If I have to listen to someone again tell me they 'did the best they could' as an excuse as to why they didn't accomplish something, I think you better get me a garbage can so I can throw up!
I'm all about doing the best you can, don't get me wrong. What's the point in trying if you aren't going to do something to the best of your ability? You should always do the best you can. But if everyone is doing the best they can, there still may be only one person winning the prize.
In the case of applying for a job opening, you might have 50 people who 'did the best they could' and still failed.
That's o.k. It just means the best you could do, on that day, for that thing, wasn't good enough. So what? Doing the best you can is not a reason someone should lower standards to accommodate your sub-par performance.
Failing to 'win' in this case, doesn't make you any worse. In fact it makes you better. It's just a way of testing where you are at, compared to where you need to be.
You don't see an Olympic high-jumper running up to the bar and stopping just as he gets to it. He doesn't complain the bar is set too high or that he wants it lower. The bar is set. Taking that leap is the test. If you fail, you need to go higher the next time.
If you want to win, you can't just do your best. Your best has to be what is required if you want to win.
If everyone 'won' simply by 'doing their best', we would have a very mediocre society. And if you won every time, what would be the incentive to make yourself any better?
If you don't win, do your best anyway. When you do win, you'll actually feel like there is something to celebrate!
Best of Success!
