I used to think best was better, but now I’m sure that better is best.

Would you prefer to be better or the best?

There’s nowhere to go when you are the best. Best practices, for example, imply that you’ve reached the final stage of awesome. Best company? No one is better.

Sears, Toys”R”Us, Blockbuster, FAO Schwartz were best in class until they weren’t. Now, they’re out of business.

Complacency is common when you are the best. You believe that doing the same things will yield the same results.

People who focus on -er are the strivers who want to get better. They innovate and continue improving. They overtake the best, who’ve forgotten their -er.

Strongest, fastest, smartest, biggest, etc., have limited purchase.

Stronger, faster, smarter, bigger, etc., continue getting better.

You’re right back on track with:

“I strive to be a better version of myself every day.”

“Get 1 percent better each day,” says consultant Alan Weiss, “and in 70 days, you’ll be twice as good.

“I did DIY improvement for a while and got good results. Then I hired a trusted adviser, and my growth accelerated. I spend less time discovery-learning and more time implementing.”

Get good at getting better.

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Get more action steps about leadership and accountability in these recent podcast interviews:

Conflict management and leadership in Wake-up Call hosted by Mark Goulston. https://mywakeupcall.libsyn.com/ep-370-chris-kolenda

Gaining buy-in: Modern Leadership hosted by Jake Carlson: https://jakeacarlson.com/288-biking-1700-miles-for-my-troops-with-chris-kolenda/

Leaders as exemplars in Get Uncomfortable with Shae McMaster: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-uncomfortable/id1557553154?i=1000575764193