I consider myself to be a pretty driven person. I am always looking to improve and I’m always looking for the next best thing. While this trait can be helpful, it is also self-destructive.
Let me explain:
I chase after the next best thing because it is a rabbit to chase. It is something else to thrive for. In other words, I’m trying to feel worthy.
Worthiness is tricky. We want to be responsible and held accountable for the things that we do. How we do those things determine our level of worthiness. But if you’re anything like me, your desire to move on to the next best thing means that I never feel worthy enough.
As I climb up the ladder, my ascent looks like it will never end. There is no rest at the next step. Each level of growth only has me looking higher up wondering why I can’t move up faster. It makes me wonder if I’m doing enough to get noticed at work, in social circles, or in social media.
So if looking for the next best thing isn’t the best thing, then what should we do?
Well, I am going to challenge you to be faithful instead.
On Carey Neiuwhof’s Leadership Podcast episode 277, Sam Collier, a speaker who has successfully built his own platform in church world, said that when given the opportunity or responsibility to do something new, his only job was to “crush what was in my hand.”
Crush what is in your hand.
It’s a fascinating concept, but it is a counter-culture perspective. But more than anything, it is common sense. Do good with what is in front of you. Crush what has been in trusted to you. Steward it well. Just be faithful.
Four Principles of Faithfulness
- STAY IN THE PRESENT
This one is very difficult for me since futuristic is my top strengthfinder. It’s not that thinking futuristically is bad or wrong, it’s that it becomes a distraction. We know how bad distractions can be yet we allow futuristic thinking distract us from what we have already been entrusted with.
So many people are looking for ways to posture themselves for promotions or raises and then they become frustrated when those things don’t happen. Of course it didn’t work out. Their eyes are on the wrong thing.
2. OBSESS OVER YOUR CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES
When it comes to what you’ve already been given, your job is to crush it. That means doing the very best you can with it no matter what is tossed your way.
Top flight MMA fighters in training camp for 10-12 weeks before their fights. They have a game plan, but they don’t just talk about it. They drill it over and over and over again. If they see an opening that they believe can be exploited by a specific punch combination, they will drill that combination hundreds or thousands of times before the fight. Why? So that it comes naturally.
Connor McGregor’s KO of Jose Aldo
Michael Bisping’s TKO of Luke Rockhold
Jon Jones’ TKO of Daniel Cormier
Jorge Masvidal’s KO of Ben Askren
All of these knockouts were drilled over and over again weeks before they ever stepped into the Octogon.
This principle is true in any part of productivity, personal development, and professional development.
Work in retail? Fold that shirt perfectly. Don’t just fold it to clean the table. Fold it to perfection.
Still in school and preparing for a test or presentation? Study and work on it. Ingrain it in your memory.
Are you a public speaker? Prep early and practice often. Don’t use notes. Don’t memorize your talk. Know your talk. Let it become part of you.
Practice it over and over again. Practice till you get sick of it. It shouldn’t just be something you know how to do. Drill it over and over and over again. Make yourself sick of it because when the time comes to actually do it, you’ll crush it.
3. SEEK FEEDBACK
This is one of the things we are most afraid of. Why do we want to allow people to deconstruct the way we work and what we have dedicated our time to?
Because we want to get better.
If you truly care about your work and want to improve your abilities, then you will seek feedback. This means having thick sin and not taking things personally. Improvement always comes with pain and discomfort. Feedback is the refining fire of personal development. Don’t just wait for people to give you feedback. Seek it. Seek it often. Seek it from people that will be honest. Seek it from people that are already good at what you’re looking to improve on. Let people know that you want feedback before you hand the project in or before you give your presentation. Nothing will help you grow faster than feedback.
4. DON’T SEEK APPROVAL OR PRAISE
While seeking feedback is one of the most difficult things to do, I believe this is the most difficult thing to do.
When you are proud of something, it is nearly impossible to not posture ourselves for praise. We want want people to see how good we are doing so that we can receive affirmation. But nothing makes people more reluctant to give affirmation than someone who is purposefully looking for affirmation.
To seek approval and praise is to dismantle the first four principles of faithfulness.
This takes a tremendous amount of humility. Lower yourself and let other people lift you up.
It’s time that we all stop fighting for worthiness. It is time that we take responsibility for what we already have.
What if everyone in the world decided to do the best they could with what was in front of them?
Our world would improve beyond comprehension.
You will never feel worthy enough. Instead, be faithful.
So do what you can and crush what is in your hand.
Jadner Lugo's Blog 