(Give 110% is an annoying business term and is just one of the 212 Most Annoying Business Phrases Managers Effuse, Confuse, and Overuse detailed in the hilarious must-have guide for every workplace: The 30,000-Pound Gorilla in the Room. Available right now on Amazon.)

Give 110%

We used to cringe when coworkers and managers uttered this useless phrase. Now, we smile because we think, “You lazy bastards! Why stop at 110%? Why not give 111% or 127% or 1,000,000%?”

If 110% is achievable, then even more is possible, right?

This makes us wonder if those advocating for 110% are just bad at math. Do they genuinely believe because of their words someone who was planning to give everything they had will now dig even deeper and find an additional 10% they never knew they possessed?

Give 110% might very well be the genesis of the entire fake motivation movement. Is it possible that if some numbnuts hadn’t come up with give 110% during the last century, we’d never have to hear how someone is hustling and grinding today?

This phrase is annoying and it’s dumb. It’s never possible to give 110% to something – 110% is exactly 10% more than everything you’ve got to give. Once you’ve given something 100% of your efforts, time, knowledge… whatever; there is no more to give – you’ve given your all.

Instead of becoming annoyed by those asking you to give 110%, feel sorry for them. They’re fauxtivationalists who are bad at math. A pitiful combination.

Replacement phrases: Do your best

See also: Bring Your ‘A’ Game; Work Smarter, Not Harder; Next Level; Push the Envelope

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The 30,000-Pound Gorilla in the Room is available on Amazon