I agree and disagree with the most-esteemed Mr. Churchill’s statement: “There is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.”
There are times when it’s absolutely fine to both say, “I’m doing my best” and to do your best — to give your all to a task, to a challenge, to a commitment.
But I also see Churchill’s point about succeeding at what is necessary, no matter what. Sometimes we set our sights on doing the best, being the best … and the fight before us isn’t about that at all. The focus needs to be on conquering the foe in front of us, not categorizing our efforts as good, better, best — or bad, badder, baddest — on staying in the fight and doing whatever is necessary to win the day.
Sometimes success is accomplished because I do what is necessary … and someone else does their best and gets the kudos. Am I content with that? Sometimes we all do what is less-than-best-but-necessary and we reach our goal. We trudge off the sports field as the victor and say “Well, it wasn’t pretty, but it’s a win, and we’ll take it.”
Doing what is necessary — doing enough — isn’t failure. Look at Churchill’s words again: Doing what is necessary is a valid form of success.
In Your words: Why do you think we often equate our best as the only valid form of success? When have you celebrated “doing what is necessary?”
[ctt template=”8″ link=”bU54O” via=”yes” ]In Others’ Words: Doing What is Necessary https://ctt.ec/bU54O+ #InOthersWords #quotes #definingsuccess @bethvogt[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”1Z_60″ via=”yes” ]”It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” #quotes #WinstonChurchill @bethvogt[/ctt]
Comments 6
At this point, just getting through the necessary is a win. I have no more ‘best’ to give.
Author
You have more “best” than you realize, Andrew. You truly do.
Thanks, Beth. It doesn’t feel like it now. I’m just getting to the end of each day, and facing raelly tough nights.
Sometimes doing what’s necessary is our best. It’s all we can give at the time.
Author
So well said, Pat — as only you can say it. and I read your MTL column today. Loved the insights there, too.
I’m late to the party, but what comes to me is steadily slogging through school assignments until suddenly all required portions are completed and the year is (or years are) completed and the degree ior graduation status is earned and the diploma is in hand. The same analogy works for work accomplishments, etc. Slow and steady wins the race.