Steps to Success: Master Everyday Mundane Tasks

The philosophy of Slight Edge is very simple. Use simple strategies, simple actions, and do the same simple things every day.

Success comes from repeating the simple, small, mundane things daily, monthly, and yearly. Every time you repeat a simple action, it gradually becomes a habit and you get better and better. It’s just as easy to do a simple task every day as it is not to do it.

A cookie today won’t put on extra pounds, but if you choose to eat a cookie a day in addition to the foods you eat regularly, you could gain weight over time. On the other hand, if you want to lose weight and give up the daily cookie, you may eventually succeed in achieving your goal.

“The chose”

Jeff Olson used three stories for examples of daily actions and how they impact a goal. One of the stories he titles: “The Choice.”

It is about a rich man and two sons. The father is on his deathbed and gave away his children. One of the gifts was a choice between a million dollars in cash or a penny that would double every day. One son chose the million dollars, the other the penny.

Due to leverage and small steps each day, the son who chose the penny became the richer of the two.

Do you remember the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare”? It’s not always the speed with which you win the race, it’s being firm and consistent.

“The law of nature is: Do the thing, and you have the power: but those who do not do the thing do not have the power.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson, Compensation (Essays: First Series, 1841) (Taken from Chapter 1 of “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson.

Attitude and Philosophy

To be successful, you need to learn and study winning actions, but to truly create success, it is your attitude and philosophy that puts everything in place. You can learn all you want, but if you don’t apply simple tasks daily, you won’t be successful.

“The Slight Edge” outlines 7 principles that can be applied right now and used as guides. These 7 steps to success are goals you can achieve every day.

1. Always show up and be on time.

No matter what you’re doing, school, work, or volunteering, always introduce yourself. You cannot do anything if you are not present.

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you show up and try to do the right thing, dawn will come. You wait, you watch and you work: you don’t give up.” —Anne Lamott

2. Practice consistency.

Showing up is very important, but you have to do it constantly. Jeff Olson goes into a couple of stories that illustrate this point very well.

3. A good attitude is essential.

Winston Churchill said:

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Great advice. Jeff also warns us to watch out for the “cuckoos.” It’s fun to read about the “Cuckos” in the world.

4. It is important to commit for a long period of time.

You cannot expect success, fame, or glory overnight.

5. Develop faith and a burning desire towards your goal.

Desire is what keeps you going and motivated enough to overcome all obstacles that come your way.

6. Be willing to pay the price for what you want to achieve.

A phrase that became part of my life is: “There is a time and a place for everything.” If you are willing to pay the price up front, you will benefit in the end.

7. Integrity is a must.

When a person practices integrity, they will continue to do something even when no one is around to watch and observe. A person of integrity is a person worth being with.

Excellent book to read and apply!

The book has many testimonials from people from all walks of life who have experienced “The Slight Edge” practices. It is a book worth reading and beneficial to all who choose to follow the steps and guidelines outlined and written by Jeff Olson.