The 100 Percent Rule That Makes Life a Lot Easier: Building Confidence and Making Decisions

The 100 Percent Rule That Makes Life a Lot Easier: Building Confidence and Making Decisions

Making decisions can be a daunting task. We often find ourselves torn between different options, unsure of which path to take. This indecisiveness can lead to a lack of confidence and ultimately hinder our progress. However, there is a simple rule that can make life a lot easier - the 100 percent rule.

According to the 100 percent 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 rule holds true.

Situations are often more powerful than our internal desires. When we are faced with external pressure or expectations, it becomes challenging to stick to our principles. We may feel tempted to compromise on our values or make exceptions to our commitments. However, this can create problems in our confidence and identity.

By repeatedly failing to fully commit to our decisions or goals, our confidence takes a hit. We start to doubt ourselves and question our abilities. This confusion can impact our overall identity, leaving us unsure of who we truly are. With lower confidence, we lack the wherewithal to commit fully to our decisions or goals.

Robert Brault captures this idea perfectly with his quote, "We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal." It is not the external obstacles that prevent us from achieving our goals, but rather the allure of taking an easier path. This lesser goal may seem tempting in the moment, but it ultimately hinders our progress.

Motivation requires simplicity. Complexity kills motivation. When we overthink our decisions or constantly second-guess ourselves, we drain our motivation. We need to make a clear decision and move forward with it, without constantly revisiting or doubting our choices.

Michael Jordan, the legendary basketball player, understood this concept well. He once said, "Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again." This mindset is the key to building confidence. Once we make a decision, we should fully commit to it and not allow ourselves to waver. This unwavering commitment builds our confidence and propels us towards success.

Instead of making decisions based solely on our current desires, we can adopt a more future-oriented approach. We can ask ourselves, "How would my future self want to remember this?" or "What would my future self want me to do?" By putting ourselves in our future self's shoes, we can gain perspective and make decisions that align with our long-term goals and values.

The 100 percent rule, as advocated by Clayton Christensen, is a valuable strategy for avoiding decision fatigue and building confidence. By adhering to this rule, we simplify our decision-making process and eliminate the option of compromise. We become more resolute in our commitments and develop a stronger sense of self.

In a world that is increasingly driven by engagement and algorithms, the concept of trustworthiness often takes a backseat. However, Substack, a platform for writers, takes a different approach. Their key metric is not engagement, but rather writer revenue. Substack only makes money when their writers make money, as they take a 10% cut of the revenue generated from subscriptions.

Substack believes in empowering readers to choose what content they see. A reader consciously decides which writers to invite into their inboxes and which ones to support financially. The platform's entire business model is built on holding writers' trust, as evidenced by the ease with which a writer can leave the platform.

This approach aims to subvert the power of the attention economy and put control back into the hands of the people. Substack believes that subscriptions are superior to advertising and that individuals should have the freedom to choose who to trust, rather than relying on click-maximizing algorithms. They believe that the current media ecosystem is in disrepair and that the internet can be used to build something better.

By hosting a broad range of views, Substack promotes a healthy discourse and believes in the strength of diversity for democracy. Their guiding beliefs shape the design of Substack, where they prioritize user trust and reject advertising and engagement-driven algorithms.

So, how can we apply these principles to our own lives? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the 100 percent rule: When faced with a decision, commit fully to your choice. Avoid the temptation to compromise on your principles or goals. By sticking to your commitments, you build confidence and move closer to success.

2. Consider your future self: Instead of solely focusing on your current desires, think about how your future self would want you to act or remember the situation. This perspective shift can help align your decisions with your long-term goals and values.

3. Seek platforms that prioritize trust and choice: In a world full of attention-driven algorithms, it is essential to find platforms that prioritize user trust and allow individuals to choose the content they consume. Support platforms like Substack that prioritize diversity of views and empower writers to control their own narrative.

In conclusion, the 100 percent rule offers a valuable framework for decision-making and confidence-building. By fully committing to our choices, considering our future selves, and supporting platforms that prioritize trust and choice, we can navigate life's complexities with greater ease and clarity.