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Do You Have The Slight Edge?

By JP Maroney | May 11, 2006

By JP Maroney

All exceptional entrepreneurs, all exceptional business people, all exceptional companies operate by a principle called the slight edge. The slight edge is simply the willingness, the initiative, the passion to do at least a little more than what others are willing to do.

You see it’s not really usually the big, huge massive things the massive changes that bring about success and progress in business and in life ~ it’s the little things. It’s the little things that make a difference.

We’ve all been exposed to maybe an Olympic event where they were racers racing toward the finish line and at the last moment, one person took first place just by a fraction of a second. We’ve all seen the NASCAR Races just by part of a bumper - the difference. The slight edge.

Business is no different. The difference in succeeding in business today is many times, the little things, that can separate you from your competition…..that can separate you from the pack, that can help you rise above all of the noise that we’re dealing with. The messages.

You know we have our phones, and instant messenger and blackberries and we have everything – fighting for attention. And you drive down the road and you see the messages and you go gosh as a business owner- small, large, whatever size you are, how do I get thru that clutter.

Well, it’s the little things ~ it’s the slight edge.

Would you agree that we are building our businesses in times that are more competitive than they have ever been in the past? Would you also agree that customers today are expecting more than they have ever expected and are wanting to pay less for it?

Sure, we are building our businesses in times that are more competitive than they’ve ever been before. There are changes taking place and shifts in the marketplace and new people entering industries where there were never competitors in those industries.

Look at people like the cable television industry and now they’ve got satellite and the phone companies are now ramping up to offer broadband, video and audio and on and on. You look around at the travel industry, for example and the changes that have taken place.

We can’t sit by and assume that it’s going to be ok!

We can’t just assume that if we continue doing what we’re doing, we’ll get what we’ve always gotten because we’ve all heard that phrase, right?

Well the fact is…

That phrase is false. Because how many people do you know that are still doing what they were doing 10-20 years ago and they are going broke doing it. We have to adapt and change and update with the times.

That’s a major key!!!

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JP Maroney aka "Mr. Monetizer" is a business growth strategist, author & speaker famous for his uncanny ability to help business owners remove limitations to their revenue growth and build multi-million dollar businesses. JP’s clients call him “the man with the Million-Dollar Midas Touch” … and Entrepreneur Magazine calls his methods “wildly generous.”

Topics: Business Growth, Uncategorized |

4 Responses to “Do You Have The Slight Edge?”

  1. Andy Jacobs Says:
    May 11th, 2006 at 4:45 am

    I agree 100%.

    I think with all of the technology and teaching today, we have forgotten one thing: we need to get back to basics. Try something new and go back to the old.

    This starts with an internal policing and asking ourselves when was the last time we didn’t look at our customers as a dollar sign.

    The slight edge here? An adjustment of our attitude. We are guardians of our customers jobs. We need to sell them products and services that they need and will make them look good, not just line our pockets.

    When our customers realize, which they will by our attitude shift, that we are truly looking out for their welfare, you will see an attitude shift in them and increased sales for you.

    Have a great day!

    Andy

  2. Cartess Ross Says:
    May 11th, 2006 at 11:54 pm

    Great Article JP!

    One of my clients said best “If we’re not growing and changing daily, then our company will slowly die!”

    Can’t wait to read your next post!

    Cartess

  3. John A. Manley Says:
    May 12th, 2006 at 1:37 pm

    JP, I like your philosophy. It’s akin to Gladwell’s tipping point theory.

    Especially in sales, where it’s often just an extra resonating point or unique benefit that tips a prospect from chosing one business over another.

    I look forward to more blog entires.

    John

    http://www.natural-persuasionEzine.com
    A Free Ezine Dedicated to Raising Your Profits Without Leaving the Customer Feeling Sold

  4. Jack Bastide Says:
    May 13th, 2006 at 5:49 am

    JP as you know I LOVE this topic

    I have used the Slight Edge my whole life
    and it has served me well

    I guess I could share my Fraternity Party Story …

    Back when I was in college we were struggling to get people to
    our parties. There were about 20 other fraternities who were also
    advertising

    All the fliers looked the same

    ===============
    FRATERNITY PARTY

    Friday Night at 8 PM

    etc etc

    ===============

    we used the same fliers and usually had maybe 50 or 60
    people at our parties

    I made a slIght change to our flier

    ===============
    FREE SEX

    Friday Night at 8 PM

    etc etc

    ===============

    instead of the usual 50 - 60 people we had over 400!

    ( we also almost got kicked off of campus by the Dean but thats
    another story ) :)

    I could give example like this all day long. In fact I write about
    in the new book

    Don’t be afraid to be “out there” a little

    Jack ” Out of the Box” Bastide

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