Reflections On The Slight Edge

Somewhere in the early 90’s a came across an article written by Jeff Olsen, “The Slight Edge.” Back in the early 90’s Jeff was a major player in direct marketing. I loved Jeff’s idea and put some of them in practice. 2 weeks ago, I saw the article again, and was compelled to buy the audio recording of his book, The Slight Edge.

Here is an excerpt from Jeff’s original article on The Slight Edge

What if you gave yourself five years to become twice the person you are today: to earn twice the income, have twice the personal relationships and contacts, make twice the impact on the world, enjoy twice the quality of life? Could you do it? How would you do it?! Ask yourself honestly, "If I doubled my efforts ...if I had twice as much time...if I became twice as smart.. if I worked twice as hard as I do today ...could I really become twice as productive as I am right now? No, you couldn't, and you know it. But wait! There is a way to become two, three, four, and more times as productive as you are today. THE SLIGHT EDGE.

IF YOU WERE TO IMPROVE just .003 each day- that's only 3/10 of one percent, a very Slight Edge-and you kept that up for the next five years, here's what would happen to you:

The first year, you would improve 100 percent (you would already be twice what you are today The second, you would improve 200 percent. The third year, 400 percent. And the fourth, 800 percent. And by the end of year five-by simply improving 3/10 of one percent each day-you will have magnified your value, your skills, and the results you accomplished 1,600 percent. That's 22 times more than you are today.

Just 3/10 of one percent per day-and that's NOT compounded. That's just adding on 3/10 of one percent each day. That's the awesome power of The Slight Edge. If all of this is so, then why isn't everybody using The Slight Edge? We are. All the time. Everyone. The Slight Edge is always operating. It never stops. It's either working FOR you or AGAINST you. And that's up to you. It's your choice.

How does that apply to you, both professional and personal? The cliché “If It Is Easy To Do, It Is Easy Not To Do” applies to The Slight Edge. Habits, disciplines, attitudes, self-talk, associations with others, diet, exercise, feeding your brain, spirituality, education, career advancement; these are all part of the Slight Edge. These are all part of the 3/10 of one percent movement, positive or negative. It is a matter of choice, of simple choice.

What if you read 5 pages in a good self improvement book? Not much impact. What if you read 5 pages a day for 30 days, 150 pages in the book? That would be the size of most improvement books. The Slight Edge would be to read and then apply what you read. Small steps taken every day. What if you read 10 pages the next month, daily? That would double to 300 pages. Not bad. Small baby steps taken consistently is the idea behind the Slight Edge.

Take your associations, the people you hang around. With some people, you need to cut that time in half. They tend to be negative. They would rather complain about life, work, relationships, etc. Perhaps they have used the Slight Edge in the wrong manner, consistently feeding themselves with negative thoughts, actions, and habits. Could you become healthier by cutting your time with them? 2 hours instead of 2 days. 20 minutes instead of 2 hours. Other people you need to associate with twice as much because they are the type of people you aspire to be with. Since you are associating with people, use the Slight Edge and hang with the right ones.

For me, I am incorporating The Slight Edge by listening to healthy messages while I am driving to work. Instead of the radio, I will gain education. Reading more books, watch TV less. My goal is 5 pages a night for 30 days. The Slight Edge in my physical fitness routine is just the same, a little bit, consistent over time. Now, if I do this for one day, or 3 days in one week, that will not make an impact. If I do this for 3 months, then 6, then 9, and apply what I am learning, then I get the compounded interest of learning AND applying. More education, better shape, and a healthy perspective on life.

In a recent study of seminar attendees the question was asked “What, if any, roadblocks exist that would prevent me from implementing what I have learned?”

* 54.2% stated they, themselves, were the only “roadblock” they could identify
* 37.5% stated that there were no legitimate “roadblocks” to their success.

If you combine the two, 91.7% either do not see any obstacles to their success or are willing to accept personal responsibility for their performance. 9 out of 10 people fell short because if it was easy to do, it was easy not to do.

My challenge to myself and to you, the reader, is to put The Slight Edge into practice with just one thing in your life. Make an attempt to improve 3/10 of one percent a day for 30 days. Then, let me know how that is working.