Your 110-percent solution

Scrambling to find money. The latest news articles have got government employees questioning whether they’re going to see a paycheck next week, or wondering how they will make ends meet when their salaries are cut by 10 percent.

Focusing too much on the problem, though, can obscure the solution and only make the situation much worse. Follow this scenario. Because people are worried about a salary cut—even before it even happens—they start spending less on goods and services, which means businesses will be affected with lower sales, which causes them to lay off people or cut their pay to reduce expenses, which means even less money is circulating. In the worst case, this domino effect will cause a downward economic spiral into bankruptcy.

It’s like looking through the wrong end of a telescope—the final solution appears too far away, which can cause people to give up, give in, or get out. However, instead of seeing the glass half empty, we can take the time to find the opportunities this situation could create. Now, this may seem too optimistic for some, but there are always people who find better ways to prosper during badder times.

Instead of just looking at the 10-percent problem, one should flip the telescope around to see the 110-percent solution. Mark McCormack, founder of the International Management Group, wrote a book in 1990 called The 110% Solution. The basic premise of the book is fairly simple: People feel their best when they are doing their best, and for people to do their best, it is no longer good enough to strive for 50 percent or 75 percent. To achieve success, people must strive to reach 110 percent of their ability. McCormack encourages people to reach their highest level possible, while pursuing worthwhile ideas and opportunities. His company deals with superstar athletes who regularly demonstrate 110 percent effort in their sport.

Look around your workplace and ask if everyone is giving their best at what they do. Low morale causes lower productivity, which worsens any situation. If people generally perform at 50 percent of their capability, what would happen if they increased it by just 10 percent, or even gave 110 percent at work? You can image the response you would get from customers as you served them in a way they have never been served. You might even imagine how it could impact sales in business, or add to the quality of the service experience people have at a government agency.

Now, in business, you might get a raise, promotion, or a pat on the back from your boss. However, other people will also notice your enthusiasm on the job. Some of those people may be other businesspeople who are always looking for excellent employees. One way you can tell if your services are valuable to others is if you are getting unsolicited job offers. When was the last time you were asked to leave your current job to take a position for a higher salary? If you aren’t getting these job offers at least twice a year, you should take a look at your current performance.

What’s the worst thing that could happen if you performed at a higher level? Ask yourself: “Am I giving all that I can to help my organization achieve it’s highest potential?”

If you give your best at a government job, the reward is typically more work with no pay increase. People recognize a good worker and tend to give them more work, but budgetary constraints make it difficult to compensate them financially. You will feel better about the work you do at the end of a day, but it won’t help you pay your bills, so you may need to find alternative sources of income to compensate for a reduction in pay. Some options may be to find a part-time job, or it may prompt you to start a business you can operate in your spare time. If you have a hobby, you could use your talent to earn more money to make ends meet.

In McCormack’s book, Jackie Stewart tells his story about his rise to become a three-time World Champion on the Grand Prix racing circuit. Stewart reveals that he was 42 years old when he realized he was dyslexic. As a young boy, other children teased him mercilessly. He states, “I was lucky. God gave me a pair of hands to hold a steering wheel. Had it not been for that I might have been a lost person.”

Stewart compensated by working to be good at anything he did. While working at a gas station, he served the customers better than anyone else. He comments, “I never lost the thought that you have to give good value for the things you are paid for, and to try harder for the things you want to achieve to reach your ultimate limits.” Stewart continues, “If you have high standards of your own for achievement, you are a greater taskmaster. Your perception of excellence is your best judge. And you need 110 percent in order to execute that.”

It pays to give 110 percent in anything you do. Employers won’t want to let you go, customers will bring more business to your business, and you will feel better about what you do. If your present employer does not fully appreciate you, there will be others who do recognize the value of your outstanding work, and possibly offer you a better job. There is never an abundance of excellent workers, and your 110 percent effort will make all the difference in your life and your business.

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Rik is a business instructor at NMC and Janel is the owner of Positively Outrageous Results. They can be contacted at: biz_results@yahoo.com