If you procrastinate, get overwhelmed, or have set a goal that has failed to achieve (or perhaps achieved a goal and relapsed); read on. It is likely nearly all of us are somewhere in this same category.

Let me begin by saying this book offers little, new-thinking on the process to achieve big goals by taking small bites. At the same time, this book is a must-read because of the way the author gets you to think about this approach. The Kaizen Way reduces the conscious and unconscious fears and focuses on small victories. Success in the small is the path to big impact. Fear is reduced, attitudes are improved, and dauntingly large goals are replaced with slow and steady. It is not a concept for the impatient. It will fall on deaf ears for those seeking a 'quick fix'.

Kaizen is the name for a change based-strategy on the Japanese techniques for using very small, steady steps. It was initially used in Depression-era America for quality manufacturing processes. A statistician named Dr W. Edwards Deming is most frequently associated with this concept. After the war, the philosophy was introduced to the Japanese who were very receptive to its concepts. The approach was soon discarded in booming post-war America but continued to be embraced by the Japanese who gave the small-step way the name, Kaizen.

The author, Robert Maurer, PhD takes the principles of method, originally intended for manufacturing organizations, and makes the case it works as well for personal behavioral change. Maurer’s pedigree includes a psychologist by trade and Associate Professor at UCLA School of Medicine, consultant, and instructor at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, all of which were reasons enough for me to consider this book may be a worthwhile read.

Whether your goal it is keep the house/office clean and neat, lose 20 pounds, complete a daunting work assignment, exercise 30 minutes daily, or reach a myriad of other "new-year's-type" resolutions, this book offers a new and somewhat novel approach to goal-reaching success.

The Kaizen Way is the 180 degree opposite of the ‘cold turkey’ or all-or-nothing method. Rather than set a goal to lose ten pounds by giving up your evening snacks, Maurer offers the example of throwing away the first bite only. Practice this same behavior over and over. Over time, this small task will be easy and you will be ready to do the same with the second bite, third and so forth. Dreaded or overwhelming tasks seem so easy when you work on them in small ways.

The larger (and scarier) a goal may be, the more likely we are to procrastinate. Chunking down the goal to really little chunks, focusing only on one small chunk until you are ready to move ahead , is far more approachable. Momentum builds as you acknowledge your success at sticking with walking five minutes daily for two weeks, for example.

No sore muscles or time-excuses when you take this approach.

Chapter Highlights:

1) Why Kaizen Works - Fear of change is rooted in the brain physiology. Fight or flight kicks in. Small (tiny) steps do not cause this mechanism to kick in and thereby allows for success.

2) Ask Small Questions - Small questions dispel fear and inspire creativity. Example: If health were my highest priority, what would be one very small thing I could be doing differently - today, right here - right now?

3) Think Small Thoughts Mind Sculpturing is the term the author uses for the small thoughts to imagine that you are doing the activity. Lose weight while you day-dream - not exactly; rather train your brain and mentally rehearse. Athletes have successfully used this approach.

4) Take Small Actions Success is much more probable when the step is nearly insignificantly small. Small wins are motivating.

5) Solve Small Problems rather than embarking on a large manufacturing (or life) innovation. What is one small change that can lead to a big impact?

6) Bestow Small Rewards Data shows recognition and small rewards are significantly more motivating.

7) Identify Small Moments - A flight attendant saved an airline hundreds of thousands of dollars by noticing passengers were not eating the olives in the salad. She recommended that the food service discontinue serving olives. As it turns out the airline paid by the number of items in the salad and the savings were big from such a small change. Had the airline run a contest to see who could suggest the biggest innovation to save the airline big money; it is doubtful the flight attendant would have submitted the olive idea.

Kaizen for Life - The opposite of the boot camp mentality (that has lasting results for a select few), allows the mind take the bigger leaps only when it is ready.

If you have a big task confronting you and are looking for a kick-start, consider reading this book. It is intriguing, motivating and may just get you moving.