Review and photo by Esther Paul
“What will it take for me to finally reach my weight goal?”
“What’s the difference between me and the 5% of people succeeding?
“What do I need to do to be a different person a month from now?”
The answer lies in The Slight Edge. According to the author, Jeff Olson, “The slight edge is a way of thinking, a way of processing information that enables you to make daily choices that will lead you to the success and happiness you desire.” It claims to be the “key that will make all the other how-to books and self-help information actually work.”
It touches on something we all know yet fail to follow through on-small steps. Olson calls it ‘simple daily disciplines.’ It explores the notion that if we take on a small task each day, we could accomplish our big goals- whether it be financial, physical or emotional. It’s what separates the 5 percent from the 95.
According to Olson, this is what led to Steve Martin’s success and many other millionaires. The book mentions the findings of Thomas Stanley and William Danko, authors of ‘The Millionaire Next Door: The surprising secrets of America’s wealthy,’ which was that the millionaires “developed the habit of doing ordinary little insignificant everyday things with their money” which turned into millions.
Think about it, you wake up every day and instead of going about your normal routine you make slight changes to slowly better yourself. It could be that you exercise for 10 mins daily, read 10 pages of a good book, implement a healthy meal into your diet or recite positive affirmations to yourself. Your life will change as you progress. In fact, those small numbers will increase. That’s the slight edge.
“The single most important story I can tell you about the slight edge is this: it’s already working, right now, either for you or against you.” Whether you decide to get up and exercise tomorrow or stay in bed, read a book or scroll on social media, be positive to yourself or only focus on the negative side, you are choosing what side of the slight edge curve you are on. In fact, even if you decide you won’t do anything, you are still choosing if the slight edge is working for or against you. Consider saving a dollar a day compared to not saving at all- which will benefit you in the long run?
The thing that always gets us and quite frankly leads us on a downward spiral is not having instant results. Our generation is high on instantaneity. We expect results and we expect it yesterday. We do a few mins of workout and expect to see a six pack in the mirror, eat a salad and expect to not see the doctor for months or, in light of today, upload one YouTube video and expect 1000 subscribers.
“Once you’re in motion, it’s easy to keep on keeping on. Once you stop, it’s hard to change from stop to go.” The slight edge will teach you how “steady wins the race.” If you’re tired of starting to exercise and never reaching your goal because you gave up or having an idea but never following through on it because no one seemed interested the first time you released it, consider picking up this book. Eight years after its release, it’s still relevant. It pushes you to “turn simple disciplines into massive success and happiness.” It’ll have you looking differently at the small steps you can take and actually make you want to take them.