Author: Mike Urgo
I don’t know if it is the lack of sleep due to our new puppy or if I am just “on one” (as the kids say), but I am tired of hearing about how much people are trying. I think the word “trying” has lost its meaning. I even think “trying your best” has lost its meaning.
This may come as a shock, but I will go as far as to say that “trying your very best” has lost its meaning.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back came out in 1980 and while Luke was struggling to understand his training as well as his full potential in the force, Yoda said to him:
“Do or do not. There is no try”.
Having played sports my entire life and coached for over fifteen years, one of the best feelings is achieving a level or seeing a teammate or player achieve a level they didn’t think was possible. That moment is special. The moment when you master a skill is incredible. But that moment is glorified more than the moments that led up to it. The countless failures that come from doing it.
Trying used to mean doing it until failure until you succeed. Now it feels like people think they get credit for trying by just showing up or by just filling out a form. Even my own children, I watch “try” something and when they are not immediately the best at it, shrug their shoulders and move on to the next thing.
This week’s episode is short, because the message is simple.
We as leaders need to embody what it should mean to try, what it means to fail forward and illustrate just how fulfilling it is to achieve something after putting in work by doing it. We need to hold people accountable to not just show up, but to put in the work. So that when success is realized, they can really relish in the win. Not only because winning is fun, but because they can look back at just how far they have come. It’s why people love hiking. Sure, the view at the top is gorgeous, but there is nothing like looking back down the trail and realizing what you have accomplished.
So, as you are tackling life, whether it’s inside or outside the workplace, ask yourself: are you really trying?
Are you doing it with the belief that it’s ok to fail forward?
Or are you just showing up? Are you encouraging others to try? Are you creating an environment where your team feels like they have the support to do their jobs and learn from their mistakes? Or are you expecting immediate perfection and therefore creating an environment where people are too scared to try?
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