give yourself the slight edge
TRANSCRIPT
GIVE YOURSELF THE SLIGHT EDGE:
TURN SIMPLE DAILY DISCIPLINES INTO HABITS THAT WILL BRING YOU SUCCESS
IN WORK AND LIFE
Janet Crum, [email protected] Kathleen Schmand,
[email protected] 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
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WHY THE SLIGHT EDGE?
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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?