The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness

Olson opens with an anecdote about two boys who grew up in identical circumstances with equal talent: Gorgeous George, a “beach bum” with long hair who worked on golf courses in Daytona, Florida, and a successful millionaire who was a straight-A student in school with many fruitful business ventures. Olson reveals that both boys are him, and this is central to his premise: the difference between being successful and not isn’t in the person or talent. It’s in the “slight edge,” those daily habits that most people commit to in times of duress to survive. The slight edge is what can launch a person to thrive if one continues consciously building good habits rather than coasting off success. Olson had to learn this the hard way when he lost his solar energy company and every penny he had. The only thing preventing him from being where he wanted to be was consistent, simple habits, which enabled him to rise in spite of the circumstances rather than oscillate between survival and failure. He wraps up with a note that each chapter will include a few personal stories from readers at the end and a list of key points on the main ideas of the chapter, including the basics of the slight edge and the way every person is capable of being a “beach bum” or a millionaire.