One of my favorite books is The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen. It is a fabulous book about how small actions taken consistently over time lead to big results. I’ve seen the results in my own life of how true this is! And I recently came up with a simple way to add consistent improvement, as well as consistent action, to each day.
I was about to head out to the store, and thought, “I’ll take my vitamins later.” Which really means, “I won’t take my vitamins today.”
Then the gentle thought popped into my head, “Can I do this a little better?” The answer, of course, was simple: take the vitamins now.
Revolutionary, right? Well, no, maybe not. But it hit me that this is a great phrase to help keep me on the path of continuous improvement, without getting overwhelmed by it all. If it’s that simple, why don’t we do this more?
Well, in the moment, “a little better” seems insignificant. What is walking an extra 5 minutes going to do? What is adding vegetables going to get me? How is calling one more client going to change my income? Why should I be kind to the grocery clerk?
We want instant gratification, but that’s not what this is about. The results of continuous improvement come over time. Walking a little more allows you move more freely, and keep up with grandkids. Eating veggies can keep you healthier later in life. Calling your clients can build a support team of raving fans who make your business operate like a well-oiled machine because they consistently refer to you. Being kind lifts up everyone around you.
When you look to do just a little better in every situation, your actions are not dramatic, but in the end, the results ARE revolutionary.
So keep the phrase in mind – “Can I do this a little better?” Walk for 5 more minutes. Eat extra veggies. Call one more client. Offer a kind word when none is required.
Can you see how this could be revolutionary in your life?
Thanks for this great insight, Mary! It’s great for remembering how simple life can be if we just allow it. Happy Holidays!
Good advice on the “do a little better” theme!
Regarding the multivitamin – multivitamins are formulated for the “average” person, but our individual needs vary a great deal. Unless a person gets a hair mineral analysis (like you did) you could be taking supplements that are exactly wrong for you. Our supplements from TEI are formulated for fast or slow metabolic types so you can take what is just right for you. This saves you money and gets much better results for your health.
Regarding breaking down, your stomach is quite acid (which is needed for digestion), so if the pills don’t break down in water it doesn’t mean they won’t break down in your stomach. You’d be better off testing them in vinegar.