The 10 Percent Target
Whatever you want most in life, make 10 attempts - getting comfortable with failing 90% of the time builds resilience and skill.
Also known as: 10% Rule, Ten Attempts Rule
Category: Techniques
Tags: successes, resilience, failures, goals, mindsets
Explanation
The 10 Percent Target is a simple rule for pursuing goals: whatever you want most in life, make 10 attempts at it.
This approach serves multiple purposes:
**1. Normalizes failure**: By planning for 10 attempts, you expect to fail most of the time. A 10% success rate becomes acceptable, even expected.
**2. Builds resilience**: Each failed attempt is practice in handling rejection, disappointment, and setback. You develop emotional muscle.
**3. Improves through iteration**: Each attempt teaches something. By attempt #10, you're far more skilled than at attempt #1.
**4. Increases luck surface area**: More attempts mean more chances for something to work. You can't win if you don't play.
**5. Reduces pressure**: When one attempt isn't your only shot, you can be bolder and more creative.
**Practical application:**
- Want to get published? Submit to 10 places
- Want a new job? Apply to 10 companies
- Want to start a business? Try 10 ideas
- Want to learn a skill? Commit to 10 practice sessions before judging yourself
The 10 Percent Target transforms intimidating goals into manageable experiments. You're not trying to succeed once - you're trying to learn from 10 attempts, knowing success might come on any of them.
Idea attributed to Jennifer Cohen.
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