Company Blog

My Best

by Adam Zack — October 28, 2026

“I did my best is usually an excuse, not a statement of effort”

“I did my best” is usually an excuse, not a statement of effort

I was working on a project a few days ago and finished it with what I considered OK results. Not great. Not awesome. More like so-so. Fair. Acceptable. I thought, “Well, I did my best.” Then I caught myself. When people say that, they usually haven’t. “I did my best” is more of an excuse than a statement of effort. I didn’t do my best. Not even close.

My best requires deep thought and concentration. It requires hard work to achieve high standards. It can’t be done with distractions while multi-tasking. My best is something I am proud of and want to show off. I lowered the bar, then claimed it as my best.

So what does doing your best really mean? And does every task deserve it? That is surely a lofty goal – giving every single task you do your true best effort. While mundane tasks like washing the car, taking out the trash and shampooing the cat might pass muster without delivering your best, any interactions with your customers and your employees do deserve the best that you can do. Every time.

When we complete a project for a customer and can honestly declare that it is the best work we could have done, then we have given 100% commitment. We are fully invested and part of the success. Our employees know when we do our best. They watch and listen and know when a half-hearted effort or lack of follow through is far from our best. Our best makes them want to give their best.

Our customers deserve our best effort and so do our employees. And we owe it to ourselves to give our best every day.