17 replies to this topic

[sizzleBomber]

that is actualy a very good point! like, what if your trying your best to not do your best, then you are still trying your best. It makes sense in a weid and twisted logic. but, now we need to discover what 110% is as they say in sport etc. 'i put 110% into it', maybe its just that sports people are a bit thck

[Liam_CF]

I can see where you're coming from, but I dont agree with you.

To do your best at a task you have to work hard, and be on top form.

[dab]

As mentioned, doing your best is relative. You can only do the best of your 60% which would still be doing your best to 100%. Aslo it was mentioned you can't rate your "best" which is true. My "best" at working on a car would be to open the hood and go "yep, that's an engine", while another's would be to take apart the engine and check each piece for the broken part. Bests are relative. "best" just sucks. It 's a terrible word, that has no definite meaning. "of the highest quality, excellence, or standing:" according to Dictionary.com. This states the highest, but highest is based on opinion. As is said "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". You cannot say one woman is better than another. You cannot say this one is the best. So saying you did better than another person just can't happen to where everyone agrees 100%. And that's what best assumes. All similar consensus.

[sheepdog]

I don't really think HOW you do a job comes into play here with this theory. Carrying a sack of rice 50 miles because you need exercise doesn't really pertain to doing things by your best.
My take on this is that when you give it your all, you consider that you are giving 100%. But sometimes you can't for whatever reason, actually give it your all, so you just do what you can. So if you aren't feeling up to par, and you still do what you can, I suppose you would be giveing 100% of your abilities at the given time.

[Vistz]

If you look at "Doing your best" in that regard, then you do not always need to do your best. For example, if you're taking out the trash or solving some simple math problem, then there is no need to try your best. On the other hand, there may be those who are handicapped somehow and in fact need to try their best in order to take out the trash or solve a math problem.

I feel like that too many times, individuals underestimate the magnitude of the problem they are trying to accomplish. Therefore, they end up putting less than "their best" and the end product does not look good.

My opinion on "Doing your best" is that assess the situation, and put in 10-15% more effort, just in case the problem is more complicated than you anticipated.

[TracieSylvie]

I've learned from my Psychology class -- reading "The World Of Psychology V. 7" that there are many theories similar to yours.
This one in particular sort of relates to your theory:

The Yerkes-Dodson law suggests that the principle for one's best performance is when their level of arousal is appropriate.
That means you can't be too excited when doing something, and you can't be too depressed when doing something!

I personally believe if you can motivate yourself to do something, set your mind to it. Give it your all, but also take note of your level of arousal! And you can do anything you put your mind to.
My mom always told me this.

[Iniyila]

i do my best for what it's worth. so i will not do my best for something worthless. i'm interested in physics so i will not do my best for solving a chemistry problem. i don't agree with this title : "Do your best always or never". Doing my best will take my energy so why should i do something that doesn't worth that much of work. i may damage myself by doing my best so i should do it only for something that i think is more important , i should specify priority of the things that i should do and then specify the most important one and do my best for getting it. there is situations which you should choose between two or more options like being with your family and working hard , this time you should choose to do your best for one of them or you can balance your might between them.

[k_nitin_r]

@salamangkero

While I was reading your post, I noticed that you mentioned 'jeepney' and I thought, "Hey! He's from the Philippines!" I then scrolled up to your personal information message block and sure enough, you had your location listed as the Philippines.

In India, agricultural produce is transported over short distances by bullock carts - those are 2-wheeled wooden carts towed along by oxes/oxen (I wonder which is grammatically correct; I've seen both in use). Over longer distances, however, they do use trucks.

@sheepdog

I agree with what you're saying. What is best in terms of time may not be the best when you think of what gives you the most exercise, even if it is that extra bit strenuous and something that the average Joe-Shmoe would find impractical. Sometimes, apart from the exercise, you can go out and have the best adventure by taking a hand-cart and walking all the way to transport the rice, camping outdoors during the night and travelling during the day. Sounds like fun, but I'd rather not that when in the middle of a forest - you never really know what lurks in the shadows! (creeepy!)

@all

The expression that folks always use is "Give it your 100%". However, some other folks say, "It is guaranteed 101% to last that extra mile," they probably mean, "We will pay you 100% of what you pay us, plus an extra 1% for our reputation." Usually, the folks who say that are the ones who have nothing to lose because you gave them nothing, so 100% of nothing is still nothing, and that extra 1% of nothing is also nothing. A pointless little guarantee that seems to have a positive effect on the listener :-P