Summary3 min read

Podcast Summary

Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast

Host: Scott Becker
Episode: The 90% Rule in Life, Business, & Golf
Date: May 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker dives into the concept of the "90% rule" and its application in multiple areas: life, business, and golf. He reflects on the importance of not always operating at maximum capacity and shares lessons learned from personal and professional experiences. The discussion encourages leaders, team members, and individuals to seek balance, avoid burnout, and foster lasting success by intentionally operating below 100%.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Pitfall of 100% Effort (00:56)

Scott opens by noting that many people consistently press too hard, whether it’s in their personal lives, managing teams, or playing sports like golf.
Insight: Operating at full throttle can lead to mistakes, burnout, resentment from team members, and a lack of creativity.

"If I try and hit the golf ball 100%, it too often goes in the wrong direction, doesn't do what I want it to do."
— Scott Becker (01:22)

"If I push people too hard, they of course get sick of me and they quit and it's impossible to retain them... If I push myself at 100%... I’m constantly fighting this balance of being burnt out, then having to recover and being burnt out and also not being nearly as creative as I’d like to be."
— Scott Becker (01:34)

The 90% Rule Explained (01:50)

Scott introduces the "90% rule"—deliberately striving for 90% effort instead of 100%.
Practical Application:
- In golf: Swinging at 80-90% produces better, more controlled results.
- In management: If team members achieve 90% of expectations, that’s a win; focus on gratitude and retention.
- In personal life: Avoid overscheduling and leave buffer time for better flexibility, creativity, and well-being.
"I bet to or come to this concept of using the 90% rule in almost everything I do. I'm going to hit the golf ball 80 to 90%. If my people do 90% of what they're supposed to do, great. I’m going to embrace them and be thankful as heck."
— Scott Becker (02:07)

The Importance of Capacity and Grace (02:14)

Self-Management: Leaving room in your schedule allows for unexpected tasks and time to support the people around you.
People-Management: Allowing team members some grace leads to gratitude, loyalty, and retention.
Creativity: Slowing down helps foster creativity and innovation.

"I'm going to try myself not to schedule myself 100%, but leave myself some gaps and some openings so I can do some things that have to be done, take care of some business, take care of the people in my life, have some capacity."
— Scott Becker (02:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Golf & Effort:
"If I try and hit the golf ball 100%, it too often goes in the wrong direction, doesn't do what I want it to do."
— Scott Becker (01:22)
On Leading Teams:
"If I push people too hard, they of course get sick of me and they quit..."
— Scott Becker (01:34)
On Personal Balance:
"If I push myself at 100% in almost anything I do, I’m constantly fighting this balance of being burnt out, then having to recover..."
— Scott Becker (01:38)
On Gratitude:
"If my people do 90% of what they’re supposed to do, great. I’m going to embrace them and be thankful as heck."
— Scott Becker (02:07)
On Scheduling:
"Leave myself some gaps and some openings so I could do some things that have to be done, take care of some business, take care of the people in my life, have some capacity."
— Scott Becker (02:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:56: Introduction to the 90% rule and the drawbacks of 100% effort
01:22: Real-life examples of overexertion—golf, management, self
01:50: Defining the application of the 90% rule
02:07: Embracing gratitude and flexibility, both in leadership and in personal life
02:18: The benefits of leaving room for creativity and connection

Closing Thoughts

Scott concludes the episode with an offer to connect and discuss these concepts further, inviting listener feedback and ongoing dialogue. The message is practical, reflective, and directly applicable for leaders, professionals, and anyone aiming for sustainable, high-quality performance in all areas of life.

Loading summary

Transcript4 lines

[00:00]
A
If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner offering the products you need all in one place from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by.
[00:30]
B
Great companies aren't built on average talent. In private equity backed high growth businesses, the right operator changes everything. Onward Headhunting partners with founders, operators and investors to build elite finance strategy and operations teams. From early hires to exit ready leadership, we deliver the talent that drives outcomes. If you are scaling or transacting, go onward. Visit onward headhunting.com or find us on LinkedIn to learn more.
[00:57]
C
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Today's discussion is the 90% rule in life, Business and Golf. So here's the deal. Many of us find ourselves often pressing too hard on things. We might press our team member too hard, we might press ourselves too hard. We might hit the golf club too fast. And here's what I'm finding. And of course, life is a constant evolution and revelation. If I try and hit the golf ball 100%, it too often goes in the wrong direction, doesn't do what I want it to do. If I push people too hard, they of course get sick of me and they quit and it's impossible to retain them. It's possible to give them the grace that they need. If my I push myself at 100% in almost anything I do. I'm constantly fighting this balance of being burnt out, then having to recover and being burnt out and also not being nearly as creative as I'd like to be. So it's leaving myself some capacity. So, so I I bet to or come to this concept of using the 90 rule in almost everything I do, I'm going to hit the golf ball 80 to 90%. If my people do 90% of what they're supposed to do, Great. I'm going to embrace them and be thankful as heck. I'm going to try myself not to schedule myself 100%, but leave myself some gaps and some openings so I could do some things that have to be done. Take care of some business, take care of the people in my life, have some capacity. So today's concept, Today's discussion is the 90% rule in business, life and golf. We hope people like this. We hope you relate to it Feel free anytime to text Scott Becker 773-766-5322 and and would love to hear your thoughts in this podcast. Always. Thank you so much for listening to the Vector Business and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Thank you very, very much.
[02:57]
D
When you manage procurement for multiple facilities, every order matters. But when it's for a hospital system, they matter even more. Grainger gets it and knows there's no time for managing multiple suppliers and no room for shipping delays. That's why Grainger offers millions of products in fast, dependable delivery so you can keep your facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.