100% Effort Is Overrated… And Probably Hurting You

Are you always pushing for 100%? What if I told you there's a better way?

The day has come. I have to give a presentation in front of the new partner. I’m nervous, but I’m prepared. So prepared that I wrote a script and memorized it completely. As we go around the room, my heart rate increases while I wait for my turn. Finally, it’s my time. I give the presentation, hitting all my major points. Phew.

As I’m leaving the meeting, my boss pulls me aside. “Tanner, you’re typically a great presenter. What happened?”

I’m shocked. What does he mean? I said everything I wanted to…

“You weren’t yourself up there. You sounded like a robot.”

Effect: I was so focused on being perfect that the presentation felt overly rehearsed and robotic.

Desired Outcome: I want to be more relatable and engaging. I want my natural personality to shine through.

Strategy: The 85% rule.

The Olympics are on, and last weekend’s 100m run got me thinking about the 85% rule. Coined by nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, the idea is that instead of applying maximum effort, you focus on 85%. By doing this, you stay loose, avoid burnout, optimize your time, and maintain motivation. When you constantly push at 100%, your body tenses up, and you actually slow down.

You can see this rule apply outside the track, too. When someone pushes too hard to find the perfect partner, they rarely do. When someone tries to force themselves to sleep, they just toss and turn. When someone memorizes a speech perfectly, it’s not engaging - it sounds robotic.

Outcome: Pushing at 100% all the time is a recipe for disaster. Instead, find your 85%, and you'll be more engaging, more motivated, and avoid burn out.

Favorite Photo from the Week:

Hucky is trying to help me stay motivated at my computer by getting as close as possible to my office chair so I can’t move without hitting her. It’s working - I’m not taking as many breaks. Thanks, Hucky.

Till next week, be kind, be curious and work hard.

Tanner