1% Better: Reaching My Full Potential and How You Can Too

Written by Chris Nikic, Nik Nikic and Don Yaeger

Narrated by Tom Parks

What would life look like if you measured your success by improvements instead of victories? Nik Nikic shares the incredible story of his son Chris’s journey to become the first person with Down syndrome to ever complete an IRONMAN® triathlon, inspiring others to achieve their goals by getting 1 percent better every day.

From the moment Chris Nikic was born, his parents knew he could achieve anything he set his mind to do. So when he became involved in triathlons with the Special Olympics, his dad, Nik, took on the role of coach and encouraged Chris to aim even higher. Together, they set their sights on making history—Chris becoming the first person with Down syndrome to complete an IRONMAN® triathlon.

Written from Chris’s father’s perspective, Nik shares the 1% Better mindset that has helped Chris achieve many of his goals—and the underlying principles of the 1% Better system can help you pursue and achieve your dreams too! Through Chris and Nik’s story, learn the benefits of applying the model to your own life and discover how to:

• Overcome the mental hurdles of pain
• Stay motivated using three irrefutable laws of motivation
• See failures as opportunities for improvement
• Form a lifelong habit of success

You may never be the best. But you can be better than your best when you stop imposing self-limitations and begin the journey to reach your goals—one confident step at a time.

Publisher’s Note: 1% Better is written in Nik Nikic’s voice. Chris and his accomplishments are the focus of 1% Better, and Chris is a coauthor of the book as he was interviewed by his father and the writer.

Accompanying figures and appendix are available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9780785256694

Chris Nikic

Chris Nikic is the 21-year-old man who made history as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. Guiness World Records recognized Chris’s achievement after he finished a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-marathon run at the Ironman Florida competition in Panama City Beach. He completed the race in 16 hours 46 minutes and 9 seconds—14 minutes under the 17-hour cutoff time.   What drives Chris is this: “My mission is to honor God by being the best me I can be so I can be an example to others. I want to change the perceptions and raise expectations for others like me so we can reach our God-given potential. Believe and Achieve by getting 1% Better.”   Chris and his father, Nik, developed the "1% Better Challenge" to stay motivated during training. After his record-setting achievement, Chris will continue training for the 2021 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, as well as the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.