Going Through My Archive (2)

The first piece I got from my archive really got me thinking about who I am vis a vis the things I'm trying to do. I know there has to be the right balance so you don’t use the excuse of not having full knowledge to live in complacency or inactivity. As I read through things I wrote, some of them more than 7 years ago, I'm drawing inspiration for the next phase of my life and I'm staying close to the 'fire'. The last piece I posted from my archive also provoked a deeper thinking on the issue of average. According to wikipedia, it 'refers to a measure of the "middle" or "expected" value of the data set'. In simple English it means 'its just ok' it is expected so not exceptional. As I'm musing over what it takes for me not to live an average life, thinking about what it takes to give back successfully, I came across a piece I wrote almost 7 years ago titled Giving Your Best.

It made me know You can't pass through this world unnoticed if you have cultivated the habit of giving your best. Yes putting your best into life - into whatever you're doing. Hans Christian Anderson says '' to be of use in the world is the only way to happiness''. The people that are of 'use' - relevant people are people that have learned to give their best.

Don’t do a job half way! Never be part of an uncompleted project. Do all you can to get a project to completion. Average is not good enough, it’s the enemy of the best. ''but how do I give my best?''…You give your best by going the extra mile. Try more, try again. Be persistent, persevere, don’t give up…

Never stop to give your best anytime your contribution is required anywhere, put your best into life..(you've only got one chance anyway!). If after giving your best and your best is not good enough, then go back to the drawing board of your mind, think through, study, learn more from superiors, pray and then start again.

Becoming successful is firstly a state of the mind, it's a mindset that puts in the best for any seemingly little task. As Dave Carnegie observed, '“Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves''. Most young people want to do very well but they don't like to do 'small' things, they fall into the trap of thinking 'big' and forget that its in the process of doing small things consistently that you achieve the mastery to be successful in big things. How do you know if you will end up an average person? When you are not consistently giving your best to what you call small, this consistently reduce your opportunity to sharpen your skills on a regular basis.