“Well, I did my best”
“I am proud of our kids… they did their best”
I have used these lines (or something similar) before.
Did I really “do my best”… did my kids really “do their best”?
Bestselling author and marketing expert, Seth Godin, has this take on “doing your best”…
“Doing your best…
It’s a pretty easy way to let ourselves (or someone else) off the hook. “Hey, you did your best.”
But it fails to explain the way we’re able to somehow summon more energy and more insight when there’s a lot on the line.
By defining “our best” as the thing we did when we merely put a lot of effort into a task, I fear we’re letting ourselves off the hook.
In fact, it might not require a lot of effort, but a ridiculous amount of effort, an unreasonable amount of preparation, a silly amount of focus… and even then, there might be a little bit left to give.”
I think one of the biggest challenges in coaching (and teaching) is to get the kids (and parents) to see that while they may be putting effort into this task (playing football, soccer, basketball, etc), and many are doing a good job, most are not even approaching “doing their best“.
It is a tough job getting them to believe that even though they have worked hard, they can give more… that to “do their best” they need to give …
“…a ridiculous amount of effort, an unreasonable amount of preparation, a silly amount of focus… and even then, there might be a little bit left to give.”
When have you really “done your best”?
I can count on one hand the times that I did my best… produced my best work.
I think this is was of those times…
Defensive Game Planning… All Posts, Forms, and Video.
This series details the defensive game planning process we developed at the University of Central Missouri… the development spanned several years, and the compilation and documentation took one summer of work.
You all do amazing work…. really good work… at times, I am sure, “your best”…
“…and even then, there might be a little bit left to give”
You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you…. Don’t Believe It!
Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com