The-Slight-Edge

78 The Slight Edge
Showing up is important, but its natural
companion consistency is what makes it a powerful
duo. Showing up consistently is where the magic
happens. I told Amber she not only needed to show up every day for school
but it had to be coupled with at least two hours of study per day. Again, this was
something Amber already knew how to do from high school that had led her to
a 4.0 GPA. From my own experience I know how easy it is to get caught up in
the vicious cycle of cramming for tests. My advice to her was to leave that to the
others. This lesson also came with a disclaimer.
These things, though easy to do, were also very easy not to do. She would
be challenged by roommates and other friends to skip class for other campus
activities that I know are all part of the college experience. I could tell she was
starting to get what I was saying, but could it be that simple just to show up every
day for class and study for two hours a day?
The first sign of success came three weeks later when Amber called and said,
“Dad, remember that class I have with 400 students in it? Well, there are only 80
people who come now.” So what could have happened in three weeks? Amber
said they hadn’t had a test yet so no one could have flunked out. In less than three
weeks, 75 percent of her class was gone. I told her to just keep showing up and to
study for two hours a day.
Four years later, right on time, Amber graduated at the very top of her
business class just by doing those two simple things—easy principles that if
applied daily can yield fabulous results.
Amber wasn’t any better or smarter than the other kids. They were the
cream of the crop, top-notch students. But Amber had one distinct advantage the
others didn’t: she had a philosophy that drove her to stay on course even when
everyone else was doing the opposite. She showed up consistently and succeeded
because she had a simple philosophy that she applied every day, rain or shine.
Consistency Yields Results
I am a big sports fan and sports always make wonderful metaphors for life.
The lessons learned from sports are many and are used frequently when I speak
to large audiences. One of them is the importance of consistency. To be a great
football team, not only do you have to practice every day, but practicing includes
running the same plays over and over again until everyone gets them right, so all
that is left is the execution.