As we grow in maturity, we begin to identify and reflect on how we have lived our lives.
We can begin to clearly see the bad, the good, the great and the many things we have done.
But when it comes to being good or being great – what would you choose?
John D. Rockefeller as summed it up well:
Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
What this implies, is that we identify the good as something great, when really it is the tip of iceberg of what great really is.
Think of it this way – if you are responsible to deliver a piece of work would you want it to be ‘good’ or ‘great’?
I can tell you your boss will settle for the good depending on the circumstance, but he would much rather the great.
In my mind settling for the good is like saying, I am not going to step it up and go for great.
Compare this scenario through the different lenses of life and you will start to see how relevant this is…
- Exercise:
- Good: You have 10 mins to do a workout so you rush through, but still work up a sweat.
- Great: You have 10 mins to do a workout so you continue to ensure you keep proper and a quality form. There will still be sweat.
- Skills (through education/training):
- Good: You have entry-level skills to enable you to do work.
- Great: You have advanced level skills to enable you to exceed expectations and a more valued result.
- Healthy Diet:
- Good: You have cut back on the junk food and you are having more salads.
- Great: (1 example) You have cut out the unnecessary, if not majority sugar, fats and processed additives across all your eating.
These are just some examples, but if you take the similar thinking and apply it to the rest of your life, you will be sure to see some changes.
You are good, you are also great. To be your best, you need to be more than good. – Chris Furlong
The choice is yours and so is the risk. But don’t be afraid to skip the good if it means you will have the great! It will be worth it each time.