I recently discovered the site FourSquare.com.
The application – which I use from my Droid – allows me to “Check In” at the places I frequent. When you’re frequenting a place more than anyone else – it gives you the title of Mayor. And you remain in that position until someone knocks you out of it by frequenting the location more than you.
I started thinking about this concept as it relates to life – and specifically “The Slight Edge”.
If you’re not familiar with “The Slight Edge” – in a nutshell it’s the idea that:
It (Whatever you’re doing or not doing – to work towards or away from your intentions) doesn’t seem to make a difference in the beginning of starting something – but compounded by time it makes all the difference in the world.
You retain the Title of Mayor on FourSquare.com the same way you get ahead (Or behind – if you choose to make Slight Errors in judgment as opposed to Slight Disciplines) in life – and that’s CONSISTENCY!
Consistency coupled with Slight Disciplines is a marriage made in heaven!
So that begs the following question.
Are you the Mayor of “Whatever It Takes!” 0r “Coulda Woulda Shoulda”?
“Whatever It Takes!” means deciding what you want to achieve and not stopping until completed!
“Coulda Woulda Shoulda” means deciding what you want to achieve and giving up on it before completion. And it’s usually accompanied with a bunch of excuses and reasons why it wouldn’t work.
When you look at the people who are swinging at the fences and knocking the skin off the ball – they all have the same qualities in common – and one of em’ is they MAKE Time.
For instance – look at Michael Phelps. Before breaking all the previously set records at the last Olympic Games – he practiced EVERY day for 5-years STRAIGHT without one day off!
You hear a lot of people taking part in 90-Day Challenges lately – and it’s not odd for almost everyone to miss a day or two within it (And/or not finish at all). Now think again about Michael Phelps. He completed over 100 90-Challenges in a row without missing so much as 1-Day! That’s INCREDIBLE!
Michael Phelps is definitely the Mayor of “Whatever It Takes!”!
Decide TODAY to follow his lead – and permanently lose your map to “Coulda Woulda Shoulda”!
I couldn't agree with you more Wes! Some people make excuses to fail while others use the same things as reasons to succeed. I strive to be a mayor of whatever it takes.
Wes this is a great motivator! First I want to say I'm thankful you are feeling up to writing because those of us who know you look forward to your thoughts. You've brought up a great point with the shoulda woulda coulda mentality. Lived that far too long years ago, but not anymore. Thanks for the extra push we all need and I look forward to more of your thoughts in the future.
Kellie
A very good blog post it certainly gave me another way at getting things done.
Great post on moving forward, not giving up, Wes.
The slight edge is the difference between sitting on the side lines watching life go by or suiting up & saying “Game On!”
Great thoughts,
Val
Consistency and discipline are key to being successful in anything you so. Great comparisons and inspiration for giving your best all the time. Thanks for the info Wes
Hey Wes!
I'm also a big fan of “The Slight Edge”. So many people today are fooled by the glamour of instant gratification – whether it be unhealthy food, having fun “partying”, sitting on the couch in favor of working to create a better future, etc.
These are the daily activities that may not seem to be harmful on a day to day basis, but when repeated over a long period of time can have disastrous results. Those of us who approach the slight edge from a more positive mindset will be free from the “could a would a should a's” that so many people will experience after a lifetime of making poor decisions.
Hi Wes,
Sandy and I are in the early learning stages of social networking on the internet. Your message is very timely. Consistency and continually learning and practicing what we learn is a key to success. We must commit to “whatever it takes.”