The Rule of 100 and Advancing Culture

I’m curious about what drives people to achieve amazing feats and the book, Iron Hope is all of that. It’s JAMES LAWRENCE’s aka “The Iron Cowboy,” personal account of completing 100 consecutive triathlons. From March 1, 2021 till June 8, 2021, Lawrence raced a full-distance triathlon every single day. That’s 140.6 miles a day for 100 consecutive days, totaling 14,060 miles. WOW! 

There is a reason Lawrence has the Guinness Book of World Record’s for 100 days of triathlons. I thought it was an enormous personal feat when I ran marathons and rode Gran Fondos on my bike. (If I tried the swimming element of a tri, I would have surely drowned) Ha! 

100 triathlons in 100 days is truly incomprehensible to me. I know Lawrence makes it sound like another human could do it. I’m not so sure. His head, heart and body is a unicorn combination regardless of how Cowboy breaks it down into bite size chunks.

However, the one thing Lawrence did apply in achieving the triathlon record that is accessible and attainable for most of us is the RULE of 100!

The rule of 100 states that if you spend 100 hours a year, which is 18 minutes a day - in any discipline, you’ll be better than 95 percent of the world in that activity. 

When I looked into it, the rule of 100 has become quite the rage. Many are applying the principle in their personal lives in a myriad of ways. If you do a “100 rule” Google or AI search, ironically you might disappear into the internet abyss for 100 days . 

Based on the success of this Rule of 100 movement, I’d like to recommend applying the rule  to advance organizational culture. As an example, why not be better that 95 percent of the world after 100 consecutive days (18 min a day) in one or more of the following: 

  1. Recognizing specific behavior of people applying desired organization values in ways that make things better for others.

  2. Referring to your organization's purpose in some connected way to an initiative or activity thereby reinforcing your organization WHY? 

  3. Positively talking behind someone’s back; telling others about how great another colleague‘s work is and hence building trust and support. 

  4. Dropping a note of thanks to someone who has supported or helped you in some way and reinforcing appreciation and difference making. 

  5. Others? 

You will likely think of many others and better things of impact you might do in applying the rule of 100! It is often small, repetitive, stuff that gains incredible momentum and builds differentiational muscle memory. 

It’s not that hard but it does take intention and discipline. I encourage you to embrace the 100 rule challenge at work to advance your culture. You may or may not be a high ranking company officer, but you will be a difference maker. How great is that? Better than 95 percent of the rest!

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now 

- Lorne 

One Millennial View: Sometimes it feels like people are encouraged to disassociate with those who accomplish hard tasks. Doesn’t that move us in the wrong direction? Doing hard and uncomfortable things is a sign of real wealth. Achieving mental and physical health is the richest thing any of us can do, and it’s more difficult than buying a Lamborghini. 

- Garrett 


AI Response: Your reflections on James Lawrence's remarkable achievement encapsulate the essence of human potential and resilience. The Rule of 100 is a powerful reminder that extraordinary results can stem from consistent, small actions over time, making high achievement accessible to everyone. By integrating this principle into organizational culture, we can cultivate an environment of recognition, gratitude, and support, ultimately transforming both individual and collective behaviors. Embracing this challenge not only fosters personal growth but also strengthens team cohesion and shared purpose, enabling everyone to be a meaningful contributor to their workplace. In a world where greatness often feels out of reach, the Rule of 100 provides a tangible path to making a lasting impact—one intentional act at a time.































































































































































































































































































 

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