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The 1% Practice

I'm back and I brought 3 lessons with me

Published about 2 months agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read

The 1% Practice

Small shifts. Lasting change.

March 28, 2026

Hey Reader,

It's been a while, and I have a lot to catch you up on.

The first quarter of 2026 went by flying! After closing out 2025, I kicked off January by diving back into job hunting after 8 years. It meant adapting to a completely different reality and letting go of limiting beliefs.

Then just as I was getting closer to signing a work contract, another challenge came up: renewing my remote worker residency permit in Portugal. I'm at a point where one can't progress without the other.

Sometimes I catch myself wishing things were more linear and that I'd have 100% certainty about what's coming next. Have you ever felt that way? If so, here are the 3 lessons from 2025 that keep me moving in the middle of uncertainty.

πŸ“ 3 Lessons from a Year of Uncertainty

Almost one year ago, a LinkedIn message during dinner in Rome changed everything. Here's what I learned:

  • Focus β†’ Progress: After my layoff, everyone had ideas for what I should do next. I learned that saying no lowers the noise and creates space to hear your own signal. Most of the time you don't need more information but reflection.
  • Intention β†’ Meaning: Under social pressure, I caught myself defaulting to an old identity I'd already outgrown. Your intention works as a compass that prevents you from staying on a path just because you're already invested in it.
  • Shipping β†’ Identity: For more than 10 years I dreamed about putting software out in the world but never felt ready. After shipping Minder, I realized I never needed a title to be a developer. I needed to ship.

πŸ‘‰ Read the full story with the moments behind each lesson ↗​

🎯 The 1% Practice of the Week

Want to get better at accepting uncertainty? This reminder will help you:

I don't need certainty to move forward.

You can add as a random reminder in Minder (iPhone) or any reminder app on your phone.

The idea is simple: let it find you at the right moment.

Thanks for reading!

β€”Jorge Calle

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The 1% Practice

by Jorge Calle

Insights on building intentional habits, creating with presence, and improving 1% at a time.

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