Run. Don't walk - to the space where you buy books and get a copy of The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.

The difference between winning and losing is often times so small that you don't see it or notice it unless you have taken an active role in controling it. 

The Slight Edge is about defining your life around making decisions that give you the slight edge. Those decisions are simple, calculated and remarkably consistent over a period of time.

Looking at each daily decision you make as either a step toward or a step away from your vision puts you in complete and absolute control. Small changes and small steps (in either direction) make a huge impact on where you'l end up.

Once the game is over it's easy to see, measure and record the slight edge between winning and losing. The only problem - it's imposible and too late to change.

For many products and services, people migrate towards the cheapest yet reliable answer. If all things are the same, they will find the cheapest solution for what they need and want. Companies have a few ways to position themselves in the face of this understandable reality:

a. You can be cheapest (difficult to sustain).
b. You can be "more" reliable (a combination somewhere between great quality and top notch service). Doesn't everyone claim they have that?
c. You can make sure you offer what they want and what they need (just like your competitors).

OR

You can redefine the playing field and change the way your customers look at and receive your products and services.

1. Package unique offers.
2. Develop your customer's channels (their customers and partners).
3. Introduce wants and create needs.

The scalable, profitable strategy is to change the game, not compete to become the most average.

Just Do It!

Only three simple words make up arguably the best tagline ever shouted. And by shouted – I mean dollar signs = decibels. But that’s not what makes this tagline so remarkable.

These words are active and personal – they inspire each member of the audience to define their own “it” – and make “it” happen. Sure if you are a weekend warrior or an out of shape ex-athlete – the commercials inspire you to buy Nike stuff.

Certainly there’s no easier way to feel like you play as good as Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods then to buy their branded stuff - More importantly those words should move you to take a giant leap of faith.

Don’t wait till everything lines up perfectly for “it” to happen. Find “it” and Make “it” Happen.

You understand your core business because it’s your core business. You’re passionate about it, you know it and you win in that space – but your core business ultimately bleeds into other markets that play well with your core business for a myriad of reasons:

• Your clients like you in this space so they want you in that space.

• That space is the logical next step for this space.

• There’s margin, add-on dollars, and value to be made in this new space. Not to mention another way to retain your clients in your core business.

Whatever the reason - jump in head first with caution . Don’t re-create the wheel; test the waters. Leverage partners that define that space and develop ways to plug-in and continue to focus on how your core business will interact.

Yes it has been done before – but never like this.

It’s easy to inflate self worth between our own two ears. Just add a couple extra 00’s and you are now the highest paid wha-cha-ma-call-it in the industry, but perception inevitably becomes reality. Use resources around you to assess and set a price point you are comfortable and passionate about – without the word “value” coming into play.

Great clients appreciate value far less than less than they appreciate remarkable. Clients focused on value often do not appreciate excellence. Having someone in your corner that pays for the Value in YOU is far more valuable than one the biggest fan focused on value.