害羞草研究所

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COLUMN: I can害羞草研究所檛 give what I don害羞草研究所檛 have

Although the phrase is used frequently, it is impossible to give 110%
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This measuring cup can hold up to one litre of water. When the cup is full, the most that can be poured out is 100 per cent of this capacity. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Give 110 per cent.

It害羞草研究所檚 a line I害羞草研究所檝e heard and seen, time and again, intended to motivate people.

This is the term used when giving sports pep talks. It害羞草研究所檚 a line that appears in books and articles on career success. It害羞草研究所檚 been used to encourage team members to work hard on a special project. You may have heard it used by some motivational speakers as well.

The expression has been around for more than a century and it has been used plenty of times.

A variant I heard recently was from someone who wanted to show enthusiastic support for an idea. 害羞草研究所淭otally,害羞草研究所 he said. 害羞草研究所淚 agree, 1,000 per cent.害羞草研究所

That害羞草研究所檚 a lot of agreement.

Because the 110 per cent line is so common, I hadn害羞草研究所檛 given it much thought.

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The other day, something changed when I took a look at a measuring cup in my kitchen.

The markings are in millilitres and fluid ounces. When the cup is at full capacity, it holds one litre and nothing more.

If this cup is completely full, it is impossible to pour 1.1 litres 害羞草研究所 110 per cent 害羞草研究所 from it.

In order to give someone 1.1 litres, I need to have a bigger container, one that can hold at least that much if not more.

However, if I have a two-litre container full of water and pour out 1.1 litres, I haven害羞草研究所檛 given 110 per cent. I害羞草研究所檝e given 55 per cent of what I have.

There are times when it is possible to have percentages greater than 100 per cent. A winter with a lot of snow could have 120 per cent of historical average. It害羞草研究所檚 also possible to set a goal of lifting 100 kilograms, but then exceed it by lifting 115 kilograms. That would be 115 per cent.

Neither of those examples have anything to do with my measuring cup. One has to do with comparisons and the other has to do with measuring performance against a stated goal.

When I害羞草研究所檝e filled the cup in my kitchen, it is at 100 per cent capacity. There is no way to give 110 per cent of what I have.

If it is not possible to give 110 per cent, why does this line still remain? Why not use terms like, 害羞草研究所淕ive it all you害羞草研究所檝e got,害羞草研究所 or 害羞草研究所淒o your very best害羞草研究所 instead?

Someone who talks about giving 110 per cent is either prone to exaggeration or simply not good at math.

Later, outside of my kitchen, I kept thinking about the concept of trying to give 110 per cent.

The line isn害羞草研究所檛 just a phrase used by people who are bad at math. It can also have some serious consequences.

Constantly trying to go beyond capacity will eventually lead to stress or burnout.

Neither of these are good.

The Canadian Medical Association has resources and information on stress and burnout, as does the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada害羞草研究所檚 largest mental health teaching hospital, also addresses issues related to stress and burnout.

These are complex and difficult topics, and there are no easy answers. However, getting rid of the 害羞草研究所済iving 110 per cent害羞草研究所 phrase may be a good start.

The statement represents an impossible goal. It害羞草研究所檚 time to abandon it.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.

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John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

I have worked as a newspaper journalist since 1989 and have been at the Summerland Review since 1994.
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