Making It 85%

The 85% Rule Trumps 100% Effort

Most of us hype up opening nights, expecting that we will see the best performances then.

Hugh Jackman sharing on the 85% Rule, says instead, “I prefer to go to the Wednesday matinee six weeks into the run. That’s when you’re going to see the best show.”

What the 85% Rule means is that the best performances do not come from pushing yourself to the edge of perfect execution. That’s the zone of performance anxiety and debilitation. The best performance comes in the moment of 85% capacity – that sweet spot between relaxation and intensity, when you’re in the game but still have the room to breathe, enjoy and move in the moment.

It doesn’t mean you wing it either. In fact, it means you have to put in the work beforehand such that you can have the ability to modulate yourself, operate at 85% capacity, and have fun while doing it. Having fun is a marker that you have the requisite capacity to be present in and enjoy the moment.

Two questions:
→ What work do I need to do now so I can operate at 85% capacity during show time?
→ Am I having fun when I’m in the game?