Instead of Trying to Be the Best...Do This Instead
I have friends who can rebuild a car, or tear down a house and turn it into a masterpiece, but if you know me, you know, I'm not mechanically inclined.
But last Fall, I decided to do an oil change on my 2012 Goldwing...
That may not sound like much, but it was a win for me. Then this week I tried to replace a headlight bulb in the same bike. I could get it out alright, but replacing the new bulb was way more challenging, especially since you can't see what you're doing and it's all by feel.
So, yesterday I called a local shop to explain what I was trying to do, and the guy on the phone said, "Well, you gave it a good shot...you did your best. Bring it in and we'll get it done for you."
Which they did. A young man, maybe 20, came out and had it installed in less than 5 minutes.
"You did your best" hmmm
If you follow sports at all, then you probably have engaged in the on-going debates of who is the GOAT (greatest of all time). In golf is it Jack or Tiger? In hockey, Gretzky or Orr? Is Brady the GOAT in football?
Debates will continue to the end of time, of who reached the pinnacle of their sport. But today, I'd like to suggest that we think less about being the best.
I'm not encouraging mediocrity, or being satisfied with average, but let's be honest; the number of people who will be crowned the best, in almost anything is extremely small. The chances of any of us being the best at something (my "Best dad ever" t-shirt notwithstanding) is slim.
But maybe that's okay. Maybe we should focus on something else.
Maybe we should think less about "being the best", and instead focusing on "being our best".
What difference does this make?
This shift, would move us away from comparing ourselves to others, and instead, focusing on our own growth and possibilities.
What do you think? What would change for you, if you stopped trying to be the best, and instead focused on being your best?
How about in your marriage? Are you being your best? Or are you waiting on your spouse to make the first move?
What about your friendships? Are you phoning it on, or intentionally being your best...hey, be your version of "best friend" :)
What about your health and fitness? Are you being your best? Or are you letting yourself off the hook too often.
So how 'bout it; are you being your best?
Here's another question...how would you know? Consider this...as you think about the most important areas of your life, where do you feel you are falling short? Not so much in terms of results, but in your effort.
Here's another way to look at this. On a scale of 1-10, how would you assess those same areas of your life?
If your marriage is an 8/10? Great. What can you do (not your spouse) to make it a 9?
Use this scaling question for every area of your life. If any area is less than 10/10, then what can you do to move the needle?
In this, you are focusing on being your best, and less worried about being the best.
In trying to replace the lightbulb in my motorcycle, I gave it my best. I was doing my best. Now, you might argue that my best wasn't good enough, and I would agree. But hopefully I was being my best...and maybe that's the win.
I'd love to hear what you think? Does changing one word, from "the" to "your" matter? What would it men for you to shift from being the best, to being your best?
Until nest time - Dan