The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. You’re about to learn how you can achieve anything in life with the right mindset.
If you’ve been struggling to achieve your goals, or if you don’t know what those goals should be, then this article is for you.
I’m here today to share with you powerful lessons from The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. This book will teach you how to look at the possibilities of life and how to become a better person.
1. You Can’t-Wait For The Right Time To Start
“All of your excuses and reasons and explanations don’t matter. What matters is you, and what you’re going to do about it.” – Jeff Olson.
Are you waiting for the right time? Have you been procrastinating things that should’ve been done long ago? Do you put off doing things because you are afraid that they will take a lot of effort?
We all do. We’ve become accustomed to living our lives in a particular way, and it’s hard for us to make changes. But the truth is until you start doing things, regardless of how small they are.
When you have a task to do at work, do you put it off until tomorrow? You will probably feel more motivated in the morning or after lunch. But what usually happens when the next day comes? You find something else to distract yourself with, and you end up pushing the task longer.
You can’t wait for the right time to start because there is no such thing. There will always be distractions that are going to get in your way. You have to show discipline and self-control if you want to achieve what you’ve set out to do. You should not postpone even small tasks.
2. It’s Not About What You Know, It’s About Doing What You Know
“To truly know and not do is not to truly know.” – Jeff Olson.
At the beginning of my blogging journey, I wrote many articles filled with grammatical errors and had awful titles. I didn’t have a strategy or a plan behind what I was doing. And most of the articles were way too long, and they didn’t provide any real value to the readers.
I’ve read a lot about blogging and marketing, but I wasn’t taking any action. That is until I understood that if you want to become good at something, then you have to do it every day.
There is no other way around it. If you want to succeed in blogging or anything else, you have to put in the hours. You cannot expect to become good at something by reading a book about it and doing nothing afterward.
3. Everything Has To Start With A Decision
“Nothing happens until something moves.” – Albert Einstein.
We make decisions every single day. Sometimes our decisions are bad ones that lead us into trouble, but they are beneficial to us most of the time.
When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing that you do? If your answer is hitting the snooze button, then you’re making a negative decision. And if your answer is making a cup of coffee, then you’re making a positive decision, which will set the tone for the rest of your day.
And let’s say that after waking up, you decide to go on Facebook or Twitter right away and check what’s new with your friends. That would be another negative decision. Instead, you should take the time to do some exercise or read an inspirational blog post.
You have to make sure that all of your decisions are geared towards taking action because otherwise, they will lead you closer and closer to your goals. And if you want to start achieving those goals now instead of later, then make it happen with this simple decision.
4. No One Is Going To Do It For You
“If you want something, do it today. There are only so many tomorrows.” – Jeff Olson.
You can’t sit around and wait for someone else to make your life better. And you certainly cannot rely on someone who is not even in your circle of influence.
You have to do things yourself. No one is going to come and save you but you. If you want something, then it’s up to you to go and get it. You can’t wait for it to happen magically.
We all have the same 24 hours a day, and we spend them on different activities throughout the day. However, Jeff Olson has succeeded in his life because he didn’t waste a single hour. Instead, he invested each of them into improving himself and moving closer towards his goals.
You should do the same! Start investing your time wisely, and you will see results soon enough.
5. You Need To Have A Plan If You Want To Succeed
“When you know where you’re going, it’s a lot easier to figure out the best way to get there.” – Pat Williams.
How can you expect to succeed if you don’t have a plan behind what you want to achieve? You need to take some time and think about what exactly it is that you want. What is your perfect life? How would you live? What would you do? How much money would you make?
You need to write these things down on paper. I understand that this might sound like a daunting task, but it isn’t too complicated once you break it down into baby steps.
Just start by writing down some short-term goals. For example, maybe you want to build your personal brand on social media, or maybe you want to move out of your parent’s house.
Then, work on achieving those goals one step at a time. You don’t have to think about the complete picture since that’s too difficult. Instead, break it down into smaller, simpler goals and start achieving them.
6. You Have To Be Willing To Sacrifice
“Only those who will risk going too far can find out how far one can go.” – T. S Eliot.
You’re not going to achieve success without any sacrifices. So if you want to be successful, you have to do the things that most people are not willing to do.
You have to work long hours, you have to take on extra projects, and you have to be the one who always volunteers for new opportunities. This is part of being a successful person, and there’s no getting around it!
Don’t think that just because you’re working hard that your life is miserable. On the contrary, it’s because you’re working hard that you’re living your life to the fullest!
And remember, you shouldn’t just sacrifice yourself for someone or something. If you give up everything for someone, then eventually, they might not be there when you need them most. So take care of yourself and don’t look out for anyone but yourself.
7. You Have To Stick To Your Guns
“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” – Albert Einstein.
People will try to discourage you from taking action. For example, they might laugh at you when you tell them about your big dreams. But do not listen to their criticism, and don’t let their negativity bog you down.
Instead, look beyond what they are telling you and consider the source of their negativity – it’s probably just a person who doesn’t want you to succeed anyway.
The people who want you to succeed will always support you, and they’ll only encourage you to take that next step. If someone is putting you down or discouraging you from chasing your dreams, then I suggest that you get rid of them from your life.
They’re not worth it! Every person in this world should believe in you and your dreams. If they don’t, then they aren’t worth wasting your time on.
8. You Have To Be Willing To Accept Failure
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney.
You’re never going to be successful unless you’re willing to take risks and fail sometimes. If you’re always afraid of failing at something, how will you ever get the experience you need? You have to fail to succeed.
This is part of the learning process, and it’s all a part of growing up. But, unfortunately, failure is inevitable, so if you want to become successful, then you’ll have to accept it.
It’s just a part of life, and if you want to achieve great things, you have to be prepared for failure. This is just the way that it works, so don’t fight it – accept it and let go of your fear of failure because it will only hold you back from achieving success.
9. You Have To Be Willing To Put Others First
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison.
You’re not going to achieve much in life if you always put yourself first. You have to learn that successful people do differently because they’re willing to sacrifice their time and do whatever it takes to make other people happy.
If you want to be successful, you need to know when to let go of your selfishness because being selfish will keep you from achieving great things in life. By putting others first, you’ll achieve the recognition that you deserve after all of your hard work.
The world needs more people who are willing to sacrifice for others. But, unfortunately, this is just how it works, so try your best to put other people first and don’t forget to take care of yourself as well!
10. You Have To Take Responsibility For Your Actions
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling.
Responsibility and success go hand-in-hand. If you want to be successful in life, you need to take responsibility for your actions. Otherwise, how else will people learn from your mistakes?
If you mess up or do something wrong, you need to hold yourself accountable for your actions. You have to be a person who is willing to admit when they’ve done something wrong and learn from it so that you can prevent the same mistake from happening again in the future.
I know that this might not seem like something important, but taking responsibility for your actions shows that you have a lot of maturity and wisdom. People will respect you when they know that you hold yourself accountable for your mistakes and failures.
11. You Have To Believe In Yourself
“It is always too early to quit.” – Richard M. Nixon.
Believing in yourself is something that all successful people do, so if you want to achieve great things, you’ll need to believe in yourself. If not, then fear and self-doubt will only hold you back from achieving your dreams and goals.
You have to commit yourself that you’re going to take control of your thoughts and emotions – no matter what happens. You can’t allow negative thoughts to destroy you because they are just thoughts after all – so you have the power to change them.
“Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place. Have faith in your ability, work hard, and there is nothing you cannot accomplish.” – Brad Henry.
If you’re having problems believing in yourself, start small by writing down five things you like about yourself every day. This will be an excellent way for you to change your perspective and focus on the positive things in life.
12. You Have To Know When To Quit
“Ever notice how “What the hell!” is always the right answer?” – George Carlin.
Life is full of failures, but the trick is to keep going even when you’re inclined to give up. Don’t forget that it’s not about giving up; it’s about letting go of your fear.
If you want to achieve success, you need to be willing to take chances and risks, which means that some things will probably go wrong. But that’s how things work in life, so the more risks you take, the better your chances of achieving greatness.
“Only those who will risk going too far can find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Eliot.
If you want to be successful, then you need to believe in yourself and take action. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to fail because that’s just part of the process. Sometimes you’re going to get lucky, and other times you’re not – it all evens out in the end.
13. You Have To Believe In The Impossible
“Impossible is a word found only in the dictionary of fools.” – Napoleon Bonaparte.
Believing in the impossible is what separates dreamers from achievers. If you want to be successful, you need to believe that anything is possible, even if it’s something everyone else thinks is crazy or far-fetched.
The world would not have advanced very far if people didn’t believe in the impossible. The Wright brothers are a great example of this because they had to believe in the impossible to make history.
“If you can imagine it, then you can achieve it. If you can dream it, then you can become it.” – William Arthur Ward.
Believing is the first step towards achieving anything in life – including your dreams and goals. So, what are you waiting for?
14. You Have To Fight For Your Dreams
“A dream doesn’t become a reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Colin Powell.
You have to be willing to make sacrifices if you truly want to achieve success in life. That means that you’ll probably have to make some difficult decisions and do things that you don’t necessarily want to do. But, if you stay determined and focused on your goals, then it will all be worth it in the end.
It takes a lot of hard work and hours of practice for anyone to achieve their dreams – even those born with a natural talent still have to work extremely hard. But, the good news is that if you work hard, then success will soon follow.
“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom one works, and persistence in the face of obstacles.” – Colin Powell.
Ultimately it’s all about staying focused on your goals and working toward them every single day. If you have a clear idea of what you want out of life, you’ll be able to achieve anything.
15. You Have To Be Strong
“You cannot develop character in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Helen Keller.
The world is a harsh place, and it’s filled with difficult moments. However, if you want to be successful, you’ll have to overcome your fears and doubts because they will only get in the way of achieving your dreams.
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden.
To achieve success in life, you’ll have to become strong. Maybe not physically, but mentally… and emotionally as well. Staying strong is the key to getting through life’s challenges because pretty much everyone has them – even those who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy.
Don’t be afraid of failure because it’s just a part of life. So, you can either let your fear hold you back or allow it to drive you forward. It’s entirely up to you!
16. You Have To Work Hard For What You Want
“The harder I work, the luckier I get.” – Gary Player.
You don’t need talent to be successful. You have to work extremely hard. You can either dream about success, or you can go out there and do whatever it takes to get it.
It’s better to put in the extra effort so that you’re able to enjoy the fruits of your labor because things won’t always come easy. Success takes hard work, and it’s something that you need to be committed to if you want to achieve it.
“You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.” – Edwin Louis Cole.
No one has ever achieved greatness without putting in a lot of effort and time. So, if you want to be successful, you’re going to have to work hard.
“Success is not a destination. It’s a journey.” – Chris Bangle.
To achieve success, you’ll have to keep pushing forward and doing whatever it takes daily. If you give up after the first few times that things don’t go your way, you’ll never get anywhere. So, reach for the stars, and don’t be afraid of putting in a lot of effort because it will all be worth it.
17. You Have To Work With Others
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs.
You can achieve success by yourself, but it will be easier if you work with others. Success is more than just your gain – it’s about creating something amazing together so that everyone wins.
“Two men who stand in the middle of the road are likely to get run over.” – Chinese Proverb.
You can do all the things yourself, but you won’t get very far if no one is willing to join you. So, make sure that you work with others regularly because it will help you become successful.
“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” – Benjamin Franklin.
Working with others increases your chances of success, and it’s something that you should be striving toward. So, if you have a dream, don’t be afraid to build a team with others who share your vision.
18. You Have To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
“I’m afraid of losing my obscurity. Genuineness only thrives in the dark. Like celery.” – Aldous Huxley
To be successful, you have to become comfortable being uncomfortable. However, you can’t stay in your comfort zone because it will hold you back from achieving the success you desire.
“A person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.” – Tim Ferris.
It’s much easier said than done, but you need to get out of your comfort zone if you want to succeed. Of course, you don’t need to break yourself down to do it completely, but you will have to push yourself out of the norm.
“You are capable of more than you know, wish for it, and work hard towards achieving your dreams.” – Mary Morrissey.
So, if you want to be successful, do whatever it takes to leave your comfort zone behind. It’s one of the only ways that you’ll ever be able to reach your true potential.
19. You Have To Never Give Up
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” – Mark Twain
It takes a lot of effort and time to become successful, but you’ll never get anywhere if you give up on your goals. So, don’t ever give up no matter how hard it gets because it will all be worth it in the end.
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life, and the procedure, the process is its reward.”
– Amelia Earhart
If you want to be successful, then you’ll have to push through all of the hard times that come with it. It’s not going to be easy because many obstacles will get in your way, but you have to keep pushing forward if you want it badly enough.
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” – Confucius.
So don’t ever give up on your dreams or goals because they are what will ultimately bring you success. So many people give up too soon and then wonder why they never got anywhere with their life, but it’s because they gave up at the first sign of trouble.
20. You Have To Experience Failure
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your inner voice. And most important, dare to follow your heart and intuition.”– Steve Jobs.
One of the best ways to learn is by making mistakes to know what not to do in the future. So, don’t be afraid to experience failure because it’s all part of being successful.
“All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.” – Winston Churchill.
You’ll inevitably fail at some point, but it doesn’t mean that you should give up. On the contrary, if you want to be successful, then take the time to think things through and learn how to do them better next time.
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott.
But even if you’re not afraid of making mistakes, it doesn’t mean that they won’t hurt or disappoint. Remember that everyone makes them, so don’t let it keep you down because it matters how you handle the situation afterward.
“To succeed, your desire for success should be greater than fear of failure.” – Bill Cosby.
So, don’t be afraid to fail because you’re going to make some mistakes along the way like everyone else. However, you must learn how to handle it when it happens because all great things come from experiencing failure.
21. You Have To Be Willing To Learn
“If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches.” – Rainer Maria Rilke.
One of the best ways to learn how to be successful is learning as much as possible about everything. If you want to be successful, you’ll have to become a lifelong learner because that’s the only way you will ever know how to do it.
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” – Ferdinand Foch.
You can never learn everything there is to know about success, but what matters is that you’re always trying to learn something new. So whether you’re learning about how to handle certain situations or different ways of doing things, you’ll be able to think of it when the time comes.
“The secret of my success is that we have gone to school on the job.” – Walt Disney.
You can’t just expect everything to happen right away when you seek to become successful. If you want to be successful, you have to invest time in learning new things and developing yourself.
Conclusion: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
The Slight Edge is a book that teaches you how to make small changes in your life that will lead to big results. You don’t need an overwhelming, dramatic change for it to count – any little thing can help set the ball rolling on your path towards happiness and success.
And if you want more tips from this best-selling self-improvement guide, we have plenty of resources ready and waiting on our website! Sign up for our mailing list today to get access to all these goodies straight away.
