The Slight Edge That Pays Big

What is the difference between the average person and the incredibly successful entrepreneur, business owner, or professional?

Often, we tend to think the successful person is more talented, works much harder, is much smarter, or is incredibly lucky. In reality, the individuals who achieve success understand that small differences can lead to significantly better performance and results. They recognize that by making minor adjustments to their thinking, actions, and processes, and then implementing these modifications consistently over long periods of time, they will invariably exceed the performance of individuals who are unaware of this principle.

In 1991, I was brought in to be the general manager of a nearly six-year-old insurance agency in Brooklyn, New York. Within 16 months, my business partner and I doubled the agency’s income. We did this by applying a principle called the Slight Edge Difference, which was originally shared by Paul J. Meyer, founder of Success Motivation Institute (SMI) and Leadership Management International (LMI). Ever since experiencing its effectiveness in helping individuals and teams improve their performance and achieve goals, I have dedicated myself to sharing these principles with people who want to improve their own personal or organizational results.

To easily understand the Slight Edge Difference, think of a car race. The first place car isn’t twice as fast as the car in second place –– quite often the winning car is only a fraction of a second faster –– but the prize for being first is substantially much higher than the others. The winning driver has only the “slightest edge,” yet reaps huge rewards, especially when endorsements and other goodwill benefits are considered.

It’s the same in business. If you want to double your income or gain more clients than your competitors, offer the slightest difference. Be faster or more productive, communicate more effectively, dress better, be slightly more polite, organize your priorities better, or do whatever gives you the Slight Edge Difference. You don’t have to be twice as good to receive twice as much.

Learning the Slight Edge Difference was a turning point in my life. I’ve found it to be one of the most powerful ideas I’ve encountered in business and if you put this principle to work, you will benefit from it greatly. The Slight Edge Difference really does pay big!

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” –– Vince Lombardi