The 10% Rule

You can do anything for a minute.

Let’s talk about grit, guts, and personal power…

I witnessed something really remarkable this past weekend while at team training for an upcoming strongman competition.

But Ade- what does this have to do with building my dream program?!

Hang with me for a second… I got you.

Saturday, I watched a group of badass women (Nurses, Mamas, Grandmamas, Executives, Biz owners, etc.) blow through that invisible threshold that we think is our physical limit.

We practiced cleaning and pressing the log (a metal log we press overhead for reps weighing around 100+ lbs). We drilled this for 60 seconds. Completing as many repetitions as possible. Needless to say, we were winded and SMOKED by the end of practice.

But we effing did it.

Here’s the plot twist.

14 weeks ago these fearless women were hesitant when approaching this heavy apparatus. You could see the doubt wash across their face, and watch the waves of physical, and mental defeat take over their bodies. Leading to quitting early (leaving much more in the tank), and walking away with heads hung low.

OH, BUT SATURDAY! On Saturday, everyone approached the exercise with PURPOSE, FIRE, AND RELENTLESSNESS.

Just when we thought our bodies had enough - we gave one more rep... and then one MORE. Every single woman ROSE up against the resistance they met in each and every repetition. They completed the task and walked away with their heads held high.

The 10% Rule

The 10% rule is the notion that when you feel you’ve met the limit we just talked about. It means you’ve only given about 10% of what you’ve got. There is always more in the tank. The mind will quit before the body…every single time. It’s a web- that you no longer have to be tangled in. How liberating!

You see when we hit the proverbial wall (be it physical, emotional, or psychological) it is not a signal to STOP but rather an invitation to KEEP GOING. When we feel that sensation of NO MORE, we dig deeper. We press on. We say out loud - I AM NOT DONE, I HAVE MORE.

This mentality is key when navigating an entrepreneurial world. My strength training has saved my ass so many times… it has been a constant reminder of WHAT I am capable of. And, guess what? It’s never less than I thought at the start.

When you feel like you are being met with resistance at every turn, KEEP GOING. Take one more step forward. The naysayers are nothing but blinking lights on a street way; move through with caution but do not stop.

Never stop moving the needle forward.

When you feel like you have to defend your work in this field of early childhood, do so fiercely and without apology.

Never stop advocating for children and for what you believe in.

When you feel like the odds are against you as you make moves to bring change to your community, do it anyway. Ask for help. Sing your song.

Never allow your ego to drive the ship- they don’t know the way. Switch seats, and let your PASSION take the wheel.

When you follow the 10% rule, you will continually surprise yourself and have a front-row seat to witness your personal power. The kicker? That shit is contagious, and you will sweep up folks around you in the flurry of sheer pride and joy of giving just a little bit more than you want to, feel like, or think you can give. Helping you build a community full of fearless teammates.

Now, change makers, get out there and kick some ass and make shit happen.

You got this, and I got you.

XO,
Ade

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