To Give Your Best, Follow 85% Rule

Whether it is work, relationships, or some personal tasks, we try to give our 100% to make things work in the best possible ways. But, giving your 100% can really give you the best result you hoped for? There is a theory or a rule, the 85% rule, which tells us to use only 85% of your potential to achieve 100% in your tasks. Doesn’t sound practical, but it sure is.
 

Carl Lewis and His 85% Rule

Have you heard of Carl Lewis? He was a legendary athlete, a track and field star, who won 9 Olympic gold medals. In an episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Huge Jackman (yes that Wolverine guy) was a guest and was telling a story of a sprint coach. That coach used to be very impressed and fascinated by Carl Lewis. The coach couldn’t understand why Carl always is in last or second to last in the first 40 meters of the race, but then in the rest 60 meters, he turns the table and wins the race.

There was an assumption that Lewis is a slow starter who saves his energy to accelerate the speed in the end moments. But video footage from a different angle showed a totally different picture and turned out it wasn’t the reason Lewis stays on top. Jackman explained the rule to the host:

“What he realized Carl Lewis did at the 50-meter mark, 60-meter mark, was that he did nothing. His breathing was exactly the same. His form is exactly the same as had been between meters 25 and 50. Whereas everyone else starts to push to the end — “Gonna try a little extra harder!” … their face would scrunch up, their jaw would tighten, their fists would start to clench — Carl Lewis stayed exactly the same, and then he would just breeze past them.”

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