My high school wrestling coach used to talk about “the 2% factor,” which separated victory from defeat. I had no idea what he was talking about.
As I’ve gotten older I think I’ve begun to see what he meant. It’s not that all matches are decided by a 2% edge between opponents. Very few in fact. But the difference between a champion and 5th place is probably less than 2%. Think of how many races Michael Phelps won by less than 1 second. Yet no one remembers the name of the second place swimmer.
It’s not just a 2% difference that shows up in competition, but the ability of a champion to dedicate an extra 2% to everything they do.
They study just a little bit longer. They keep their house just a little bit cleaner. When they argue with their partner they have just a little more patience and understanding. They do an extra rep or two when they lift weights.
It’s about having the will to be better.
Do I always nail it? No. But I do try. Whatever I’ve got, I try to keep the 2% in mind.
Last night, it was the difference of walking an empty can of bubbly water from my living room to the kitchen recycling at the end of a long day. How much can that possibly matter? Tons.
Once the can is out of the way, I see what else there might be to do. Then, the next morning, I started work there, rather than with the can. That has a way of snowballing. In a good way.
Even in itself, it’s weird how much of a difference that 2% makes. 2% extra might create a 10% difference in outcomes.
But the real magic is what happens over time.
The extra 2% keeps you closer to your edge of maximum effort. Each new day’s 2% takes you further than the 2% from yesterday. It changes you, creates better habits, deepens your capacity. And while those changes are linear, the outcomes are exponential.
You’ll find that the value of your time gets upgraded, so that your extra 2% is directed to better and better areas. Once the house is clean, you might start some small repairs. Once those are done, maybe you get into landscaping and suddenly you’ve got a beautiful property. Once all of those changes are made, maybe you find yourself looking for new jobs, or studying new skills with your free time.
The weird thing, is that opportunities for 2% start out pretty humble. But do yourself a favor and just start there.
It seems to be the case that life only gives you what you can handle in one moment. Sometimes, it gives you a lot more than that, but those are exceptions, I think. These carry their own lessons, about being able to rely on friends, ask for help, etc. They aren’t about the 2% rule.
If for some reason, the universe has given you this particular 2%, take it as a sign that this is the 2% you need to be working on right now. So work it. With time, you’ll get a sturdier foundation under your feet, and you’ll be ready for more.
Start by slaying tiny serpents. Then large serpents. Then dragons.