Perceived Percentages
Percentages in relation to effort are a funny thing. There is the percentage that we feel we give and then there is the percentage perceived by others. Sometimes perceived percentage works in our favor and sometimes it absolutely does not.
For example, there have been times that I have given something probably a solid 50% effort and the person receiving the effort felt that it was quality work, and felt that I had given it 100%. And then on the flip side, there have been times where I put in 100% or 110% and the perceived effort has been less than that. This can be so frustrating. So what do we do when the percentage perceived effort is less than the percentage output? Meaning, what do we do when we have given it our all, and our all is not perceived as “enough”?
I can only control your percentage of output. I have absolutely no control of perceived effort. Everyone’s effort looks different. For example, I can train my butt off and give a running race my absolute all, and yet, I may never beat the athlete who gave training and the race a 50%.
And effort can also be compounded. I may give 100% of my effort in an outrigger race after training for a year and yet the person who has been training for 5 years and gave 75% effort may still win because they have compounded effort over years of practice and developing skill. I have watched people paddle their hearts out giving it their absolute all and meanwhile the person with more skill and knowledge of the water can glide past them like a gazelle. It is wild to watch!
So back to the percentage of output. I can only control what I feel is my percentage of output. In the situations where I feel that I gave it my all, and yet it wasn’t good enough, I know that I can rest easy knowing that I gave it my all.
I am still not totally sure what the solution is other than pointing out that there is a difference between percentage of output versus percentage of perceived effort, and if those percentages aren't the same, we can be easy on ourselves knowing that we are all different and we all perceive effort differently.
So focus on yourself and not on the perceived effort.
