from my understanding... and i have it in my earlier post... that the 5% better than everyone else is a mindset or mentality... to do your job a little better, pay attention to detail, set your planter better, shop for a better price, keep your repairs low by doing preventative maintenence so things don't break down when time is important...

I don't know how to describe it better but maybe its along the same lines of The Rule of 72? If I remember right it was something his accountant said... he seen guys books from all over and could see who was efficient and who wasn't... too fancy of numbers for me to dig into... but the idea has stuck in my mind... if I'm going to stand a chance in this competitive business and even dream of competing with guys 15+ years older than me... then I have to be doing my best plus 5%. I mean, unless a person is getting some kind of a "deal" or inheritance... then you don't have to try as hard... I don't have that though...