self improvement

by

Applying “The Slight Edge”

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?

Applying The Slight Edge

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:

theslightedge disciplines

 

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

by

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Last week a dear friend of mine gave me a tip on a great book she was currently reading. She encouraged me to read the Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, because it might change it all…

It did not take long before I started to read, and boy did I get stuck or what! The best reading I had encountered this year by far.

The Slight Edge is all about how to approach you own life. We are actually living it, so why not make it good? By daily doing the easy little things that makes you move forward in life you can accomplish great things in the long run. For example, read 10 pages of a “good” book every day and you will have the knowledge from 10 “good” books in just a year. Start making 10 push-ups every day, and then increase a little every week. How many pushups do you think can be made then in a year? And how do you think that will affect your body? Imagine that you just add some sit ups and stretching as well, and when feeling stronger maybe add some regular outdoor exercise. What would happen to your body then? The possibilities are endless.

There is a lot of discussions about doing what 95% of all people would not do, because there are only 5% that succeeds in fulfilling their goals and live a successful life. Most people quit, because they want to see the results instantly. But the trick is to endure and be patient enough to understand and see the long term goal and benefits.

The Slight Edge was actually perfect for me because it wraps up everything I have been doing this year and gives me the strenght and courage to continue. Last year  in december I decided to quit gaming and gambling, as well as nicotine. To start doing some good with life again, to start moving forward again. For over 10 years everything had been about the kids and about work. It had been so easy just to flee reality with games or tv…

So last year I decided to start over and began by searching the internet for information about trading and making money online. It turned out that I was not the only one. Everyone seemed to be on the same hunt and everyone seemed to be fooled in one way or another. All kind of trading was tried out, but emotions made it too hard. A better way to begin seemed to be by joining Empower Network, which I did. There I found a lot of good educations and there I started blogging. Unfortunately everything was about sales, and that was  both a disappointment as well as “not for me”.

So far I have only found two good things, but the Tube Cash Code is also about sales and that seems to be against my philosophy so there is only Better Living left. But if I can keep up the good work and continue to explore and learn I might find more. If I could only find one good thing every year, then my retirement would become a dream.

Join me in my struggle and share your visions. What are you aiming at and what works for you? Do you have any suggestions for me?

Next thing I am wondering about is if there is any possibility of getting a robot working for you in trading forex or stocks? Is there anyone out there actually working. Is “Fap Turbo 2”  working? How do I manage my virtual server?

Hmm, there are a lot of questions to get answers on and this is what I will dedicate next year to. By taking babysteps everyday and learn it all piece by piece.

Please make comments and join me here or at Facebook, Google+ etc.

Take care and carry on,

/Peter

Cover of "The Slight Edge"

Cover of The Slight Edge