Just 0.001% Separates Greatness from Mediocrity

Micro-moments with outsized power

Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

If there’s one thing I’ve completely embraced about German culture, it’s the Sauna Ritual.

Yes, I’ll call it a ritual.

Because it is one.

A series of steps. Clear rules about what to do and what not to do (duh, it’s Germany!).

But I’m not here to rave about saunas or list their health benefits.

I’m here to tell you about something that the sauna experience got me thinking — a powerful phenomenon in action, which I will get to in a moment.

Now, the hottest of the many sauna rooms is called the Finnish Sauna, which runs at 95°Celcius. (That’s near boiling point — a blood-boiling 203° Fahrenheit— for you, dear American readers.)

Sit in there for 12 minutes, and you’ll feel like a warrior.

You’re sweating. Your skin tingles. But you’re still okay. In control. Maybe even a little proud of yourself.

You look around. Everyone else is calm, still breathing. You think, “Hey, this isn’t so bad.”

Then minute 13 hits.

And everything flips.