In 2023, there are approximately 309,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Republic of Ireland.

According to a Statista report, the “vast majority” of these businesses (281,805) are “micro-sized” businesses of between 1 and 9 people. Small businesses that employ between 10 and 49 employees account for around 23,461 of these companies, followed by fewer than 4,000 medium-sized companies.

Whatever sector these businesses belong to, and however many employees they have, SME owners can usually find one factor in common: they are overworked.

Now, you probably read the title of this article and thought: “What on earth can Hugh Jackman teach me about running a business?”

While the link between you and this Hollywood star might seem tenuous at first, keep reading to find out Hugh Jackman’s one essential rule for managing his career, and how adopting it could revolutionise how you run yours.

Hugh Jackman’s 85% rule favours optimisation over exertion

Speaking on The Tim Ferriss Show, a podcast run by entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss, Hugh Jackman discusses the discipline he has honed over the course of his career.

From training to play Wolverine to taking on more emotional parts like Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Jackman has learned one thing: pushing yourself to 100% capacity can ultimately shorten your career.

Jackman says, “If you tell an elite runner to sprint at 85% of their ability, they will run faster than if you tell them to do 100%. This is because the movement is more about relaxation, form, and optimising the muscles in the right way.”

When training to play Wolverine, Jackman trained with dancers as well as weightlifters, to ensure his levels of relaxation and joy were on par with the extreme exertion it took to build muscle.

This strategy helped him to ensure two things: he was in the right frame of mind to play the part, and his injury risk was lessened.

Turning your attention inward, you might realise that Jackman’s career strategy could be applied to your own.

As a business owner, especially in those first fledgling years, it’s natural to push yourself 100% of the time. You’ve worked hard to bring your company to where it is, and you can’t afford to rest on your laurels just yet.

Nevertheless, focusing entirely on exertion could be a recipe for burnout. On the other hand, following the 85% rule may leave room for the most important ingredient in running a business: your wellbeing.

2 realistic tips for deploying your own 85% strategy as a business owner

While Hugh Jackman’s 85% rule may be extremely helpful, it’s likely that his life as a movie star is not always comparable to your role as a business owner.

So, here are two realistic tips for deploying your own 85% strategy.

1. Surround yourself with people who put their own wellbeing first

As a business owner, you likely pride yourself on being a hard worker. Yet there’s a fine line between working hard and pushing yourself beyond your limits – and it’s difficult to recognise where this line is when those around you encourage you to keep on the grind no matter what.

With this in mind, it may be helpful to start paying attention to the entrepreneurs you surround yourself with, and to gravitate towards others who are also interested in preserving their wellbeing.

2. Aim for progress, not perfection

If you’re currently working flat-out, and have been for some time, adopting the 85% rule could be a shock to the system.

When you start taking regular breaks and only filling your schedule to 85% capacity, you might start out feeling “lazy” or “unproductive” – even if this new routine is better for your health.

That’s why aiming for progress, not perfection, could be a more realistic way to begin. Reducing your output to just 95% of what you’re fully capable of may be a helpful starting point; then, over time, you can begin to carefully optimise your time to reduce the risk of burnout.

Get in touch to work with financial planners who will always put your wellbeing first

Creating a support system that can help you prioritise your wellbeing while still pursuing your goals takes time. As financial planners who specialise in working with busy entrepreneurs, we understand that it can be hard to focus on anything other than work.

Here at iQ Financial, we’ll help you form a personal wealth strategy that takes your busy schedule and future goals into account. Together, we can work as a team to help you live on your terms.

To learn more, email us at clients@iqf.ie, or call 353 71 915 5560.

Please note

This article is for information only. It does not constitute advice.

It describes the financial planning services that iQ Financial can offer to you. Financial planning services are not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.