What Do Atomic Habits, British Cycling, and My Favorite Football Team Have in Common?
In the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, one of the most unforgettable stories is about the transformation of the British Cycling team.
Clear explains how habits compound over time and how making small (or even micro) daily improvements can lead to significant long-term results.
The tough reality for the British Cycling team was that, since 1908, they had won only a single gold medal in the Olympic Games. Their record in the Tour de France was even worse: for over 110 years, not a single British cyclist had won the tournament.
That all changed in 2003 when Dave Brailsford was appointed as the team’s new coach.
Brailsford was a firm believer in the “power of tiny gains”—the idea that improving by just 1% each day could lead to massive results over time. As he put it:
“The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, and then improve it by 1 percent, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together.”
Fast forward five years: in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the British Cycling team won an astonishing 60% of the gold medals available in cycling events. The transformation this team underwent in such a short time was nothing short of phenomenal, serving as an inspiration to anyone striving to push their limits.
In December 2021, Brailsford was appointed Director of Sport at INEOS, where he oversees a growing range of teams and disciplines sponsored by the group, including the French football club Nice.
Manchester United
2013 was an emotional year for fans of Manchester United. The team won its 20th league title—the most in English Premier League history—but on May 8th, the legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement after 26 years in charge. During his tenure, Ferguson won an astounding 38 trophies, cementing himself as one of the greatest managers in football history. He was a true leader, involved in every aspect of the club. His departure left a void too big to fill.
Since then, Manchester United has struggled. They haven’t won a single league title, have delivered poor performances on the pitch, and have gone through five permanent managers (not including temporary ones). A major criticism of the current United ownership is their treatment of the club more as a commercial enterprise than as a football institution meant to deliver success to its fans.
However, on December 24th, 2023, Manchester United made an exciting announcement:
“Manchester United plc reaches agreement for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, to acquire up to a 25% shareholding in the Company.”
Additionally, they revealed that INEOS would take over responsibility for the management of the club’s football operations. This includes all aspects of men’s and women’s football, as well as the Academies. Brailsford, with his incredible track record, will now have a central role in managing Manchester United’s football and sports operations.
What happens next
As a passionate Manchester United fan, I’m excited, curious, and admittedly impatient to see what happens next. With the recent changes in the Head Coach position with Ruben Amorim replacing Erik Ten Hag, I simply can’t wait to see what the future will bring us. Brailsford’s history of turning teams into champions speaks for itself. His ability to create a lasting impact through meticulous planning and execution could be exactly what Manchester United needs. It will be fascinating to witness how he influences my team’s future. Here’s hoping for a brighter chapter ahead!
