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.
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.
NIK NIKIC brings over 20 years of experience in helping clients maximize top line revenue. Nik’s expertise is focused in developing a “Sales Performance Optimization System” through a hybrid approach of integrating sales process, CRM tools, and sales skills into one cohesive solution.
Over the years Nik and his organization have worked with many global companies like United Technologies, Computer Sciences Corporation, Toshiba, Deloitte, RICOH, Tech Data, Progress Energy, Clear Channel, Siemens, Xerox, Gartner Group, EMC, Parametric Technology, SCT, Cambridge Technology, GE Capital, OCE/Imagistics, NICE Systems and many others.
Nik is the father of Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to ever complete a full IRONMAN. Together they developed the 1% Better Challenge to help keep Chris motivated during his training. Having trained thousands of people during his career, Nik says, “Chris is the most coachable person I’ve ever met.”
Don Yaeger is a 12-time New York Times bestselling author, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and one of the most in-demand public speakers on the corporate circuit. Throughout his writing career, he has developed a reputation as a world-class storyteller and has been invited as a guest on numerous major talk and news shows – from The Oprah Winfrey Show to Nightline and Good Morning America. In addition to writing and speaking, Yaeger is the host of the highly rated Corporate Competitor Podcast.
