techniques to overcome hesitation. Both books offer practical tools rather than complex theories. They complement each other well—use Mel’s five-second countdown to start, then apply Ed’s “one more” principle to keep going.

What sets Mylett apart is the integration of time perception (mind time) with the incremental improvement philosophy. I haven’t seen this combination addressed as directly in other books, and it’s one of the most valuable takeaways.

Questions Worth Considering

As I finished “The Power of One More,” several questions stayed with me, and I think they’re worth reflecting on:

What would change in your life if you truly believed you were just one action away from a breakthrough? How would that shift your behavior today?

Where in your life are you making invisible progress that you’re not giving yourself credit for? Are you on the verge of quitting right before your piñata breaks?

These aren’t questions with easy answers, but they’re the kind of deep reflection that can spark real transformation. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments—are you closer to your goals than you think?

Final Thoughts: Small Steps, Big Impact

Look, I’m not going to tell you that “The Power of One More” will revolutionize your life overnight. That would contradict the entire premise of the book. What I will say is that this philosophy has genuinely shifted how I approach my goals, my work, and my daily decisions.

The beauty of Mylett’s approach is its simplicity and sustainability. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life, find your perfect morning routine, or commit to impossible standards. You just need to do one more thing today than you did yesterday.

Since implementing these principles, I’ve published more consistently, built stronger relationships with my readers, and felt less overwhelmed by my ambitions. The progress hasn’t been dramatic—it’s been incremental, which is exactly the point.

If you’re feeling stuck, frustrated by slow progress, or overwhelmed by the gap between where you are and where you want to be, this book offers a practical path forward. It’s not magic, and it’s not easy, but it is doable. And sometimes, “doable” is exactly what we need.

I’d love to hear from you—what’s the “one more” action you’re going to take today? Drop a comment below and let’s build a community of people committed to incremental improvement. Sometimes knowing others are on the journey with you makes all the difference.