In this way, Maurer lost 45 pounds in 18 months and became a living example of the premise of his book, "One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way" (Workman, $16.95).

Taking minute steps to achieve a seemingly impossible goal is the cornerstone of kaizen. Created more than half a century ago, this Japanese concept of "continuous improvement" yielding quality control is still used extensively in factories and offices around the world.

Much of kaizen is based on the work in postwar Japan of legendary American statistician W. Edwards Deming, who died in 1993 at age 93. His innovative theories on creating effective, slow but steady work systems were used to rebuild Japan's economy.

The USA, by contrast, has traditionally preferred dramatic innovation. "Americans have this myth of the big change," Maurer says.

Now this business theory has crossed into the realm of personal self-help as proponents argue the merits of taking the smallest steps to slowly climb to the summit of an emotional, physical or professional mountain.

This fall saw the release of both Maurer's book and the gentle tome "Small Change: It's the Little Things in Life that Make a Big Difference" by Susan and Larry Terkel (Tarcher/Penguin, $13.95).

In his book, Maurer gives the example of an overweight, single mother whose only time to relax was a 30-minute lounge in front of the TV at the end of the day. Rather than adding another task to her already overloaded day, Maurer just asked that she march in place in front of the TV during an ad for 60 seconds each night.

That mini-march became longer and longer until, by the end of several months, she was completing full aerobic workouts. "The bigger change you want, the more anxiety you experience," he says.

In their new paperback, "Small Change," the Ohio-based Terkels also emphasize that change evolves more easily through tiny, slow steps than by mammoth, revolutionary efforts, like the usual New Year's resolutions to transform one's body, love life and career.

The parents of three grown children, the Terkels present a homespun paean to the benefit of slowing down. As the opening sentence puts it, "Small change adds up," whether it's choosing to smile more each day or washing your hands with soap and water like your mother instructed. "You're always able to improve something," Susan Terkel says.

The Terkels offer examples of small steps toward a variety of goals, including developing better health and a more creative mind. For example, their advice on developing good eating habits is to pick one meal, say breakfast, and take a month to focus on making one healthful change in that meal.

Being more creative can start with just reading a page or two of a good book every night, they say.

Both titles are finalists for the ninth annual "Books for a Better Life Awards," presented by the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The winners will be announced next month.

Playwright and advertising consultant Stephen Fischer, 53, has had a long association with Maurer as both a student and a private client. He credits Maurer, with whom he still communicates via e-mail, with helping him change his life.

When he first met Maurer, Fischer was living in Hollywood and writing movie screenplays and TV pilots.

Almost every morning, Fischer would join a group of fellow writers for breakfast at a local cafŽ. They would rehash the many indignities they suffered at the hands of producers and directors. Fischer realized, however, that this unproductive state of affairs would go on forever. "I wanted to be more than myself," Fischer says.

Maurer did not give his client tips or advice. Instead, he advised Fischer to look at his fears before making any changes at all. Step by step, Fischer says, the therapist helped him change what he thought was possible in his work and life.

"He helps clear your windshield so the world seems less dull and gray," Fischer says. To set the groundwork for change, Maurer asked him to ponder five questions:

• What are you happy about?
• What are you excited about?
• Who do you love?
• Who loves you?
• What are you grateful for?

On his own, Fischer decided to move to the East Coast.

And rather than writing movie screenplays and TV pilots "for hire," he began writing musicals. He is now working with Latin producer Sergio George.

"I'm much happier," Fischer says. "Step by step, I got off the hamster treadmill of Hollywood."

Maurer also says writing has been a challenge for him. He initially had a hard time making himself sit down and write.