Trying your hardest

Chris Mathews
Aug 28, 2017 · 3 min read

With my 90 day challenge coming up within the next week. I’ve started to think about what it means to ‘try your hardest’ at something, other than the potential gains of why you might decide that something like this is a good thing to do.

There’s saying I’ll give it my best shot and then there’s saying you will try your absolute fucking hardest at meaning it. I think many times in the past when I’ve said the former in maybe a more passive way is because the reality of trying your hardest and not living up to the expectations of myself or those I’ve committed to is fucking scary. I know in the past I’ve been 100% guilty of this to save myself from either letting down others or potentially taking a hit on my credibility. Reflecting on this now, I can definitely see that this approach serves a benefit, especially in the light of fun activities, maybe a sport or a game you haven’t tried where it really doesn’t matter if you lose or you’re not very good at it…unless you’re like me and deep inside you’re trying not to expose the incredibly competitive side of you!

However, conversely, approaching it the other way and being genuine when you give your word that you will try your best coupled with the accountability of your commitment, I think can come from two really positive perspectives.

Number one, the actuality of not performing or producing what you said you could doesn’t have to be a bad thing from a personal growth perspective. Being okay with the vulnerability and exposure if it all falls to shit even when you put your everything into it is a measure of where you need to improve. And on that note, the only TRUE way to get honest feedback from yourself of what you are currently capable of, most likely highlighting a key sticking point that you just couldn’t overcome.

Then to add to this, when you do confidently approach the task and successfully completed it, you’ve backed yourself, built credibility with whoever your accountable to, be it yourself or others, that when you say you will do something you do. I’m telling you now that is a virtue in people that seems to be missing in todays’ society. I wasn’t around professioally 20 years ago so I can’t accurately say what the narrative was back then, it’s just something I’ve observed socially and in the workplace in my experience so far. In following through and trying your absolute hardest in the most determined fashion you can fathom, putting it all on the line in front of people to achieve something you maybe have not done before you raise your personal standard. That’s a new foundation that you can confidently bring up a level.

The key here is being genuine with youself and others. It’s okay to have a go at something with no care for the outcome, but if you are serious about getting something done, like I am with this upcoming challenge then be open about what you’re doing. Understand the implications of screwing it up and commit anyway. It will either be the most transparent learning process you can get exposing a flaw in the required skillset or attitude / be a huge win worth celebrating, and getting under the belt for the next time you call upon yourself to go big.

Goodnight.

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