At first, I didn’t quite understand its power and being in High School at the time, I applied it in a very undisciplined way but looking back on it, I can only kick myself for not having the maturity or consistency to keep applying this principle.
Story of my life.😢
When it truly sunk in decades later, I discovered how I could use it. I decided a writers life was for me, and the idea of going the extra mile fit perfectly into my storytelling and how I planned to spread the word of my work. What was even more critical, I was at a stage in my life that I understood the cost involved in rendering more than you’re recognised for because there’s always a cost.
Whatever is your passion, make it your world; spend every waking moment pushing for it. Build your skills, build your audience, make it your sole purpose and passion. Do that for long enough, and someday you will achieve it.
Napoleon Hill gave an example of the ‘cost’ to be paid using a farming example that always stuck with me. Not many of our lively hoods rely on understanding how nature functions. The farmer has to clear the land, ploughing, and planting the seed at the right time of the year and receives no payment in advance. The farmer has to be in harmony with Nature, so when his job ends, Nature will take over. It will germinate the seeds with sun and rain and develop the
plants into crops that will become food. For every grain of wheat planted by the farmer, Nature yields a hundred grains in exchange for his efforts. Now that’s a beautiful thing and what that tells me is if you pay the cost of going the extra mile, the benefits are substantial.
So here it is again. “Rendering more and better service than that for which one is paid and giving it in a positive mental attitude.”
To go the extra mile, you must set aside feelings of discomfort and practice emotional discipline. It may be uncomfortable but just remember you’re aligning yourself with the way nature functions. It’s the same set of forces that make compound interest such an irresistible power. Come to think of it, going the extra mile and compound interest may be different sides to the same energy.
All I know is when I create characters and worlds in my stories; I’m always conscious of giving you the reader more than you would anticipate. I strive to make my work easily accessible to anyone who wants to share in my writing adventure. For me, the extra mile is the difference between being average vs being on the top of my game. I’m not striving for perfection; I’m about the value I can provide. And that’s what’s important.
I challenge you to apply the Principle of Going the Extra Mile to any aspect of your life and see how it will take you above and beyond. You may surprise yourself.
