One of the most oft used expressions in athletics, competition and training is that one will give 110%. When you think about the expression, you can almost hear some coach, somewhere, exhorting his players, “Now get out there and give me one hundred and ten percent!” In the mind of a driven competitor runs the thought, before each practice, that today he or she will give one hundred and ten percent. Now, how in the world does that happen? How does a human being take the best that can be done and make it better? Or, is it just an expression to say you will do your very best with no holding back?
Purists will say, ah, excuse me, but you can’t have more than 100% of anything. In the world of physical objects, that may very well be true. What is 110% of a house, a car or a lawnmower? Those concepts do not make much sense. But, realists and those who have been there will say that just about anything can be improved upon. It is the human element, the will and the spirit that make 110% possible where inanimate objects are confined to being what they are and no more.
I believe there is an inner need in many people to break barriers, to exceed goals, to make improvements. A runner can clock a certain distance one day, and the next time out shave off some time for the same distance. A lifter can move the heaviest weight within his or her capability on a given day, and a short time later, with additional training and determination find that they can lift even more. And this ability to do more is not limited to physical pursuits. With the right attitude and commitment people find every day that they can accomplish more, learn more, give more. And in the process they can be more than what they were the day, the week or the month before. If I pushed hard and gave all that I was capable of yesterday, then truly, I gave 100%. I produced all that was in me. But, if I improve on that; if I work hard and find the strength, the energy, the stamina to give just a bit more, go just a bit farther, lift just a bit heavier, then that extra effort is my 110%.
All of your todays may be 100% of your tomorrows, but you must strive to make all of your tomorrows 110% of your yesterdays.
Whenever I hear that nothing can go beyond that 100%, I think of those old Star Trek episodes (or countless submarine movies for you non-geeks). The engineers who designed those engines didn't recommend that they go above 100%, but knew they could (hence the dials that read higher). So, 100% is the recommended maximum of the original build.
Along comes Scotty to tweak the system. He bends a few coils, then a few twist with his left handed spanner, and voila, you've got an engine capable of more than even the Captain knows about.
But, even Scotty doesn't know what the engine can truly do until he really tries it out. He's got to push it to find out.
I like it - the last bit reminds me of another quote of yours;
" Each day should be an improvement on the one that preceded it and a mere prelude to the one to follow"
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Walk on
With hope in your heart
And You'll Never Walk Alone
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There's no free lunch, especially when it's served with special sauce (lostdog)
***************************** My Log - PC Plod
__________________ “I have always done my duty. I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me.”
-- Zachary Taylor, 12th U.S. President, 1849-1850
Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 153 – 110%
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