Zero Point One: The Gift of Just a Little More

Early in our marriage, we stopped at a gas station and my husband jumped out of our tiny silver Cougar. With the window open, he placed the nozzle in the fuel filler, chattering pleasantly as it filled with gas.

He paused as the handle clicked off, flashing the briefest look of concern. Then he laughed and pointed at the pump: $20.01. He told me about a friend who always teased him when he went just one cent over the number he was aiming for.

“You must be a woman,” the man had mocked. “They can’t ever get it quite right.”

That comment stuck with me. I wasn’t looking for it, but from that day on, I always noticed when my husband’s gas receipts ended on a perfect, round “.00”—and I definitely noticed every time mine didn’t.

It’s funny how seemingly insignificant moments highlight our deepest insecurities.

Years later, I was back in school working on my second college degree. It was a good day. My husband was at work, our happy boys were strapped into the van, and we had big dreams for our future. As I filled the minivan’s tank, the pump stopped at $33.01. I cringed. That silly penny again.

But this time, I laughed.

I thought of that long-ago conversation and saw it clearly for what it was. First, the idea that a man would feel superior because of his ability to land on “.00” was laughable. And second, some of the strongest, most powerful women in my life—and in all of history—have been different, not because they were less, but because they gave more.

That extra “.01” became a metaphor. A reminder that we all struggle with inadequacy sometimes, but often, what makes us feel “off” or “extra” is actually what makes us valuable.

Recently, I was talking with a good friend who was preparing for an executive-level interview. These interviews are hard to land, but she’s an amazing woman—strong, experienced, and a natural leader. Still, she had doubts. As she talked about what to wear and how to present herself, I encouraged her to embrace her uniqueness, to lead with what makes her different.

In job interviews, relationships, and life in general, we’re often tempted to polish ourselves down—to be more palatable, more predictable. But that’s a trap. If we tone ourselves down too much, we become unrecognizable to the very people we’re hoping to connect with.

I once heard a comedian say that the very things we get picked on for as children are the things that make us known, valued, or even famous as adults.

I can relate. As a kid, I was constantly in trouble for chattering or passing notes. Now, people pay me to communicate, to write, to lead. I was also teased at 11 years old for being 5’8” and 135 pounds—funny how no one is negative about those same measurements now that I’m in my forties.

When you feel inadequate, maybe it’s not because you’re wrong—but because you’re different. Being different can feel unsafe, especially in tight-knit groups. But sometimes, different just means you’re built to give more, to lead more, to shine a little brighter.

A friend of mine once said, “If all 60 of your team are happy with you, chances are no one’s getting a paycheck.” You can’t please everyone—but you can let your best qualities rise to the surface. You can be a little bit more. You can be Zero Point One.

So now, when I roll a $40.01 at the gas pump (my, how the cost of living has gone up!), I smile. That old comment is still there, somewhere in my memory—but it no longer stings. I think of the man who said it—still distant, still disappointed. Maybe hitting “.00” really is his only joy. But I have so much more.

Maybe “.01” should be my motto.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about not letting anyone else define who I should be—and always choosing to give just a little bit more toward the joy and impact I want to create.

What if the part of you that feels “off” is actually your greatest gift? What’s your Zero Point One?