The-Slight-Edge

92 The Slight Edge
What does this have to do with integrity? Not much, but it teaches a more
important lesson. The poll is just the end result of Kobe Bryant’s insatiable desire
to become the greatest basketball player in the world. No one had to tell him as a
young man he needed to spend hours outside of practice honing his craft. He did
it on his own when no one was watching. For Kobe Bryant, taking the last shot
when the game is on the line is second nature because he has practiced it so many
times on the blacktop when no one was watching—because he knew that is what
he needed to do to succeed. The only difference is he gets paid an insane amount
of money to do it now.
Slight Edge Business Integrity
The same can be said about those who venture into starting their own
companies. Why is the failure rate so high for startups? Most everyone knows
that lack of capital is by far the biggest reason companies don’t make it past
two years. But there is also an integrity component that is the cause for so many
business failures.
When you own a business, there is no one telling you that you need to be
at work or shouting in your ear to make sales calls. No one is there to make
sure you are on top of your vendors and your books are up to date. This is
up to you to do now. And many business owners just don’t have the Slight
Edge integrity it takes to remain above water. They become intoxicated by the
freedom of being their own boss and fail to maintain the kind of structure to
become successful.
Yet there are many startups that do put into practice the Slight Edge integrity
it takes to make it. Jeremy T. was a highly ambitious 24-year-old gym owner, and
for him, success couldn’t come fast enough. It wasn’t until he read The Slight Edge
that he realized that success would need to be slow and steady and consistent over
time. He needed to take inventory of what it would take to become successful and
apply those steps consistently with or without anyone watching to make sure he
did them. Two years later Jeremy’s business quadrupled:
I have opened two additional gyms, an online media company and
we’re on track to quadruple our revenue once again. Since reading The
Slight Edge I am no longer looking into the unknown, but instead looking
to the present possibilities that are ingrained in my daily habits. The book
gave me a paradigm shift. I have faith that my daily habits will lead to
success or failure, the choice is mine. Pay attention to your daily habits and
it will pay off.