Fundamental of the Week #5: Always Do Your Best

It’s essential that we always do our very best.  If there is ever a question about quality, go back, stay at it until the question is removed.In Don Miguel Ruiz’ book, The Four Agreements, about recovering ancient wisdoms, the fourth agreement is “Always Do Your Best.” In writing about doing your best under all circumstances he cautions us that from moment to moment our best is not always going to be the same. I think this is important to remember. Doing my best is not the same as being perfect. Perfection is an illusory goal; while doing my best is simply giving everything I’ve got at that particular moment in time. I’ve rarely done anything that I couldn’t see room for improvement, especially after-the-fact. As I’ve matured a bit, I’ve come to appreciate that sometimes what I see now as “something better” may have been out of my reach or maybe even unnecessary at the time.In school, I did just enough to get by and my academic record was commensurate to that effort. I can tell you there’s been numerous times over the years I have reflected on this with some regret. I know there is nothing I can do about those grades, other than continue to learn the lesson and foil any possible future regrets.The quality of effort we put forth is our signature and each moment we have a choice to ask ourselves, “Is this my best work?” In the answer lies satisfaction!Craig ClarkFounder and CEO,Momentum Consulting, Inc