Slight Edge

Jeff Olson recorded a cd about “The Slight Edge.” This audio clarifies the fine line between success and a mediocre life. The good news is that it really is a slight edge. You may be closer than you think to achieving your goals and dreams.

For instance, he spoke about a nice shoe shine lady in the airport who read a great many books. Reading is excellent. Every great leader recommends reading. Brian Tracy and Dennis Waitley recommend reading for a minimum of thirty minutes per day. Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher recommends reading a book a week. In fact, one of Jim’s weekend seminars teaches how to read a book a day. Every great leader is a reader.

So what is the problem for the nice show shine lady? She was reading romance novels. Nothing is wrong with romance; I am an absolute romantic. Romance novels do not enhance the intellect or provide inspiration or even motivation to succeed in business. What if that stack of dog-eared books included “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason, “The Travelers Gift” by Andy Andrews, “The Prosperity Secrets of the Ages” by Catherine Ponder or “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” by Steven Covey? Reading is critical to success but it is not just reading but which books you choose to read.

Your mind is a fertile garden which can be planted with the seeds of greatness or weeds of mindless chatter. It is a slight edge. In many cases, THE slight edge.

Another slight edge revolves around your daily habits. How much time do you spend watching television? Silly situation comedy shows may be fun but what do they do for your mind? How much time do you spend every day watching CNN, which I refer to as constantly negative news? Have you ever noticed that most news stations give you negative news, then a commercial for an anti-depressant, more negative news and another commercial for another anti-depressant? Why not eliminate the negative? What are you planting in that fertile soil of your mind? Are you planting positive thoughts and inspiration or negative thoughts and empty time fillers?

I’m not saying that you should not be informed about world and local events, but filter the essential from the un-necessary negative. I have televisions in my home; however, I probably have not had them on a total of ten hours in a year. My time is spent with good books, educational and inspirational cds and masterminding with leaders.

The slight edge makes all the difference. Start by committing to reading at least 30 minutes per day or at least 10 pages per day. Focus on reading growth-oriented information which will inspire, inform or encourage you. Spend your free time filling your mind with positive thoughts rather than negative. It is imperative that the last 30 minutes before sleep and the first 30 minutes after you awaken be filled with positive thoughts and information.

Success involves a slight edge. Who knows, this may be the slight edge which turns your life from ordinary to exceptional.