GIVE YOURSELF THE SLIGHT EDGE:

TURN SIMPLE DAILY DISCIPLINES INTO HABITS THAT WILL BRING YOU SUCCESS

IN WORK AND LIFE

Janet Crum, Janet.Crum@nau.edu Kathleen Schmand,

Kathleen.Schmand@nau.edu Cline Library

WHAT IS THE SLIGHT EDGE?

• A self-help book

• A philosophy – big success comes from little steps taken repeatedly–over time

• The Slight Edge helps to identify ways to make change easy, no matter where you found the idea or what you want to change

2

WHY THE SLIGHT EDGE?

3

KEY PRINCIPLE #1: DO THE THING, AND YOU SHALL HAVE THE POWER

(EMERSON)• You already know how to do everything you need to do—you just have to keep doing them.

• Simple, seemingly insignificant things lead to simple daily disciplines.

• “Successful people actually do them.”

• Responsibility vs. blame: you have the power.

KEY PRINCIPLE #2: YOUR PHILOSOPHY IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT

• Change the way you think about simple, everyday things.

• Happiness comes first.

• Positive philosophy -> positive attitude -> positive actions -> positive results -> positive life • Focus on the future pulls you up; focus on the past pulls you down. “Would you rather be influenced by something you can’t change, or by something you can?” (p. 150)

KEY PRINCIPLE #3: THE SLIGHT EDGE,

NOT THE BIG BREAK• Simple, small actions repeated consistently over time, change doesn’t happen quickly.

• Form habits that feed success rather than failure.

• Where we are right now is the sum of our choices up to now.

• All about living in the moment – what can I choose to do RIGHT NOW that will move me forward?

• “Life is not a lottery” and “success is not a random accident” (p.32)

KEY PRINCIPLE #4: THE SLIGHT EDGE IS ALREADY WORKING IN

YOUR LIFE• No one can stand still – either moving toward or away from your goals with every decision you make. Your life path is a curve, not a straight line – and it’s always “curving either upward or downward” (p.142)

• Simple, productive actions repeated over time – or simple errors in judgment repeated over time – become habits, and their effect is compounded.

• We live most of our lives on autopilot, so train your autopilot to take you in the direction you want to go.

SO WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE SUCCEED?

• Slight edge actions are easy to do – but just as easy not to do.

• Slight edge actions seem insignificant – their power is multiplied by time.

• The results are invisible at the time – consequences are too far in the future and people give up.

• The slight edge is boring – no big break, no dramatic change, no glamor, no immediate positive reinforcement

SO HOW DO I START?• Set goals and commit to slight edge actions. Write them down. Tell others about them. We’ll do that right here today.

• Make a plan for where to start. No need for a detailed strategic plan for the rest of your life—just a plan to get started. We’ll do that right here today.

• Find mentors and surround yourself with positive people who have similar goals. Look around the room. We’ll help you connect with each other – right here today.

Let’s do this!

GOAL SETTING EXERCISE

LET’S SET SOME GOALS!

STEP 1: CHOOSE AN AREA• Health: exercise for 15 minutes a day (or walk n steps or…).

• Happiness: write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day.

• Relationships: carve out a time or designate an activity to spend with someone.

• Personal development: read 10 pages of a useful, inspiring book every day.

• Career: spend 15 minutes a day reading something related to your work or learning a new concept or technology; reach out to one member of your professional network each day to maintain contact (LinkedIn can make this one easier).

• Positive impact on the world: say something kind to someone every day.

STEP 2: MAKE A PLAN

Let’s make a simple plan for how to get started. The first step is writing it down. Only choose one area you want to focus on for this task.

Be: Specific in describing your goal, identify a timeline for achieving it.

Find: A group that is working on a similar goal area.

Identify: One simple daily discipline that will help get you to the goal.

STEP 3: FIND SUPPORT

Move to the area of the room designated for the topic you selected.

• Introduce yourself to the others in the group.

• Share with the group: • Your goal • Why you chose it• The simple daily discipline you will start practicing• How you plan to start

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

It is all up to you now:

Show up.Be consistent.

Have a positive outlook.Be committed. Keep it simple.

CONNECT ON LINKEDIN

Practicing the Slight Edge:

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8534690

QUESTIONS?