The first impression you might get upon hearing “The Slight Edge” could be that this principle helps you stay ahead of the rest just by a fraction. But a closer look will reveal that it might well be the ONLY thing separating you from success. Jeff Olsen, author of “The Slight Edge”, opines that there’s not much difference between being a top achiever and being an average one. Success is never instant, nor does it come about by a stroke of luck or some amazing event. Success is the result of small but consistent actions and habits over a certain period of time.  

It might seem simple, but it’s also why very few people are able to do spectacular things in life while others are left pondering why they don’t succeed.

The Slight Edge, the Big Difference

Now as you read this, do one thing. Think of ONE thing you can start doing today in order to improve ONE area of your life you wish to better the most. Examples could be simple things like working for 15 more minutes at sales calls, emailing someone you care about, writing a page of a book you are working on, adding 5 more dollars to your investments, etc. Small things, but big results when done consistently.  Why don’t people follow such simple things?

People aren’t as much lazy as they are ignorant of the power of small but consistent actions over a period of time. Just think of where you will reach in a year’s time doing the above mentioned actions. You will have made 65 HOURS of sales calls (easily equaling about 3 weeks’ of pay), you’ll have cordial relations with 3-4 people you care about, you’ll have written 365 pages of a book (more than enough for a book), and you’ll have invested 1,825 dollars.

If this is where you’ll reach in one year, imagine where you would be 10, 20 or 30 years down the line. Moreover, think of the compounding effects and returns of having written a book a year, having developed loving relationships each year, having earned more money by investing it and reinvesting it, and so on. Think of all the areas in your life that you can improve this way by doing MINOR things. Health, financial condition, interpersonal relationships, business relationships, self confidence, personal skills and expertise in your field…

Now, what if you read only ONE book a month written by a master in the field you are working in? Can you imagine where that knowledge would take you to in one year? In 10 years? Again, the problem is that it sounds too simple to be true. We take such minor things for granted and don’t think they matter too much. People don’t consider “The Slight Edge” difference, the difference between failure and success for many people.

We All Start with Baby Steps

So what is the one thing you think you can start doing today and acquire “The Slight Edge”? If you look too far you may not believe what the little thing can bring you. When you were learning how to walk, you didn’t know how important each little step was. Initially it did take you a lot of effort and concentration, even some amount of risk, but if you hadn’t taken those initial steps, where would you have been today? If you hadn’t even bothered to start, would you have come this far?

So what is the one thing you think you can start doing today and acquire “The Slight Edge”? If you look too far you may not believe what the little thing can bring you. When you were learning how to walk, you didn’t know how important each little step was. Initially it did take you a lot of effort and concentration, even some amount of risk, but if you hadn’t taken those initial steps, where would you have been today? If you hadn’t even bothered to start, would you have come this far?