What a bogus statement.

The sad thing about this particular saying is that it always comes when you’ve failed at something and are trying to justify that failure. You never hear “Yeah I nailed it, we got that shit done! That the best I can do!” It’s always “Sorry… I gave it my all, that’s the best I can do”.

First of all, that isn’t the best you can do. It may be the best you can do right now, in that situation, but ever? Total? That’s it, that’s all you got? Bullshit.

By making that statement you are in-essence saying, there is no way, at all, that I could do better.

So check it out… I can’t cook… at one point I actually burned lettuce. Really? Really! I watched Iron Chef once and gave it a shot… ended up feeding it to the puppies who actually wouldn’t eat it either. I suck at cooking; my brain isn’t wired to understand taste combinations. Yeah I can follow recipes and whatnot but on the fly… I blow… but I guarantee that is not the best I can do. If I spent time, and I kept at throwing stuff together I would get better, even if it’s a little bit at a time.

Ok that’s not a rock solid example… but you get the idea.

In no situation I can think of… not science, not math, not sports, not art, do I come across a example where someone can cop out with “I did my best”

I’m sure I’ll get some people saying… “What about physical ability like singing… what if my voice just sucks”. Look I’m not saying you’ll be the best in the world at something… although you probably can if you go after it hard enough, I’m saying that you, against yourself, can always do better. It may take you a long time, it may require a huge amount of work… but believe me that is not the best you can do.

For those who are reading this that know me. If you ever hear me say “That’s the best I can do” or any variation “I gave it my all” without adding the modifier “right now”. Then shut me up and put me in my place, because in my book… the best I can do isn’t what I just did.