Sam Parker - 212 The Extra Degree: Extraordinary Results Begin with One Small Change

Copyright 2016 Sam Parker, Simple Truths, and Walk the Talk

Cover and internal design 2016 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Sourcebooks, the colophon, and Simple Truths are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systemsexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviewswithout permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Photo Credits

Cover: Ecelop/Shutterstock

Internals: page I, Ecelop/Shutterstock; pages 59 and 79, VectorState

Published by Simple Truths, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.

P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 605674410

(630) 961-3900

Fax: (630) 961-2168

www.sourcebooks.com

For everyone.

CONTENTS

At 211, water is hot.

At 212, it boils.

And with boiling water, comes steam

And with steam, you can power a locomotive .

ONE
DEGREE

Raising the temperature of water by one extra degree means the difference between something that is simply very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machinea beautiful, uncomplicated metaphor that ideally should feed our every endeavorconsistently pushing us to make the extra effort in every task we undertake. 212 serves as a forceful drill sergeant with its motivating and focused message, while adhering to a scientific lawa natural law.

It reminds us that seemingly small things can make tremendous differences. So simple is the analogy that you can stop reading right now, walk away with the opening thought firmly planted in your mind, and benefit from it for the rest of your life.

Thats the purpose of this bookto help you internally define and take ownership of the most fundamental principle behind achieving life results beyond your expectations. This simple idea has a singular focusan actionable focus.

Its this dramaticthree numbers joined together to form one, crystallizing a message that absolutely assures life-altering, positive results for those who choose to apply it.

Still looking for the silver bullet or quick fix to achieving great results?

Stop.

Reams of material are written and taught with an approach to reaching an end by close to effortless meansand more will be written. Advertising messages continually promote methods of achieving end results with little or no effort. And this material and these messages are so effective that in many cases people will work harder to avoid the extra effort than to actually apply the effort that will produce the originally desired outcome.

Great materials with solid approaches to results have also been created and taught. Unfortunately, in so many cases, action on the part of the reader/student is the missing ingredient. And for those individuals who do take action, there is even a smaller number who make the extra effort necessary to reach the desired results that were originally set to be achieved. Books are purchased, programs are attended, and clubs are joined with wonderful intentions of putting forth the effort to achieveonly to end in another block of time invested half heartedly with appropriately corresponding results.

Why?

Why do you enter into any activity with anything but a commitment to achieve your objective of that activitynot a desire to achieve your objective, but a commitment?

212 is not only a message of actionits a message of persistent and additional actionthe continual application of heat (effort) to whatever task or activity you undertake in order to achieve not only the primary objective you seek, but to reap the exponential rewards that are possible by applying one extra degree of effort.

How many opportunities have you missed because you were not aware of the possibilities that would occur if you applied a small amount of effort beyond what you normally do?

People develop personal habits toward action and rarely attempt to develop them further and continually. Unless someone engages in frequent self-review or an external source (a friend, a book, a manager, a spouse, a parent, an article, etc.) brings something to ones attention, a person will continue throughout life making very small improvements, if any at all.

Now youre aware of 212The Extra Degree. No longer will you be able to do only what is required of you and only what is expected of you. Because with this awareness comes responsibilityto yourself and to others. And, again

You are now aware.

The excitement can begin. Are you smiling yet?

You now have a target for everything you do

You may not always be able to turn up the heat and hit the boiling point, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt make the attempt. Its what youd advise others to do, and its what we should teach our children.

211 can serve a purpose, but 212 is the extra degreethe extra degree that will bring exponential results, exponential results to you and those you touch throughout your days.

There are no real secrets to success. Success with anything, success in anything, has one fundamental aspecteffort. To achieve exponential results requires additional effort. Take your courses. Read your books. Listen to your tapes. But take action.

Take action with commitment. Then, when youre ready for exponential results, apply the extra effort. Sometimes youll have immediate exponential results and sometimes youll realize the benefits of your extra effort much farther down the road. Regardless, in many cases, it may only be that one extra push that gets you ten times the results you were attempting to originally obtain. Pace your expectations and operate at your new target212. You will realize the benefits of this extra effort. One extra degree can change everything.

At 211,
water is HOT .

At 212,
it BOILS .

And with boiling water,
comes STEAM .

And steam can
power a LOCOMOTIVE .

Its your life.

You are responsible for your results.

ITS TIME TO TURN UP
THE HEAT.

From this day forward, commit to operating at 212 in everything you do. Etch it into your thinkinginto your being. Apply it to your actions. It guarantees to increase your results positively and, in so many cases, increase your results exponentially.

212
THOUGHTS
& FACTS

Inches make the champion.

VINCE LOMBARDI,
Hall of Fame football coach, 19131970

Professional golf tournaments are comprised of four rounds (games) of eighteen holes played over a four-day period (seventy-two holes total). There are four major tournaments each yearthe U.S. Open, the British Open, the PGA Championship, and the Masters. The average margin of victory between 1990 and 2014 (twenty-five years) in ALL tournaments combined was less than three strokesless than a one-stroke difference per day. From 2000 through 2004 (five years), the winner across all tournaments took home an average of 78 percent more in prize dollars than the second-place finisher (before endorsements and other earnings).