Tip: Have the “slight edge” philosophy.
Have you ever considered the fact that just a little more effort in almost any given situation will create better results? Being willing to go the second mile in anything you do is a habit that can be formed, but it will only start when you realize the benefits that will come when you have the “slight edge” philosophy.
Think about a horse that wins the race by only a nose. For the purpose of this example, let’s say that the prize he wins is a million dollars. Generally the horse that comes in second place finishes only a few inches behind the winner, but the prize is significantly less. Let’s say that the prize for second place is one hundred thousand dollars. Even though the money was ten times as much, did the horse that won the race finish ten times ahead of the horse that was in second place? Of course not, but even though the winning margin is small, the difference in their payoff is huge.
Think about the game of professional baseball. If you go up to bat and consistently only hit two out of ten times, you probably will not stay on the team. They will either cut you or trade you. However, if you can solidly hit three out of ten times, you will not only make the All Star team, you will probably be in the Hall of Fame. Amazing!
Consider one more illustration. In the game of golf, how many times have we seen the fact that one stroke makes the difference between first and second place? It is not very exciting when a golf match is won by fifteen strokes. However, when it comes down to a neck and neck game, usually one player will be the winner by only one stroke. See, it really is the slight edge that gives him or her victory.
What is the slight edge philosophy in your life? Maybe it is something as simple as walking out to the loading dock to make sure that a shipment actually went out to your client. Perhaps it is calling that customer to see if there is anything you can do to help them. It may be nothing more than sending a birthday card or a thank you note. Whatever the “slight edge” action you take, it will ultimately make a huge difference.
It is not about working harder. It is really about working smarter. Your returns do not necessarily multiply because you work harder; they multiply exponentially because you have the slight edge. Again, the difference between first and second place is huge. Hardly ever is it simply twice as much. It is usually five or ten times more and, as previously stated, the difference comes because of only a few inches in the horse race, one more base hit in baseball or one less stroke in golf.
One of my best friends from high school, David Gentry, shared with me this “slight edge” philosophy that he learned from his dad and that he has tried to use in his own life and business over the years. I realized that if we had known about this when we first started out in our careers, it would have profited us a great deal; not because we were better or smarter than anyone else, but because we were willing to go the second mile and try to make whatever situation we were involved in a little better.
Wherever you are in your life, I would suggest that you apply this wonderful truth and watch the results grow exponentially in whatever you are doing. It is not only the best way to run a business and build relationships with others; it is really the best way to do life. Anyone who has worked smarter and experienced success would surely agree.
Tip: Have the “slight edge” philosophy.
Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm
