At 99 degrees Centigrade, water is hot.
At 100 degrees Centigrade, water starts boiling and turns to steam.
Steam can power locomotives, factories and ships. Hot water can’t.
The difference between just being hot and being capable of moving a twenty ton hunk of metal is just 1%.
That’s it: 1%.
The difference between winning a race, coming up with a better design or a stronger concept is in that 1%.
Plan 1% better. Prepare 1% harder. Work 1% longer. Think 1% further. Proofread 1% slower. Research 1% deeper. Execute 1% better. 1% faster.
Forget about the ridiculous notion of “giving 110%.” Forget about giving it an extra 20%. Or even 10%. Those numbers mean nothing. Even if they did, they would be unrealistic.
Focus on the 1%.
Chances are that if you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already hitting that 99% pretty much every day. If not, you come pretty damn close. (It’s okay, you can admit it.) The point is that you’re already doing 99% of what you need to do to be kind of successful. What’s 1% more?
1%. That’s where the magic happens. It’s the tipping point of design and ideas and insight. The difference between pretty good and great. The sliver that stands between running a 6:00-mile and a 5:57-minute mile. It’s what separates the top percentile from… well, everything and everyone else.
I’ts just 1%, folks. That’s all it is. Why fall short?
Choose to be great today.
Thanks to my good friend Frank Roth who used this analogy not long ago to explain to me how he went from being a decent age-group triathlete to being a top finisher in almost every race he enters… in just one season.
Love this post! Already has me fired-up for the day. Thank you!
Off to be extraordinary now. Wish me luck!
@kamimauzy
Terrific post Olivier.
Reminds us that those who excel in any field of endeavor are not necessarily smarter or harder working than everyone else, it’s just their attention to detail — always giving that extra 1% to raise the bar.
Keep up the great work!
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I hope other join me in making the vow to give the extra 1% in everything I do.
Oliver – If you are ever in CA for a race, look me up, I’ll take you to lunch for some carbo loading!
Sorry I already failed in the 1% slower proofereading…oops – Let’s try that again, starting now!
“I hope others join me, making the vow to give the extra 1% in everything I do.”
Perfect timing for a profound yet simple breakthrough. Thanks, Coach!
Not what I wanted to hear, but just what I needed. Reposted a few times
Thanks again.
I’m running a fever so does this mean I’m boiling?
Fahrenheit vs. Centigrade. I think you’re good.
This post reminded me of a saying I’ve heard in the past – “Successful people do what unsuccessful people won’t do, even when they don’t want to do it.”
To me, that’s what the extra 1% is. The reason why you’ll succeed, and the 9 people lined up next to you won’t is your willingness to push for that extra 1%, even if it means putting yourself out there in a way you might not normally feel comfortable with. That’s what separates a leader from the masses.
Keep up the great posts.
Yes! That’s a great line.
technically, going from 99 to 100 is 1.01010101… but we won’t hold you to it.
See, I already did that extra 1% by doing the math.
All kidding aside, great post. It is a great thing to keep repeating myself when running and wanting to quit (most of the time)… that 1% will make the difference.
Thanks for a nice post.
Esteban
Smartass.