Just Do Your Best Son….
Posted by Sabrina | Posted in Human Resources, Management | Posted on 20-02-2012
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photo credit: donjd2
I hope everyone is as blessed as I am to have an extremely funny friend. I actually have lots of funny friends, but this one is especially funny. She makes me laugh each and every time I talk to her. Not only is she hilarious, but she comes with a whole compliment of funny family members. For the purpose of this story, I’ll call her Dancing Queen.
One summer weekend, several friends and I traveled to Paris (as in Kentucky, not France) with Dancing Queen to spend time with her family. During the weekend a rousing game of volleyball commenced between Dancing Queen, her two brothers, father and several of our friends. I witnessed the whole thing from the front porch. Please know that I use the word rousing loosely. To say that most participants were more interested in making fun of each other more than actually hitting the ball would be an understatement. All except Dancing Queen’s older brother. This game meant something to him. For a reason unbeknownst to the rest of us, he was giving this game all he had. While everyone else was standing around nearly letting the ball hit them before trying to bat it away, Dancing Queen’s brother was diving, spiking and running all over the place. Within a few minutes he had worked up quite a sweat and was looking pretty proud of himself.
Everyone noticed, but everyone left it alone. No one said anything, just let him do his thing. One particular play however, he dived for the ball (that no one else was going for) skidding across the ground and making an amazing play (had their been any competition). After he stood up and wiped the dust off, Dancing Queen’s father delivered a line that makes me laugh each and every time I think of it….”just do your best son, just do your best”.
I think about that story often because I find myself caught up in giving my all to something that really doesn’t matter. I will waste hours focusing on the one thing that makes no difference to my business, my clients, my family or myself. I will dive for balls I have been trying to juggle, skid across the floor and wonder where my days go and why I seem to get nothing of value accomplished.
I suspect Dancing Queen’s brother was trying to impress us. I know this is why I do it. Why I give 115% to something that only requires 90. Why I spend time thinking of something to impress rather than something that adds value. I find myself more often than not, needing the reminder to “just do my best”.
What about you? Do you go over the top with activities that you feel may impress someone even if they really have little positive value for you?
Nice story you got there Sabrina! and yes I agree at times one is pulled by competition to just do better, and this is useful at times, others it will only be a waste of time!
keep bringing us good stuff!
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