"Always do your best." What does that mean? Control what we can control - attitude, choices, effort.
Doing our best can't be a 'sometimes' habit. That includes academics, relationships, planning, practice, work, and competition. Brad Stevens said he never met a great defender who wasn't an excellent student. "Don't cheat the drill."
Compliance (e.g. taking your medicine) produces better results (e.g. blood pressure control, cholesterol, diabetes, et cetera). Duh. Why would we think that shoddy focus, preparation, and malingering would get positive results? James Clear reminds us to develop systems to guarantee process. For example, practice our Morning Routine. We will fail. Clear adds, "don't miss twice."
Self-regulation impacts how others see us. Our energy level, positivity, compassion, and efficient use of time and resources are palpable. The most contagious conditions are behavioral health problems, because they affect everyone around the patient.
When we "react" physically or verbally, we may briefly feel better but longer-term we damage ourselves in addition to others. Hold fire, as Lincoln did with his "hot letters," written not sent.
Our best varies with our situation. MasterClass professors offer some tips.
- "Show up on time. Don't be an @hole." - Helen Mirren
- "Hard work is a talent." - Garry Kasparov
- "Leave an impression." - Samuel L. Jackson
- "Keep your mental palate in mind." - Massimo Bottura
- "Be more engaged in the endless process of exploration." - Garry Kasparov
- "Read, read, read, read, read." - Werner Herzog
- "Be remembered for what is funny and beautiful." - Jeff Goodby
- "Create a folder with the winning idea and start filling it with content." - Ken Burns
- "Aim high." - Sara Blakely
- "Reading is the most participative of the arts. There is more brain activity..." - Margaret Atwood
- "Be dynamic, direct, aggressive." - Garry Kasparov
- "I read incessantly." - Samuel L. Jackson
- "We're in the business of making things that you want to see." - Jeff Goodby
- "I know I'm the baddest drummer...once I get on stage, no one can mess with me." - Sheila E.
- "Be free to imagine, to dream, to transfer emotion." - Massimo Bottura
- Tell better stories. "Storytelling is at the core of every art form." - Dan Brown
- "Find your own way." - Mira Nair Find a place that allows you to dream.
- "The heart of a poet and the skin of an elephant." We need toughness and the ability to elevate others. - Mira Nair
- "There is power in the poetry of your story." - Mira Nair
- "Cooking is not just the quality of the ingredients but the quality of the ideas." - Massimo Bottura
Lagniappe: When do we switch? As a matter of course or when we must?
Emergency Switching = When you’re beat and can’t catch up, an emergency switch is an effective solution. This is called a “fix it” situation. Here are two examples from the #NBAFinals where the Lakers fix it for the initial action and some possibilities for recovering. pic.twitter.com/I1iBR2Q17Y
— Chris Oliver (@BBallImmersion) October 3, 2020
Lagniappe 2: Make it happen. John Stockton is said to have won every sprint at every practice. Eric Spoelstra recently explained Tyler Herro's progress as reflecting his will to endure the grind. John Wooden said Bill Walton never tired of paying attention to the fine details of footwork. Writers like Dan Brown, James Patterson, and David Baldacci write daily.
