The 100 Percent Rule: Simplifying Life and Building Confidence

The 100 Percent Rule: Simplifying Life and Building Confidence

In life, we often find ourselves torn between our internal desires and the external pressures created by situations. It's a constant battle to maintain our principles and commitments, especially when faced with uncertainty. However, there is a rule that can make life a lot easier - the 100 percent rule.

According to this rule, it is easier to hold your principles 100 percent of the time than it is to hold them 98 percent of the time. This may seem counterintuitive at first, but let's delve deeper into why this holds true.

When we waver in our commitment, when we allow ourselves to deviate from our principles even just a little, we start to experience problems in our confidence and identity. We watch ourselves repeatedly fail to uphold our "commitment," and this confusion affects our sense of self. Our confidence takes a hit, and with lower confidence, we lack the wherewithal to fully commit to our decisions or goals.

Robert Brault captures this sentiment perfectly when he says, "We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal." It's not the external obstacles that hold us back; it's the allure of the easier, lesser path that distracts us from our true objectives.

To build confidence and maintain motivation, we need simplicity. Complexity kills motivation. Take it from Michael Jordan, who famously said, "Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again." The key to building confidence is to make a decision and move forward with it, 100 percent committed.

But how do we ensure that we make the right decision? Instead of solely considering what our current self wants, we can try putting ourselves in our future self's shoes. We can ask ourselves, "How would my future self want to remember this?" or "What would my future self want me to do?" By considering our future self's perspective, we gain a broader view and make decisions that align with our long-term goals.

Now, let's shift our focus to the YouTube revolution in knowledge transfer. While video media may have its downsides, such as shortening attention spans and diverting attention from longer-form communication, it has also unlocked a new era of mass-scale tacit knowledge transmission.

Tacit knowledge refers to knowledge that cannot be effectively communicated through verbal or written instruction alone. It includes skills like creating great art or assessing a startup. Before the advent of video, tacit knowledge had to be transmitted in person, allowing learners to observe and learn in real-time. However, not everyone can be true autodidacts who invent their own techniques. Many people learn best by watching and imitating.

This is where YouTube comes in. It provides a platform for individuals to share their skills and knowledge through videos, allowing others to learn through observation. The growth of the "how-to" category on YouTube, which has seen a 70% year-on-year increase, speaks to the demand for this type of learning.

While massive open online courses (MOOCs) failed to achieve high completion rates, YouTube fills a gap by providing accessible and searchable content that caters to different learning preferences. Learners who struggle to figure things out on their own now have the opportunity to observe skilled individuals and acquire tacit knowledge.

Moreover, YouTube's impact extends beyond individual learning. It has the potential to foster collaboration and transparency in various fields. The camera's unflinching eye captures what even experimental scientists may not be aware of, opening a window to distant collaborators. Through this mutual transparency, we can create a truly open science, going beyond traditional methods of sharing research.

To sum it up, the 100 percent rule and the YouTube revolution in knowledge transfer share a common thread - simplicity. By committing fully to our decisions and goals, we build confidence and avoid decision fatigue. YouTube, on the other hand, simplifies the acquisition of tacit knowledge by allowing individuals to learn through observation, fostering collaboration, and transparency.

Now, let's leave you with three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the 100 percent rule: Make a decision and commit to it wholeheartedly. Avoid second-guessing yourself and maintain your principles consistently.

2. Consider your future self: When making decisions, think about how your future self would want to remember the situation. This perspective will help you make choices that align with your long-term goals.

3. Utilize YouTube as a learning tool: Take advantage of the vast array of "how-to" videos available on YouTube. If you're struggling to learn something on your own, observe and imitate skilled individuals to acquire tacit knowledge.

In conclusion, the 100 percent rule simplifies life by eliminating decision fatigue and building confidence, while the YouTube revolution in knowledge transfer provides a platform for mass-scale tacit knowledge transmission. By embracing simplicity in our commitments and utilizing resources like YouTube, we can enhance our learning and personal development. So, make a decision, commit fully, and unlock your potential for growth and success.