If you were only successful 35% of the time, how would that make you feel?  Be honest.

Some of you would be so depressed if you ever got a 35% on something.  I once got an exam back and it was like 22% (out of a 100%).  I still got a C.  It was Freshman Chemistry.

We are all so conditioned to think that success is at C – in many grading systems about 75-80%.  Really, all you need is a 10 point gpa with 10 as excellent, 5 as average and 0 as fail.  But for many of us, we are use to seeing a test out of 100%.  It’s definitely 100% of the grade of the course, but there tends to be some amazing identity ties with a percentage.  I know some guys that have been so conditioned by percentages that they have to get an A on a test or in their mind they fail.  They have to score at least a 91% in order to get an A-, and some aren’t even happy with that.

Since school and tests are such a huge part of our lives, percentages mean so much to us.  Some of you with an A student identity cannot even fathom anything lower than a 90% – much less a 35%.

Now I’m If you are a baseball player and could only hit 35% that would be phenomenal.  If 30% of the time you went to bat you got a hit, you would be an excellent hitter.  I’m not a baseball player, but correct me if I’m wrong.  Babe Ruth had a batting average of .342.

Is there some similarities to your A grade and a batting average – ah – maybe.  There is an an amazing lesson to learn here.  Missing the ball or failing to hit is a natural part of the game.  Failure is natural.  It happens.  I think baseball players could definitely calculate a missed average, but they know how to live with their missed pitches.  Failure is not a bad thing.  Failure forms.

Learning how to fail and only being successful 35% of the time is an identity that takes time to develop.

What’s a failing percentage that you can’t live with out?