Good > Best
Finding our own standard of excellence.
Our culture is obsessed with "the best." We're encouraged to be the best, buy the best, and achieve the best. "Best" is presented as the ultimate prize.
The very idea of "best" is an external, competitive measure. It requires us to constantly measure our progress against others, and to compete for a single top spot. This can lead to anxiety and a feeling that we're never enough.
What if we chose to disengage from that race and instead focused on doing "good" work?
Choosing to do "good" work means we can use a different standard of excellence — one that is internal, sustainable, and deeply aligned with our own independent agency.
When we prioritize "good" over "best," our approach begins to shift:
"Good" uses an internal compass. It aligns with our own work-ethic and unique process. It allows us to ask, "Is this good work according to my own principles?" instead of, "Is this better than what someone else is doing?"
"Best" relies on an external scorecard. It can force us into the comparison trap, where our sense of worth is tied to outperforming others. This can undermine collaboration and create a constant state of insecurity.
"Good" is sustainable. We can show up and do good, consistent work every single day. This builds momentum and resilience. "Best" often demands unsustainable bursts of intensity and is a fleeting target that can lead to burnout.
"Best" is a destination — a single podium to earn our gold medal. "Good" is a direction — a path we walk with intention every single day.
Where in your life are you chasing 'best' when doing consistently 'good' work would be more meaningful and impactful?
Recent newsletter topics (including this one) have been thanks to those of you who requested them. Do you have a topic you would like to see covered (anonymously, of course) in an upcoming issue? Please reply and let me know.
With good effort,
/rajesh