The extra 10%

Fact is: Not many people, when performing a task give 100%.
I know that I am guilty of this. While I was growing up, my dad used to tell me to give 110% on everything that I attempted. His reasoning was pretty sound...he said that if 70% of the world only gave 80%, you have a pretty good chance at achieving a goal if you were competing against them. BUT if the other 29.9999% were giving 100%, you might lose out on that opportunity. So by giving 110%, one can rationalize that you are pretty much assured of attaining whatever you attempt.
I would like to generalize a bit however: if you were to give JUST 10% more effort than the next person, I think that your chances would be more than fair that you would attain your goal.

If the others were to feed off of your extra 10% and up the ante, so to speak? Well things just got more interesting becuase now you have to take another look at the situation and perhaps try harder. Would that, when you achieve your goal not make success that much sweeter?

NOW, take the competitive aspect out of it.
What if you were to give your extra 10%....but to give, not to GET, but to give.
If you were to give just 10% more than you do now (time, money, resources..whatever). The nature of the beast (in this case human nature) would indicate that others would try a bit harder to attain the same goal. This is not a selfish idea of "oh look at me! Look at how much ______ I gave!" No. It is the same unspoken principle as above. Challenging others to excellence, without a word, calling people to do more.
Leaders, in my mind will always lead by example. The captain of the football team can hardly inspire others to work hard, by sitting and eating doughnuts in the weight room...any more than as Christians, we can tell people to do great and Godly things, without attempting the feats ourselves.
Step up to the plate. Give your 15 innings instead of the 9.
Step out.
Give an extra 10% for one day. See if you not only feel better, but take a step back and see if the fire spreads. It is an interesting phenomenon....sometimes, it is a slow burn, and other times it takes off like gas from a match.
Try it.
Step up.
Step out.
Bring it.