“The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is not massive action. It’s tiny actions, repeated over time.”

Olson explains that every decision moves you in one of two directions:It is a daily choice.

The Power of Small Choices: Success vs. Failure

“You don’t have to do a lot. You just have to do a little—consistently.”

+ Read at least 10 pages of a personal growth book+ Move your body (even 5-10 minutes)+ Make a small, healthy eating choice+ Save a small amount of money+ Express gratitude for something today+ Do one thing that moves you closer to a goal

The “Slight Edge” Daily Checklist:

The Slight Edge isn’t flashy, but it works. It’s about making small, smart choices every single day, trusting the process, and watching your life transform over time.

Final Thought: Success Is a Choice

“The actions you take today are either building the future you want or the future you fear.”

2.	Embrace the “invisible results” phase	•	Most people quit because they don’t see immediate results.	•	Success works like a hockey stick curve—slow at first, then exponential.	•	“It won’t seem like it’s working… until one day, it does.”

Three Key Mindset Shifts to Apply The Slight Edge

5.	Use momentum to your advantage – Good habits compound, making success easier over time.	6.	Adopt a long-term mindset – The Slight Edge isn’t instant—it’s a lifestyle.	7.	Hold yourself accountable – Track progress and adjust as needed, but never stop.

The 7 Slight Edge Principles

1.	Show up every day – Success comes from consistency, not occasional bursts of effort.	2.	Be willing to start small – A single good choice is the foundation of long-term success.

1. Stop looking for overnight successReal success comes from small, daily actions, not one big break.If you want something you have never had, you must do something you have never done.

Read 10 pages of a book, Learn, grow, and develop new perspectives.Exercise for 10 minutes, Increased energy, long-term health. Save $5 a day, Build wealth over years. Eat one healthy meal, More energy, better health.Express gratitude daily, Stronger mindset, more happiness.

Success Path (Upward Slight Edge)

3.	Master the mundane – The simple things (reading, exercising, saving money) are what create success.	4.	Do the things that others won’t – Most people give up because progress is slow. Keep going.

The Slight Edge is about how tiny, seemingly insignificant actions—repeated consistently—create massive success over time. Most people underestimate the power of daily habits because results don’t show up immediately. But just like compounding interest, small choices add up.

Summary

3.	Trust that small actions compound over time	•	If you improve just 1% every day, you’ll be 37 times better in a year.	•	“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do.”

Stay the same, no new knowledge.Declining health over time.No savings, financial stress.More cravings, lower energy.Negative mindset, more stress.

Failure Path (Downward Slight Edge)

The Slight Edge is a way of thinking, a way of processing information that enables you to make the daily choices that will lead you to the success and happiness you desire. Learn why some people make dream after dream come true, while others just continue dreaming and spend their lives building dreams for someone else. It’s not just another self-help motivation tool of methods you must learn in order to travel the path to success. It shows you how to create powerful results from the simple daily activities of your life, by using tools that are already within you. In this 8th anniversary edition you’ll read not only the life-changing concepts of the original book, but also learn what author Jeff Olson discovered as he continued along the slight edge path: the Secret to Happiness and the Ripple Effect. This edition of The Slight Edge isn’t just the story, but also how the story continues to create life-altering dynamics—how a way of thinking, a way of processing information, can impact daily choices that will lead you to the success and happiness you desire. The Slight Edge is “the key” that will make all the other how-to books and self-help information that you read, watch and hear actually work.

books

Books

Jeff Olson is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Jeff Olson has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Jeff Olson's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Jeff Olson

John David Mann is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. John David Mann has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. John David Mann's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

The Power of Small Choices: Success vs. Failure

Similar ideas to The Power of Small Choices: Success vs. Failure

Decisions vs. Choices

The Power Of Persistence

A good decision-maker doesn't dwell on small choices