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I am re-reading a book called the Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. Great book. In his book he maps out the 7 Slight Edge principals. I'm just talking about the first two. The first two seem so evident and simple but I'm amazed at how many people apparently don't get this. BTW I'm not immune to not getting this either. after re-reading this book I know I have some work to do.
1. Show up. 80% of winning in many cases is just showing up. I can't tell you how many excuses I hear for not being able to show up. We have become a society that doesn't take this to heart. Let me add a caveat to showing up, "on time"
One of the things that drives me crazy is being late. I tell my kids that being late is not acceptable. In fact being on time is getting there 5 min early. When you are late it is a reflection that you are thinking about yourself and no one else. You demonstrate a lack of respect for the person who is waiting for you. Not showing up or showing up late on a consistent basis is change in the wrong direction. If you can just show up daily on time you have won half the battle.
2. Be Consistent. Consistency is the key to all success. Golfers know this too well. To be a great golfer you have to consistently hit the ball straight and consistently sink putts. You don't just wake up one morning and it happens. You have to practice, and practice, and practice to achieve consistency. If you really look closely at people who are amazingly successful it has nothing to do with rocket science. It has everything to do with consistently showing up and doing something over and over the best way they know how.
Look at couples who have a great relationship. It wasn't magic or fate. It was consistently showing up and being there for each other. I recently talked with a friend of mine who has been happily married for 42 years. Her words of advice. Show up in your marriage everyday. Be consistently engaged in that other person. Sure the relationship ebbs and flows but showing up and consistency on a daily basis is the key.
When someone tells me they did a work our program and it didn't work for them. You know what I'm thinking in the back of my head. Hmmmmmm, did you consistently show up? I guarantee if you ask that question the answer will be, "Well no, I went for a bit but then i got real busy and so, No!"
You owe it to yourself. If there is anything you deem worthy of doing then give it your all. Show up everyday on time and be consistent. We are all human and will stumble from time to time but its the people who stumble and don't get back on track that find that the Slight Edge will work against them and not for them over their entire life.
