What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give more than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give 101%.

But what makes up 100% in life?

Mathematicians have worked out a formula that helps answer these questions for us – and in consultancy world, we love it when we know ‘How’ and ‘Why’ something works.

So, if:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

But, disappointingly, K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

Just when you think “Oh no!”, the good news is that;

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

Eureka! We have ‘the’ answer! Success equals Attitude? And having the right attitude delivers success, right? Well… sorry to deflate you but that ‘Tool of the Mediocre’, the ‘Get out of Jail’ card for the Average – bullsh!t – well, take a look;

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, to compound matters, just look how far ass-kissing takes you!

A-S-S-K-!-S-S-!-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, now, one can conclude – with mathematical certainty – that while hard-work and knowledge will get you close, and attitude will get you there, it’s the bullshit and ass-kissing that takes you over the top.

Ever wondered why some people are where they are…?