In December last year I wrote a post about a great book, “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olsen. This post has recently received good feedback and even a request on a follow up post. So today I will make a follow up post to “The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson”.

What is “The Slight Edge? To summarize it down to it’s core, you can describe it as actions that affects your own life’s scale. Are you moving up or down?

A picture can say more than a thousand words. The above picture can be used as a map, a map to success that speaks for itself. There are 3 things in particular that stands out in this picture:

• First we have the 5% versus 95%, which represents the number of successful versus unsuccessful people (not becoming or attaining what they really want and dream about etc).
• Then we have the “Easy to do” versus the “Easy not to do”, that states the reason for successful results to be the summary of all the good things you actually do.
• And last we have the core, YOUR MIND

When I started my journey, my only focus was money. But it did not take me long to realize that without working with my mind first, I would not see any successful progress. Greed and fear was constantly fighting to be in focus and thoughts constantly switched in between, causing catastrophic results.

When I started to work on myself, instead of working on every shiny object coming in my way, I finally started to understand how to proceed and how to bring meaning into my life. I had been wondering about life’s purpose since over 15 years, and now it just hit me like a lightning.

To wander without a purpose is like traveling without a map. You see something you like and just go there without a thought, all the time. Ending up going in circles without getting anywhere. Even though I had a goal, to make money, it was very hard to get there (not to say impossible).

But after cruising around, failing and making mistakes I eventually started to get some clarity to where I was heading and how I could get there. My goal was still to make money but with purpose shifted the goals got multiplied and divided into short term and long term. If you only have a long term goal you will have to wait so long to celebrate, the chance of giving up before that is huge. And if  you only have one goal, what will you do when you reach it? Make sure you have many goals to be able to celebrate the small successes along the way. And make sure to have many goals to always keep striving, don’t you ever get comfortable.

And it is actually here that the slight edge comes in as a life saver:

 

When you are working towards your small goals, big goals and towards your purpose you must use a system to survive and to get progress. A system to make constant improvements and growth. The slight edge is that system. By doing the small things every day and not giving up you get forward. By being disciplined and steadfast you will grow and grow beyond your imagination. Only the sky is the limit.

How do I start then?

Well. Let’s say that you know nothing, and don’t know where to start and don’t know anyone to ask. Then instead of starting by doing mistakes, as I did, you should read. You should read at least 3 different books about personal development in order to get life purpose, strength and confidence enough.

OK, so now we have goal. Read three books! Sounds fun and easy, could be done in a couple of months or so… Not to inspiring and not a simple task, ha? But if we change it to be in alignment with the slight edge, how would we do it then?

Well, then we would need a purpose first. For example: To learn more about our selves, to grow, to gain confidence and to get inspired.

Then we would need a way to do it: Read or listen to books and speeches about personal development.

Then we need a system to make it happen: Read at least 10 pages or listen 20 minutes every day.

OK, so what would happen then. The purpose makes me understand the real reason for doing this. The planned way make it possible. The system makes it fun, measurable,  successful, consistent and the goals makes it easy and possible to accomplish.

Can you understand the difference? Just to set one goal and try to reach it is not so easy, but if you do it the “Slight Edge way” it can be both easy and inspiring.

Next step can be to start writing down your ideas like I do. By writing at least one post a week, in a year I will have written more words than i would writing a novel. Hows that for training?

Or it can be taking on a challenge to break or start a habit. That is a perfect way to build some character and confidence. Could be done as a 30 day challenge. And if you apply a little of the slight edge with purpose, celebrating small successes and everyday tasks, you will have lots of fun doing it. Se these posts as examples: “30-day challenge“, “Next 30-day challenge: 30 days without nicotine as a start of my new addiction free life“.

Oops, time flies and I need to wrap this up,

Take care and stay hungry

/Peter