100%
Let me tell you a story…
Years ago I was doing a production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ — picture this…
It is the night when every investor in the theatre guild comes to the show — lot’s of pressure with this particular show and the thing that NEVER happens to me happens…
I’m sick as a dog and more than that…I barely have a voice and the part I play sings the entire story to the audience for 90 minutes…
YIKES!
I’m a trooper…I’ll push past the point when most people are smart enough to stop…but this was different.
I called the producers to my dressing room and told them my voice was almost completely gone and that I didn’t think I would be able to deliver 100%…
They insisted that I go on and agreed to do whatever it took to make that happen INCLUDING lowering some keys, changing a few endings and having some people double my voice in certain sections…
IT WAS CRAZY!
There was a point right before stage when I felt so defeated that my head dropped down and I watched tears hit the floor in front of me…
It was right at that moment that the stage manager walked around the corner…
He put his arm around me and asked me if I was ok…
I told him that it was killing me that on this big night I was no where near 100%…
And then he said it…and this thing he said changed my life in that moment and then again the next day…
This is what he said, “Kristen, relax…you need to realize that your 50% is most people’s 100%.”
WOW…
Ok…here’s how it changed my life that night…
It gave me the courage to go out there and know that for that night, 50% was going to be enough.
Here’s how it changed my life the next day…
I realized that I NEVER again wanted to live my life at 50% just because I could get away with it.
Here’s the thing…
Sometimes all you have is 50% and that’s enough!
BUT
When you have 100% to give and you only give 50% because no one will notice…
Who are you really hurting?
Are you getting away with something or are you stealing from yourself?
Leave me a comment right now and tell me if you are ready to give 100% even if you can get away with less…
Leave me a comment and tell me why you MUST live at the 100% version of yourself…
Do it now…this is your life and you deserve for it to be extraordinary!
Go Big!
Kristen
Tags: Audience, Courage, Dressing Room, Getting Away With Something, Investor, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor, People, Producers, Stage Manager, Technicolor Dreamcoat, Theatre Guild, Wow
Inspired Action, Law of Attraction, Personal Development | Kristen | 
October 27, 2009 8:12 pm
16 Comments
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By Rosemary, October 27, 2009 @ 8:31 pm
Interesting story, Kristen, but I don\’t think not giving 100% (which I do all the time, anyway, because that\’s just who I am) is the source of my current situation. What I see around me is people letting me and others down, because they have given up on themselves or think they can get away with it.
What I would ask is, how can I change my attitude so that either I don\’t attract those people anymore, or can inspire them to give more of themselves and help them and me reap the rewards that would result?
By Camayel, October 27, 2009 @ 9:29 pm
I am sooooo ready to give 100%! Especially after reading this post. I was thinking earlier today that out of all the things I have done with my life so far (nothing too big) I have never worked hard or pushed myself beyond a certain level. Now that I am sooooo ready to work and push myself, I am lost as to what to work on! I need somthing. But now that I realized that my 50% is another person 100%, I don’t want to take advantage of my gifts. Thanks a million Kristen!
By Linda, October 27, 2009 @ 10:37 pm
WOW… That is it, Because I want to give the best and I give my best at that time, always I want to give more, so my reaching will never be reached if I can’t stop and see where I have been, acknowledge accomplishments, appreciate what I have,enjoy really enjoy.
Happiness is loving everything you have.
Thank you for making me see how I take from me.
By Pete, October 27, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
I know how you felt! -I performed in Joseph in Sydney Australia and it is a full-on production
You are right it is time toget off the couch and follow those dreams and make them a reality!!
By Bernard, October 28, 2009 @ 1:42 am
To thine own self be true. Absolutely!, you can´t fool yourself , right?
By the way … how did the play go???
Investors were happy?
A case of `footprints in teh sand´ as so often happens….
Take care
By Bernard, October 28, 2009 @ 1:45 am
The heart with which we do things is the most important point. Technical brilliance with no heart is empty.
By Rev George Wesley Tagoe, October 28, 2009 @ 2:19 am
yes I am stealing from myself,I am encourage to my full potential to impact my world
By Vicki, October 28, 2009 @ 2:29 am
Truthful it took me years to change my life. I always took the easy way out and cheated myself for so many years and look where it got me. I learned that my 50% isn’t good enough I have to give 100%
By emad khoury, October 28, 2009 @ 3:42 am
FOR THE FIRST TIME I THINK IT’S NICE STORY
YOU ARE AMAZING ,
BUT Why MUST I live at the 100% version of MYself ? EVEN THE OTHERS DO NOT deserve THE 50%!
By Steve, October 28, 2009 @ 4:56 am
Hi Kristen:
I’m tired at living at LESS than 50%. I’m hurting myself and my family.
Tonite I’m giving my first writing workshop.
I’m giving 100% tonite, and to my writing career (any assignments, projects, marketing, etc).
Thanks for the jolt!
Steve
By tracy, October 28, 2009 @ 5:49 am
i always give 100%. that’s how i was brought up. regardless of who is watching, you must do your best for your own personal satisfaction. though, in my case, it is also because i am a christian and i try to live the example, rather than just talk it.
i have to admit, in the past few years, i’ve noticed that most people i come in contact with do as little as they possibly can. i find this extremely frustrating, because i give it 100% and because i do so, people tend to come to me with work or issues to solve. working with people that do as little as they possibly can, and then having more work piled on me because i do my share and then some, really makes me angry. it seems so unfair to me. to add insult to injury, these same folks are the first to complain about their workload. it boggles my mind. sigh.
By Leila, October 28, 2009 @ 6:34 am
Hi Kristen,
I found this really interesting – because I\’m sure it\’s true of myself. It\’s a learned behaviour and I only realized it when it was pointed out to me and someone showed me a better way. I am so much happier like this! I can\’t tell you. The only thing that worries me is I find it easy to forget my new behaviour and need my friend to keep me at it. How can I get so that I can do this by myself. Thanks for your part in all this – you\’re inspiring.
By Janelle, October 28, 2009 @ 8:00 am
Honestly, I haven’t been presented that question before. I think I’ve been giving about 60%. I am grateful you’ve given me something to think about, and yes, I am re-committing myself to give %100. Thanks, Kristen
By Athanasi Sarantopoulos, October 28, 2009 @ 9:49 am
If, in the process of stealing from ourselves, we learn something, we can wind up appreciating the experience. When our faith and purpose are steady and continuous, we have an easier time staying in the present and on the path of our true heart’s desires.
By Justene, October 28, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
I think it is a lifestyle. I have never been one to give all and therefore I have never gotten the success I dreamed of. I pray there is hope for one who has always had good intentions, but bad behavior. I think we are taught from a young age that the ultimate goal is to be able to retire and do nothing. Technology keeps us striving to come up with ways to do less. How do we learn to push past what we have been taught?
By Sean, October 29, 2009 @ 6:46 am
I think it is important to give a 100% not only for me but for the people around me. Being a good example is important to me and who knows it just may rub off on to someone else. ;]