Did You Do Your Best Today?

 

"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment

where excellence is expected."

Steve Jobs

1955-2011

Businessman

 

 

Have you ever thought about the saying, "Do your best"? We tell people, especially young people, this all the time. "Just do your best," as if that will inspire them to push through to excellence. The reality is that telling someone to do their best means that you will settle with anything you get. This type of thinking is how we came to giving participation awards to everyone. After all, they did their best.

 

Those who follow successful living principles see doing their best more as a promise than a confession to be trying. It is an understanding that nothing but our best will do. The goal is excellence, not just trying to be excellent. In the words of that great philosopher Yoda, "Do or don't do. There is no try."

 

Nothing great is ever achieved by pursuing mediocre. Only when we are committed to being the best do we achieve the best. Being the best does not mean you have more value than other people. It is not an ego thing. Being the best means you expect excellence from yourself, and you will not settle for anything less. The great coach Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) would say, "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence."

 

The principles of good character are not about saying the right thing. It is all about doing the right thing. It is about giving your all to the promises you make. It is about being the best you can be in every area of life. We are not all equal in talent or skill. Some people will do things better than you, and you will excel at other things. The point is that whatever you do, you will do your best. Nothing less.

 

Make excellence a part of your daily life. See it as a challenge that you can win. You will find that doing your best is exciting, fun, and habit forming. Once you know the thrill of being excellent at something, you will never settle with just getting by again.

 

You can learn more about Personal Development from the author and speaker, John Patrick Hickey. To get his books, training material, or book him to speak to your church, business, or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   

© 2021 John Patrick Hickey. No part of this material may be reprinted or published without the written permission of the author.