| My teenage daughter said something to me the other | | | | that I should have said something more. Later while |
| day, that caught me a little off guard. She said "my | | | | thinking about it, I came up with a pretty good rebuttal. |
| best isn't good enough." It's a little out of character for | | | | Something like, "Your best is ALWAYS good enough. |
| her and caught me by surprise. This is a happy, | | | | You'll never go wrong in life doing your best". You |
| confident kid whose had straight A's since | | | | know, some good life lesson parental advice derived |
| kindergarten, had plenty of friends, and for the most | | | | from years of experience that a teenager can really |
| part has been a thoughtful and caring sister and | | | | use. Even if they'd never admit to it being helpful. |
| daughter. There have been exceptions, and there | | | | I'm a great one for platitudes. Especially for others. But |
| have been some growing pains, but that's to be | | | | sometimes, I think I need to use more of them on |
| expected. I'd be more worried, if there weren't a few | | | | myself. And actually believe them. I've been struggling |
| problems. I wasn't exactly a perfect teenager, and | | | | lately with my business, and a little self encouragement |
| know now that those problem incidents are an | | | | would be helpful. I don't believe lately, that I've been |
| important part of growing up. | | | | doing my best. It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I |
| To give you a little more context, let me explain. She | | | | struggle to move myself to take those first few steps. |
| didn't make the comment, in defense to statements | | | | I procrastinate, and find plenty of non productive stuff |
| made by anyone else. She was going into one of her | | | | to make myself busy. Maybe I'm just afraid, that my |
| rather long winded explanations (as only a teenager | | | | best isn't good enough. Scary huh? In a familiar sort of |
| can do) for why she couldn't walk to swimming | | | | way. I have a good business plan to work from. One |
| practice, even though the pool is only a few blocks | | | | that's been built from the battlefield of many failures. I |
| away. I'll try to paraphrase. It went something like this. | | | | just need to execute it. The problem is, that even |
| "Its' too cold - the cold gets deep into my muscles | | | | though the plan is battle tested, and ready for the real |
| they'll never warm up. I don't need anything else | | | | world, I'm not sure the General is. |
| working against me - already my best isn't good | | | | I've decided, that writing about my struggles and my |
| enough." | | | | perception of those struggles would help me to work |
| I didn't really say anything. Not because I lost focus | | | | this out. Since writing is part of my plan anyway, it |
| during the rather long explanation (which I sometimes | | | | achieves several goals. I'm coming to believe, that |
| do), but because I didn't know what to say. How could | | | | running a business is not just about making money and |
| her best not be good enough? She's my kid after all. | | | | achieving fame. It's a lot about self discovery as well. |
| Even if she wasn't it shouldn't matter. When is | | | | Learning what your capable of, and how resilient you |
| anyone's best ever not good enough? It's all you've | | | | can be in the face of adversity. Writing this helps. In the |
| got. I mean, maybe it wasn't good enough to win the | | | | meantime though, I think I need to talk with my |
| Olympic gold, but it's still your best, and that should | | | | daughter. She needs to believe, that her best is always |
| never be diminished or degraded. I thought afterwords, | | | | good enough. Not just know it, but BELIEVE it. |