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exception； these individuals had fallen short of their goals on
numerous occasions； but that never deterred them！ Indeed； I
myself have experienced 〃failure to hit the mark；〃 on a number
of occasions； and I will readily admit it hurts a little and it
even causes a certain amount of embarrassment。 But be that
as it may； it has never stopped me from trying again and it
need not stop you either； because we all possess the ability to
get up and get going once again。 Therefore； this very moment；
make up your mind that you are going to bee the 〃Risk
Taker〃 you truly wish to bee。
The Razor's Edge
You are only one inch 。。。 one step 。。。
one idea 。。。 away from turning
onto the boulevard of beauty
in your own life。
It has often been said the line which separates winning
from losing is as fine as a razor's edge and it is。 （I am talking
about winning in a big way and in all areas of your life。）
W。 Somerset Maugham wrote an entire book entitled The
Razor's Edge； and Daryl F。 Zanuck spent four million dollars
producing a movie which had the same title。 Both of these
great menauthor and movie maker alikeknew there wasn't a
big difference among people； there was only a big difference in
the things they acplished。 （That was the theme of the
movie as well as the book。）
One person 〃just about〃 starts a project； the other person
starts it。 One individual 〃almost〃 pletes a task； the other
does plete it。 One person sees an opportunity； the other
acts on it。 One student 〃nearly〃 passes the exam； the other
does pass itand although the difference in their marks may be
only one percentage point out of a hundred； it's that one point
that makes all the difference。
The annals of sport's history are rich with dramatic
illustrations of the Razor's Edge concept。 For example； at the
1976 Olympic games in Montreal； Canada； there were eight
finalists peting in the onehundred meter dash； but the
runner who won the Olympic gold medal was only oenth of
a second faster than the runner who finished in last place。
In 1947； ARMED the first race horse in the history of
United States' racing to win over one million dollars in prize
money over the duration of his careerhad earnings of
761；500。 But the horse which finished second in earnings
that same yeara horse which often lost races a mile long by
only 〃a nose〃won only 75；000。 Now； if one were to look at
their winnings alone； it would appear that ARMED was
thirteen times better than his closest petitor。 However；
when you pare 〃the times〃 that were actually registered by
those two horses in their races； you discover he really wasn't
even four percent superior！
Now； you may have grown up with the idea that some
people have it and some people don't。 Or； because some people
are much better than others； they enjoy much more of the
abundance of life。 But I want you to understand； right here
and now； this idea is absolutely false！ For you are every bit as
good； or as powerful； as anyone you see； know； or even hear
about。 Remember； since the difference between them and you
is only in the area of acplishments； and since there is
something you can do that will vastly improve the results you
are achieving presently； you have the potential to bee even
more successful than they are。 You may already know how to
do what others are doing （if you don't； you can learn）； and
since your potential power is unlimited； you can do even
greater things than they are now doing。
The 〃something〃 that you must do to bee more
successful may not be what you think it is。 But whatever it
may be； rest assured； you are quite capable of doing it。 Always
bear in mind； however； that because each person's world is
just a little bit different； the something which you must do is
not necessarily the same thing the person you live with or
work with； must do。 Nevertheless； there is no question that
you will eventually find out what it is that you must do。 So
make up your mindimmediatelywhen you do figure out what
that Razor's Edge is for you； you will do it。
Heinz Daues' Story
As I was writing this chapter； a very dear friend of mine
Heinz Dauestelephoned to thank me for an idea I had given
him。 But before I let you in on what that idea was； permit me
to give you some background information。 Heinz Daues works
for a large insurance pany in Toronto and every October
his pany holds a contest which is referred to as； 〃A
President's Month。〃 All of the salespeople in the pany
〃gear〃 themselves up for this contest and they each perform at
their peak level of productivity。 Their reward； if they should
win the contest； is both fame and fortune。 （The pany
always recognizes its proven leaders。）
As he does every year； Heinz had an exceptional
〃President's Month。〃 But； in keeping with his practice of
previous years； he was planning to 〃relax a bit〃 in November；
or at least to revert to what he considered to be 〃normal
production。〃 As I was talking to him one afternoon； however； I
noticed that his usual high degree of enthusiasm had levelled
off considerably。 I knew something was amiss； so I asked him
what was bothering him。 He then explained he was
experiencing a 〃big let down；〃 now that his 〃big month〃 had
e to an end。 In an attempt to raise Heinz's spirits； I asked
him the following question： 〃Heinz； what would you do with
the extra mission you would earn； if you were to repeat
your October performance in November？〃 （He actually earned
three times his usual monthly ine in October。）
Seeing the true meaning behind my question； Heinz's
face brightened considerably and a broad smile appeared
across his face。 Then I quickly added； 〃We both know you are
quite 〃capable〃 of repeating your October performance in
November； there is absolutely no question about that。〃 By this
time Heinz had bee thoroughly convinced； that not only
was he capable of repeating his performance； but he definitely
would repeat it。 He said； with his customary confidence and
vigor fully restored； 〃All right Bob； I'm going to do it。〃
The Razor's Edge he did it Heinz Daues beat his own
record of October in November！ Think of the difference this will
make in his annual ine； not to mention his standing in the
pany。 You just know he will duplicate or better his
performance next November； following 〃President's Month。〃
The 〃something〃 for Heinz Daues turned out to be
nothing more sophisticated； than deciding to do the same
thing in November； which he had already done in October。
Perhaps you are saying to yourself； 〃anyone could have figured
that out；〃 and you're rightthey could have。 But there are a few
thousand people selling for the same pany that Heinz sells
for and I'll bet you 〃dollars to donuts；〃 there weren't five others
who did！
Vince Lombardi； former football coach of the outstanding
Green Bay Packers football team； described the Razor's Edge
concept in football very well when he said； 〃Most games are
won or lost in the last two minutes of the first and second
half。〃 But what Lombardi is best remembered forwith respect
to football's Razor's Edgeis the 〃Second Effort〃 concept； which
he introduced for the edification of his players。 In a nutshell；
the 〃Second Effort〃 concept simply meant； that when a player
was initially stopped by the opposing team； he would always
surge forward a second time； with the added thrust of a
〃second effort。〃
Now； just consider the tremendous difference you could
create in your own life if you were to adopt a similar mental
attitude。 For example； if you are a person who is working in
sales and currently selling only three units a week； what
would the consequences be for you if you were to decide to
make one additional sale per week； through a conscientious
application of the second effort concept？ Well； on a weekly
basis； it might not appear to be a major breakthrough。
However； viewed over the time frame of an entire career； it
would actually amount to well over two thousand extra sales。
Moreover； from a moary standpoint； it would mean you
would actually receive an extra ten years' ine over the
span of a fortyyear career。 Yes； that one sale would be the
Razor's Edge difference； which could catapult you into 〃the big
leagues〃 in your chosen career。
Milt Campbell's Triumph
One individual who discovered the Razor's Edge
difference for himself； in his own life； is Milton Campbell。 You
see； Milt went to the Olympic Games in 1952； to pete in
the decathlon event。 He performed with distinction； finishing
in second place in the world and as a result； brought home an
Olympic silver medal。 However； Milt's ambition has always
been to win the Olympic gold medal。 Therefore； when he
returned home； he gave it that old second effort and he started
his training program all over again。 For the next four years；
Milt Campbell dedicated himself singlemindedly to a training
schedule； which would culminate with his winning the
Olympic gold medal for his country at the 1956 Olympic
games。 In the aftermath of that spectacular achievement；