The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success

Chapter 10 continues the discussion about raising standards using The One More Mindset. Goals begin as thoughts intended for desired outcomes. Standards are the means of making these thoughts reality. Paying attention to your level of toleration for negative and positive experiences determines your standards: “If you’re willing to tolerate something, that's probably what you’re going to get” (127). Standards should be made consistent with your highest level of self-worth.

To find standards, Mylett encourages readers to look to their idols. Professional athletes, influential thinkers, famous artists, and community leaders are all excellent examples of people who hold themselves to high standards. He gives examples of precise standards such as “Make 20 calls more per week to clients. Take classes that will lead you to your Masters’ degree in 18 months. Commit to working six hours every Saturday and staying two hours later [at work] three days a week” (130). Goals without standards are flimsy and directionless; they can easily be lost or given up.

Mylett provides nine ways to set a higher standard. These include asking “why” to define a clear purpose for the goal, making sure goals are detailed and broken down into achievable steps to help those goals become realistic, and getting help in areas of weakness.