Why Consistency Beats Maximum Effort
Ever heard the expression, “Giving 110 percent effort”?
I have so many times to the point where I have wanted to heave. But then I started to really put some thought into it.
First off, scientifically there isn’t such a thing as 110 percent! That’s because 100 percent is perfect — it is the best you, or anyone, or anything can attain. That level of perfection is pretty much impossible to achieve, let alone maintain.
However, for argument sake, we’ll pretend there is actually 110 percent. Whenever I hear someone deliver a speech about giving 110 percent effort in whatever it is you do, I just wonder how much help they are actually giving me. You should wonder, too!
The Burnout Engine
Let’s say that someone is actually giving 110 percent. How long do you think that person will be able to sustain it? A day? A few weeks? Maybe even a full month? The reality is 110 percent is not sustainable over time for you or for anyone. In fact, striving for it is likely a leading cause of burnout and failure.
Take a car for example. Let’s say it has a top end speed of 120 mph. If you put the accelerator pedal to the floor and the car reaches a speed of 120 miles per hour, how long do you think the car will maintain that speed? How long will that car hold together? What do you think will go first—the engine, drive-train, or will it simply run out of gas or overheat? This illustration clearly shows that a car or anything else cannot maintain 100% effort all the time.
Same goes for us. How far do you think you can go if you applied maximum effort all the time? A day? A week? Maybe a whole month before you would stop? You would eventually wear out and quit. Most people would quit. This is exactly why 95% of people attempting to build online businesses fail—they burn themselves out too soon.
Commitment vs. Effort
A better approach would be to separate your commitment from your daily effort:
- 100% Commitment: This is your unwavering dedication to your goal. It is admirable, desirable, and a necessary element for success.
- 75% to 90% Effort: This is your sustainable daily execution. Applying your best effort consistently—even if it isn’t your absolute maximum—helps you avoid burnout and maintain your enthusiasm for the long haul.
A Lesson from the South Pole
I’m going to give you a real life example that happened during the time the South Pole was being discovered. Two different teams of explorers arrive approximately at the same time. But each team had a different approach. One team completely failed and all members died, while the other team succeeded and all made it back home.
What was the difference between these two teams? Both teams had top-notch scientists in the same field, and all members were healthy and physically fit. In fact, the first team to arrive had a head start by several days.
- Team One (The Maximum Effort Approach): They started out giving 110% effort and quickly became tired. They took too much time to recover, and then tried to make up for lost time by pushing themselves to exhaustion once again. This cycle repeated until the team finally collapsed from exhaustion and hypothermia. They never reached the pole.
- Team Two (The Consistent Approach): This team set a course of consistency. Each day, they would travel exactly 20 miles, regardless of the conditions. On good days, the 20 miles were easy, giving the team plenty of time to recover. On bad days, they pushed themselves just enough to hit their 20 miles and were still able to recover. Even though they started later, they reached the South Pole first and safely returned home.
The Moral of Story
Consistency beats maximum effort.
The next time you hear someone suggest giving 110 percent effort into something, run away quickly, because it will not help you. Staying consistent, day after day, is what will actually help you become successful. 🙂
