Blog
What to do when your best isn’t good enough . . .
by Elizabeth Ruske
July 29, 2011
A couple of times in my career I’ve had a business partner tell me something, well, actually give me really straight feedback, that I simply could not hear at the time. And, truth be told, it really ticked me off!
About 15 years ago, a business partner took me aside to remind me he was counting on me to provide our team with new and creative business ideas. Now that might sound like a simple thing, and actually I knew I was pretty good at creating new opportunities. But, at the time, I was leading a team and was working so hard I was practically killing myself by spending all day in meetings managing the team, and then trying to do my work in the evening. Oh, and, I also had a two small kids waiting for me at home. I was working so hard that hearing that feedback felt like a slap in my face. I took it personally and got defensive and said, “. . . what do you want me to do? I’m busting my butt here. I don’t see how I can do any more!”
But, he wasn’t asking me to do more . . . he was actually asking me to do better, by doing less, and by doing what I was good at. Of course it took me several years to figure that out.
It is easy to think you’re doing your best because you’re working really hard. The truth was if I had been giving my best, I’m pretty sure it would have been perfect because I have plenty of examples where my best made a big difference in creating really great results.
In Tiara, we focus on leveraging our strengths and we refer to them as your callings or your unique gifts. Sometimes it is easy to forget what we are good at and having others remind us can be a big help (if we are willing to listen!)
So what do you do when your best isn’t quite good enough?
I think the answer is simple . . . just do what you do best.
Really great – too often we scrunch up our foreheads and hold our breath and try even harder, when it would be more energizing and effective to relax, connect with our True Queens (or Kings) and allow the universe to express itself through us.
Thanks, Beth.