Effort in Action … Climbing Toward Potential

When you open your eyes in the morning and put your feet on the floor—what’s your first thought?

Some people might say, “Make X amount of money.” Others might say, “Just get to the bathroom.” Fair enough. But what if your first thoughts were grounded in something different—something simple, but powerful:

Gratitude. Then effort.

Start your day by being thankful, and then commit to this one clear, life-changing goal:

Be and do the very best I can today.

Goals vs. Control

Setting goals is important—but without control over the outcome, goals can lead to frustration.

For example, maybe your goal is to attend every one of your son’s baseball practices and games this year. That’s noble. But some practices start at 4:30 p.m., and your workday doesn’t end until 5:30. Unless your employer makes an exception, that goal may be out of reach—and may only cause guilt and stress.

Or say you want to make 10% more income this year, but you’re on a fixed salary with no bonus or commission. Without a raise or role change, there’s no path to achieve that goal. Again—frustration builds.

Here’s the hard truth:

“You can’t control every variable. But you can always control your effort.”

The Effort Decision

If you're in a job you don’t love, you still have a choice:

• You can gripe and complain until something better comes along.

• Or you can make a decision to be the best at that job—starting today.

Every day you don’t bring your best is a day you miss out on growth, confidence, and momentum. Worse, it chips away at your identity and your belief in what’s possible for you. Over time, that becomes a pattern—and the gap between who you are and who you could be widens.

What Is Potential, Really?

Let’s break it down:

Potential is your latent (hidden, undeveloped) qualities or abilities that may lead to future success.

It’s your untapped power. Your possibilities. Your talent and capability waiting to be activated.

But here’s the catch: Potential doesn’t activate itself.
It’s unlocked through consistent effort—especially when the circumstances don’t feel ideal.

Nick Saban’s Simple Truth

Coach Nick Saban once said:

“Do the best you can at whatever you choose to do, because that is what makes you happy.”

That’s not just motivational fluff—it’s wisdom built on decades of leadership and championship-level performance. When you give your best, you sleep better, feel better, and move forward faster.

Effort is an act of integrity. It's a personal standard. And when you live by it, everything else starts to change.

Final Thought and Challenge

Not everything is in your control—but your effort always is.

Whether you're leading a company, serving customers, or grinding through a job you don’t love…
Whether you’re chasing a promotion, building a business, or just trying to get better…

Give your best. Today.
Give it when it’s easy—and especially when it’s not.

Until next time - Expect to Win!

On a journey - Chasing better!

#xp2win

#ChasingBetter