3 Stories to Rethink Success
Success isn’t about big leaps. It’s about small, simple actions repeated over time.
My mentor gifted me Jeff Olson's The Slight Edge fifteen years ago. This book completely shifted my perspective on personal goals. I recommend it to all my coaching clients who struggle with consistency.
Jeff starts the book with the three stories below, centered around the same theme.
Story 1: The Two Frogs in a Bucket of Cream
Two frogs fall into a bucket of cream. One frog gives up quickly, sinks, and drowns. The other keeps kicking and struggling, even when it seems hopeless. Eventually, the cream turns into butter, and the frog escapes.
Lesson: Even when you don’t see results immediately, keep going. Persistence pays off. Success isn’t always about being the smartest or fastest. Sometimes, it’s just about not giving up.
Story 2: A Penny Doubled vs. $1 Million
Imagine choosing between $1 million right now or a single penny that doubles every day for 31 days. Most people pick the $1 million because it seems like the better deal. But the penny doubled daily, growing to over $10 million by the end of the month.
Lesson: Small actions, when repeated consistently, create massive results. Growth might be slow at first, so many people quit early. But if you stay patient, the results will surprise you.
Story 3: The Water Hyacinth
The water hyacinth is a plant that doubles in size every day. For weeks, it’s barely noticeable on the water’s surface. But suddenly, around day 30, it covers the entire pond.
Lesson: Success can be invisible for a long time. You might feel your hard work isn’t paying off, but growth is happening beneath the surface. One day, it all clicks, and the progress becomes visible.
How to apply this in real life
Let’s say your goal is to eat healthy and stay fit. You don’t need a crash diet or an intense workout plan. Instead:
Eat one healthy meal a day.
Take a 15-minute walk daily.
Drink an extra glass of water.
Get 7–8 hours of sleep consistently.
These actions seem small. You might not see results right away. But if you stick with them, they’ll add up. After a few weeks, you’ll feel stronger, healthier, and more energized. After a few months, the changes will be noticeable—not just to you but to others, too.
The secret of achieving big goals
It’s not about doing something huge once. It’s about doing something small every day, even when it feels like it doesn’t matter.
That’s the Slight Edge.
“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. They don’t like doing it either, but they do it anyway.” — Jeff Olson