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

by Jeff Olson

And while you’re adding a penny a day, let’s also imagine doing one equally simple thing every day in all the areas of your life that matter to you. Add one penny’s worth to your happiness, to your sense of self, to your friendships, your health, your studies, whatever skills and areas of knowledge you’re pursuing. In every area that’s important, you add one cent daily. How do you add one cent’s worth of happiness or knowledge? Here’s how: The word “cent” is short for centum, meaning one-hundredth. A penny is called a cent because it is one-hundredth, or 1 percent, of a dollar. So let’s say you add 1 percent of whatever value you want to achieve, in all these areas. By the end of a year, by adding 1 percent each day—pure addition, no compound interest—how much have you added? A total of 365 percent. In other words, times three-and-a-half.