10% doesn’t seem like a lot. 10% of a dollar is only ten cents and it’s hard to find anything you can buy for a dime. I’ve often heard taking a product or service and making it 10% better can be a game-changer. What results do you think could be achieved by simply giving 10% more effort to everything you do?
We’ve all worked with or been around people who simply do the bare minimum required. They get by doing the bare minimum at work, the bare minimum in their relationships, at the gym, and even interacting with their families. They have no desire to do more than the bare minimum and muddle their way through life never excelling at anything.
Hustlers though understand the 10% Rule and are using it to create amazing life results. Think about the salesperson who makes one more phone call before calling it a day. Or the entrepreneur who spends an extra 30 minutes improving an important presentation. Or the wife or husband who takes extra time each day to connect with their partner in a meaningful way.
We often think success requires enormous effort. We imagine the people who accomplish great things are somehow working at 150% while everyone else is barely getting by. But sometimes the difference between average and exceptional isn't enormous. It's just 10% more effort.
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room or the most talented or the hardest worker to get ahead. You simply have to be willing to put 10% more effort into whatever goals you’re working to achieve. There are always going to be people who are smarter, more talented, and who work harder, but those traits don’t guarantee success. Putting in an extra 10% is manageable and over time, that 10% will begin to separate you from those who only do the bare minimum.
When things are going well in your life, that extra 10% might not take much effort. The real test comes when you’re feeling frustrated, tired, disappointed, rejected, and ready to quit. You tell yourself it’s not worth the extra effort to make one more sales call, send one more email, give one more presentation. And you’re right, it may not be worth it because extra effort doesn’t guarantee success.
The interesting thing though about putting out an extra 10% each and every day is it compounds. Like compound interest. One extra phone, one extra workout, one extra hour of preparation or one extra conversation may not seem like much. But when you string enough of those moments together, they begin to create something much bigger.
You become more prepared, more confident, more disciplined, more trusted, more capable. And eventually, that 10% doesn't feel like extra effort anymore. It becomes a part of who you are and you’ll find opportunities coming your way you never thought possible.
So where would an additional 10% effort in your life help you start achieving different results? Something related to work? Maybe your personal life or your children? 10% more patience, 10% more kindness, 10% more preparation? Whether it’s generating more sales, losing weight, spending more time with your family or something else, consider how putting in 10% more effort might make all the difference.
10% might not seem like a lot, but it could be enough to help you earn more, spend more time with your family or lose those extra pounds. American author Robert Collier once said, “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Be willing to put in the extra effort and you might be surprised at how far the extra 10% will take you.
Steve Woodburn started hustling early in life, landing his first on-air radio gig when he was just 20 and spending the next 20 years as a DJ, news anchor, talk show host and traffic reporter. He found the promotional products business totally by accident (as do most) working 29 years on the distributor side and five as a supplier. Steve won multiple sales awards along the way and volunteered his time with his local association, the Regional Association Council (RAC) and served on the PPAI Board of Directors. He's currently the Chief Adventurer of Marvelous Moosey Adventures, a company he and his wife created, and pursues acting, writing and voice-over work. Connect with Steve on Linkedin or via email at successnow09@gmail.com