Imagine you have the power to achieve what you want?
Life would be very different, right?

Well, you have that power already — you just have to apply it.
I realized this power many years ago when I stumbled upon the book “The Law of Success” by Napoleon Hill.

This book appeared to me when I felt stuck in a job I hated. I was directionless and wanted to quit asap. Now to be accurate, I had the book at home already; I just never read it. So since I was in a low mood, I decided to peek at this massive book (1,035 pages). I randomly looked at lesson number nine that stated “The Habit of Doing More Than Paid For” or simply “going the extra mile,” and it spoke to me.

I realized I was complacent in my performance at work. Yes, I still hated that job, but I could honestly say I didn’t give my best performance. So after reading that part of the book, I committed to myself to go the extra mile.

As months passed, I hated the job less and less. Finally, it became tolerable and eventually good as I was starting to be valued. But I was only valued because I began giving value; this was a powerful shift for me. A shift I not only applied at that job but everywhere else. This shift was significant for me when I took on another position and applied the same principle.

Once you adopt the habit of going the “extra mile,” you will be surprised at what you can accomplish. 

Going the extra mile is simply the habit of doing more than paid for, giving more value.

There are other powers in addition to this one, but the extra mile is essential. Give more and better service than you get paid for, and sooner or later, you will receive compound interest on your service.

It is a state of mind you must develop, so it is a part of everything you do. There is a subtle but powerful mental attitude connected with it.

Here is an analogy with water;
Water boils at 100 Celcius/212°Farenheit at sea level, 
You know the water is hot at 99C, but it doesn’t boil until it reaches one more degree at 100C. Once it boils, it becomes steam. And steam is powerful enough when pressurized to move equipment.

Think about it; One degree means a lot. That little extra effort can mean the difference between success and failure in a competitive world. People at the top of their game know and apply this all the time and people who aren’t — don’t.

Here are some benefits of going the extra mile

1- Going the extra mile helps you master the destructive habit of procrastination — the one habit which Napoleon Hill says heads the list of most causes of failure.

2- Going the extra mile will inspire you to move on your initiative instead of being told what to do.

3- Going the extra mile will help you excel in your line of work/career because each time you provide service, you strive to do a better job than you did previously.

Also

4- Going the extra mile helps you develop greater self-reliance and courage to operate without the fear of criticism from others, which is a valuable asset in our social media-influenced world.

Napoleon Hill himself is an excellent example of going the extra mile. As the story goes, he undertook an assignment from Andrew Carnegie to interview Millionaires and put their success secret into steps so that people in poverty have a blueprint for obtaining riches.

The assignment took 20 years, and for his work, he received no compensation. However, it paid off in the end as he created a successful book with “The Law of Success” and later on spawned “Think and Grow Rich,” a book that has inspired millions upon millions of people. 

Going the extra mile is not only for work or business
It’s for your most important relationships — your family, spouse, kids, and people that mean a lot to you.

So how have you gone the extra mile lately? 

If you haven’t, here’s how you can;
Start today in whatever arena you want the most success and starting giving value.

Be present, be available, be helpful to the best of your ability and be consistent. You will be surprised how much of a difference that will make not only in your life but in the lives of others.

“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.” ― Albert Einstein

I hope this has helped.

Leave a comment below if it did and let me know how you have been giving value to those around you.

Take care.