âIâve always lived my life with the idea that if Iâm going to do something, Iâm going to be the absolute best at it. But as Iâve grown into an adult, Iâve realized something: thatâs an absolutely exhausting way to live.
1. Recognize that things are always changing. Even if you do manage to attain the title of reigning champ for a brief, shining moment, it probably wonât last for long.
-Just think: Tom Anderson thought MySpace was the coolest thing until Facebook was created
-Only 1 person can be the best at something at a time. Even once you pull that off, someone will be behind you poised and ready to take off your crown
-Trying to constantly fend off those competitors for the sole purpose of remaining on top? Itâs plain old exhausting and unproductive
2. Identify your personal best
-Letâs think about Marathon runners. Do all of the runners race because theyâre setting out to cross the finish line first?
-A lot of them are just aiming to finish at all- even if they come in dead last
-Instead of trying to breeze past everyone around them, marathoners set goals of beating their personal best every time they run. They donât really concern themselves with whoâs ahead and whoâs behind them
-Stop obsessing over how successful or accomplished everyone around you is and instead focus on being the best you can be
-Once youâre competing with yourself- and not everyone else around you- life gets a whole lot easier
-Many people want to be known as the best- but for really no good reason
-Before busting your hump to achieve that fleeting status, itâs important that you take some time to think about what that accomplishment actually gets you. If your only answer is âbragging rights,â youâre probably not pursuing something in your own best interests
-âBut wait!â youâre likely retorting now, âBeing the best means Iâll be successful and well-respected in my career field!â Sure, thatâs true. But think about it this way- do you absolutely have to be #1 in order for that to happen?
-Wouldnât you also be considered successful if you completed that challenging project ahead of the deadline or solved a complex project in your office? Would you also be well-respected if you were always kind and considerate of all of your colleagues?
-There are plenty of people out there with amazing professional reputations and important legacies that were never truly the best at what they did. That #1 spot really isnât the be-all and end-all
4. Accept âGood Enoughâ
-If youâre an obsessive perfectionist, asking to accept being âgood enoughâ is like hearing nails on a chalkboard
-You donât need to be the best at something in order to still be great at it
-Donât believe me, ask a roomful of people who the best singer or band of all time is and Iâll bet you get tons of different answers
-You can take immense pride in your skills and work without having a shiny trophy or accolade to hold your head high
-Itâs human nature to crave that top spot that earns you the title of most successful and most accomplished. But, setting âbeing the bestâ as your sole aim in life and career is a sure fire way to drive yourself to the ground
-Focus on being the best version of YOURSELF
-âHereâs what to Remember when youâre Stressing about Not being âThe Bestââ by Kat Bogarde
