“Success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration” – Thomas Edison
If you already have 99% of what is required to succeed as an entrepreneur and percentage is based on 100, then 1% is what’s 
missing, right? OK – you don’t have to be a math wiz to figure that one out.
But there is a deeper question in all of this. If 1% is what is missing to fully succeed as an entrepreneur, what does that crucial 1% consist of? What is it that is really missing?
What You Need To Succeed
The other night I was listening to one of my mentors speak and we had a very interesting discussion. He discussed a concept, which is actually the foundation of his soon to publish book, he has coined simply as 99%.
As you may have already figured out his 99% methodology is an extension of the Thomas Edison quote at the opening of this article.
What is it?
The 99% methodology simply states that every single human being already possesses, within them, 99% of everything that is required to succeed as entrepreneur. That’s right! YOU reading this article have within you 99% of everything you need to succeed and as an entrepreneur and design what you envision for yourself.
The first question that may come to mind is “Well if this is the case, how come I’m not making any money or how come so many people suck at it?
There are many self-help gurus out there that have tons and tons of strategies that you can put into practice to succeed and for all intensive purposes, most of those do work. However, if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, there are only so many conferences you can attend, there are only so many webinars you log into and there are only so many leadership calls you can call and listen in on before you ultimately must take actionable steps that will bring about the success you seek.
Without action you simply have nothing! Without action, you cannot have success.
What is Success?
Success has a different meaning to everyone. If we simply take wikipedia’s definition, success is the achievement of an objective or the achievement of a goal. Personally, I believe success has to do more with a state of being than with a number in my bank account. What does it mean to you?
There are 2 forms of success you need to be aware about. One is Earned Success and the other is Ill Earned Success.
At their core, both accomplish the same thing. The difference is that one is sustainable and the other isn’t. I don’t think I need to explain which is which but I’ll give you an example of unsustainable, ill earned success.
I think most people know who Bernie Madoff is. If you don’t look him up. By all accounts, Madoff was a successful guy at what he did. He lied and cheated people out of billions of dollars and he proved to be successful doing so for many years until that fateful day in December 2008 when his ponzi scheme was unveiled and he was later sentenced to life in prison. That’s what I mean by unsustainable success.
It’s Not Enough
99% is most of what is required for success, but 99% is still not enough to succeed as an entrepreneur! It’s the 1%, the X-factor, what makes all the difference.
I’ll give you a couple of examples.
At 211 degrees Fahrenheit you have hot water. At 212 degrees Fahrenheit you have boiling water! With boiling water you have steam and we know that steam can be used to power cities and power locomotives. But 211 degree is not enough.
What about the locomotive? At it’s core, the locomotive is, what? It’s just a big hunk of metal with all the right moving part and whistles required to haul its cargo. It has 99% of everything it needs to be operational but it’s still not enough. It’s missing that 1% it needs to succeed. It’s missing its X factor – steam!
Are you starting to get the picture? You, right now as you sit, have everything you need within you to succeed. You have 99% of what is required to succeed but you’re missing one thing – your X factor.
The X Factor – 1%
The vast majority of people don’t think for themselves. They live in a box that is put on them. They live the life their think their supposed to live and they get the education and degree they think they’re supposed to get, to get the job they think they’re supposed to want. These are all things that we do because we think we’re supposed to do them. For others, these are the circumstances that define them.
Every human being is born for a single reason. There is a singular calling that each and every one of us has and that is your X Factor.
Your X factor is your calling, your purpose and the reason WHY you were put on this earth – we all have one. You just have to discover what yours is!
That 1% – that X Factor, is what separates those that work a job they think they are supposed to work and are miserable from those who are entrepreneurs and have crafted their own success.
Finding your X factor is great, but like a diamond stone, your X factor cannot be put to service until it is cut just right and until it has been polished.
Your X factor is your stone and you have everything you need within you to find it. The only question remaining is “Are you willing to find your stone and are you willing to polish it?
1% is what makes all the difference.
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Hey Hector, I love this post and I think you crafted it beautifully. The X-Factor is already within us all…it’s that “thing” that need to meet our full potential. I think this is very true, that’s why some people don’t make it far in life when their really young, or, they really don’t soar, until they find that spot.
I’ve only recently found mine…within the last year or so, and I’m 30 years old. I would consider my professional run as a successful one, but I know I wasn’t maximizing my potential. I was dabbling with it. I didn’t know what it was I missing…I knew it was something, but I just hadn’t found it.
Well, through continual education, expanding my mind, and focus, I’ve found my x-factor. Who knows, it may not be that full 1%, but it’s at least .5%. AS I polish it, I hope to increase the percentage.
Great article Hector
Jk Allen recently posted..Control Negative Perception through Personal Branding
@Jk I’m right there with you man, at 29 I’m happy to be on the brink of my true stride in this life. You’re on your way up, Jk, and we’re all happily watching as we become a part of your story along the way.
@Hector – man I REALLY like the way you wrapped up this post. That was powerful. “X-Factor” has been used in many different ways but this is by far my favorite use of it so far. Plus, it’s so true that we are all born with this but we have to do some soul searching to find it.
It takes perseverance to find the stone. A willingness to pay the price to polish it to a bright shine and humility to appreciate the rewards thereafter.
Thank you!
Jon
Jon recently posted..Will You Achieve a Healthy Work-Life Balance this Weekend
Hey Jon! Wow – That’s awesome, man! I am really happy to hear you say that this is the best way you’ve heard the use of the X-factor. It means a lot. Thanks! I hope others come to love it as well.
The X-factor is in all of us. We just have to do a little soul searching to find it. It may even require us to find it through self-education like I mentioned in the conversation with JK. I’m starting to become really intrigued by that prospect.
WHat do you think? Have you found your x-factor? If so, dod it come as a consequence of a self-discovery process or through self-education?
JK – That’s awesome man! I’m glad that you’ve found your X factor and that you continue to polish it as you continue to grow and reach your full potential.
I think you made a very key point! You said you found your X factor, or at least part of it, with continual education. I found mine the very same way after trying to discover why my life did not pan out as everyone said it would, if I followed the advice I had received my entire life.
Excellent point. I’m going to continue looking into this. I’d be interested to see if there are more people that can find their X factor through self-education rather than through no education at all.
I think this would make for an amazing case study to help others find the best way to an X-factor discovery!
What do you think?
Unfortunately Hector, I’ve come to associate the X-Factor with a TV music gameshow starring Simon Cowell, which is very overrated and poor. But I’ll make an exception for you and focus on the X-Factor as the key to success
I remember a quote by Michael Jordan, who said “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
There’s no doubt that Jordan has the X-Factor, but he gained this using the other 99% that Edison called perspiration. He kept coming back, he never quit. And that’s essential to success for me
HAHA.. Stu. I hadn’t heard of that show in a while man. I remember watching that as an adolescent but had complete forgot about it. Cool stuff!
Thanks for sharing the Michael Jordan quote and for sharing your perspective on all of this. You made a great point by saying that we can, effectively, use 99% of what we already have to find the 1%. I honestly had not thought of it that way but you bring up another excellent point..
Awesome post bro!!
I love the way you shared your opinion! Finding your X-factor is the sure-fire way to make it big in life. But not many are thinking about this. We just need to use the power of WHY and see how things will work out fine. Thanks so much for sharing bro. Rock on
samuel recently posted..5 Important Variables In Business That Must Improve To Realize Growth
Sam – glad you loved this article, as well. I agree with you, Sam. Not too many people really getin touch with their WHY – their X-factor. They get in touch with everything else in business that corresponds to the end result they seek (money in most cases) and that is the very same reason why most people never reach their full potential as entrepreneurs or fail all together.
Hector,
I found this really interesting. When I did my new years resolutions I put my purpose on top of the list. Every day I work on something that is part of that purpose. It is magic! When I stay on purpose things just go better. I make better choices and opportunities show up.
I think it is hard for most people to find the X factor. We are told all our lives what everyone else thinks it should be.
Or we find it and we’re kept from meeting our goals or from working with in our purpose. There are way too many other distractions that look more important.
Sheila Atwood recently posted..Your Landing Page- Are You Creating A Compelling Image
Sheila! That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing that. It’s amazing what can happen once we know what our WHY is. We know exactly what to do and how to do it.
This is exactly what I was referring to when I said that “most people go to school to get the education they think they’re supposed to get, to get the job they think the’re supposed to want to live the life they think they’re supposed to live.
It all about living outside of the box and living the life you know you want to live!
I think your idea about the X-factor is a great one. Without any doubt, I believe we can truly be successful when we do the work we have been created to do -Purpose.
Not everyone can excel at anything or everything, but everyone can excel at their own thing. The problem is finding out what their own thing actually is.
Especially, in this our age of internet businesses, many people haven’t quite found their voice – Purpose. And they continue doing whatever they can about their current business 99% of effort is expended, but that one factor is missing.
The one factor, is crucial because it is the source of continuous innovation that every entrepreneur requires to be successful. How can you keep coming up with brilliant ideas for your business if you are in a business that you weren’t created to do?
Find your purpose, follow it wholeheartedly and success will catch up with you naturally. After all, it is the gift of a man that makes way for him. Discover your gifts, and put them to creative use in your business and standing out tall in your industry won’t be much of a big deal.
Thank you Hector for the post.
Tito Philips, Jnr. recently posted..The 4 Elements Of Effective BRANDING
Tito
Thanks for the comment man – that was great.
I think you got the message spot on! It’s about finding your X-factor! Once you discover what this is and you take actionable steps towards realizing that X-factor success will naturally follow.
I think most people really under estimate how long of a process or how much time it can take to really find your X-factor. It’s not something that can take a day, a week or possibly a month. Finding your X-factor is something that can take a while and has to feel right in your heart.
Personally, I didn’t know it at the time, but from the time I started doing research and while I went through a period of personal study, it took me over a year and a half to discover my X-factor, my WHY.
I’m not saying this is, generally, how long a WHY discovery should take. For others it may take less time or it may even take longer, The point is to not underestimate how much time one should take to truly find their X-factor.
Thanks for your comment Tito!
[...] Everyone has 99% of what is required to succeed as an Entrepreneur. Whats missing? – Hector Avellaneda, another commenter that has stood out to me here on the blog, writes what is probably the most important post on in this list. Discover the 1% that’s missing that you absolutely need to succeed. Here’s a hint: it’s near the end of the alphabet. [...]
Hi Hector, I’m new to the blog, referred over by Jon Alford. I’ve gotta say, I love this post – it really makes you think, and gets you excited at the same time. It reminded me of Simon Sinek’s concept of the Golden Circle and “Starting with Why” (here’s a link to his TED video: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html). Thanks again for writing it – I’m subscribing!
Danny @ Firepole Marketing recently posted..What Do The Roads of Your Marketing Say about You
Hey Danny! Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to share your thoughts. It always welcome and definitely appreciated.
I am very familiar with Simon Sinek. In fact, some of these principles are definitely influenced by Simon’s methodology of “Start With Why”. In fact, Not too long ago I wrote several articles describing his methodology and some of the other principle he has added to such as the “Law of Diffusion of Innovation” and what it take to “Cross the Chasm”, as they say.
Thanks a lot for subscribing and for committing to following IEC! We’ll be talking very soon!
What a way to break down the numbers..we have a brain..but some just don’t use it. Those who do..are the successful people..
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
TrafficColeman recently posted..Why Most Blogs Comment Suicide After 30 Days
Hey Coleman! Thanks for reaching out to me on Facebook and thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts.
I’m really glad you enjoyed this article on finding your X-factor, because that’s really what life is all about – Finding your X-factor. If you can build a business around that 1% you require to succeed in life, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Thanks again Coleman!
Hi, from across the pond! Great article and great use of the steam train analogy. Very simple when you think about it!
Cheers Jools
Hi Jools!
Welcome to IEC. It’s great to have you here!
Absolutely. Steam can do a lot of things as we’ve seen above. We need to find the steam in our lives that will power us to go where we want to go.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
This means that I will put in 101%
Bojan recently posted..Are you telling me that Leonardo Da Vinci was Mind Mapping
Great stuff Bojan!
[...] Everyone has 99% of what is required to succeed as an Entrepreneur. Whats missing? – Hector Avellaneda, another commenter that has stood out to me here on the blog, writes what is probably the most important post on in this list. Discover the 1% that’s missing that you absolutely need to succeed. Here’s a hint: it’s near the end of the alphabet. [...]
Hit it right on the head Hector.
Too many times we get to thinking, “Just one more webinar, Just one more conference call, just one more “mindset tape”, and THEN I’ll get to work…” And it never happens.
Sooner or later we have to stop “getting ready” and just get going.
Make it a great day!
Doc Seth
~husband, dad, full-time ‘Elevator’~
Doc Seth recently posted..Stuck on an Escalator
Hey Doc! Welcome to IEC and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
You’re absolutely right. At some point we have to stop getting ready to get ready and just make things happen!
A concept that I think is hard for part-time internet entrepreneurs to understand is that as an entrepreneur you get paid for nothing other than results, as opposed to a job where you get paid for time.
Not really understanding this concept is what I believe leads people to procrastinate and leaves them getting ready to get ready.
Thanks for stopping by!
Wasn’t it Edison who said that it is 90% inspiration and 10% transpiration? I thought so
Anyways, great post. And although I am still struggling as an entrepreneur I love every second of it. I create, build. I fail and I have to stand up. I love it
Hendrik recently posted..WP-Cumulus
Hey Hendrik! Welcome to IEC and thanks for taking some time to share your thoughts.
You know, one of the thing that I’ve discovered as an entrepreneur is that the words you use have a significant impact on your subconscious and in what you perceive is real. You may be challenged as an entrepreneur (every entrepreneur is) but you ARE NOTstruggling.
Try to use words that will empower you, add to your success and to your overall perception of what is a reality for you in your business! Create new affirmations of success and you’ll be hard to bring down!
Thanks for stopping by Hendrik! I definitely look forward to seeing you around more here on IEC!