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A common phrase if we fail at something in life is to say I tried my best.
But did you really try your best?
Many times we never put ourselves in a position to succeed at the things we are trying to accomplish.
The truth is, usually you can do things to improve your chances of success in everything you do.
This doesn’t mean you will be guaranteed to succeed, as you will always fail in life.
But following the tips below for how to always try your best will help you succeed more times than not.
In the end, you will be living life more fully, and be on a journey to be the best you possible.
11 Ways To Always Try Your Best
#1. Define Success
One of the first thinks you need to do is have your own definition of success.
This will help you to know when you succeeded or failed.
It’s important that you don’t rely on others definitions either.
For example, success in your career might mean making a difference in the world whereas someone else might define success as making the most money possible.
If you end up making a ton of money you succeeded in their definition, but will feel like a failure because you never achieved your idea of success.
#2. Set Goals For Yourself
One of the easiest ways to feel accomplished is to set small, achievable goals for yourself to complete during the day.
Whatever your ultimate goal is, break it down into action steps and then put your daily efforts into completing each small step.
- Read now: Click here to learn how to achieve your goals
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This will help you to have a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished and why it is important.
As you are setting these goals, think about how completing them will improve your life.
These goals do not have to be complicated or difficult, they could be something as simple as brushing your hair.
We suggest writing down your goals on a tick list that you can cross off as you complete them.
This will give you a sense of accomplishment from your day and motivate you to keep going.
Try to set achievable goals and do not fall into the trap of comparing your tasks to others.
Everyone has different abilities and the only ones you should be focusing on are your own.
#3. Take All The Opportunities You Are Given
Every choice you make changes the course of your personal future.
You never know what could lead to something amazing.
- Read now: Learn how life is all about choices
If you are stuck in a rut, the easiest way to break out is by trying something new.
Take opportunities that come your way and treat them like an experiment.
It may not be right for you, but you won’t know without trying.
The biggest step to personal growth is by pushing your boundaries and venturing out of your comfort zone.
Challenge yourself and you may be surprised at what you can achieve.
A shock of success will boost your morale and will encourage you to keep pushing yourself to achieve more.
#4. Always Put Forth Solid Effort
Don’t fall into the trap of giving less important tasks less than what you are capable of giving.
Try your hardest at every task you attempt, no matter how menial it may seem.
This will eventually lead to you putting in 100% effort all the time, a key factor in consistently trying your best.
There is no way you can perform at optimal levels without giving your all to every task.
#5. Try, Try, And Try Again
Do not ever allow failure to define you.
As much as these difficult situations hurt, you need to push through.
The best way to encourage success is to not give up in the face of adversity.
Giving up is a concession and will not teach you to work around problems.
Rejection and failure are unavoidable parts of life and you need to learn how to deal with these feelings.
The best way to grow and improve as a person is to bounce back from and cope with failure.
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Many people say they work their best or find their largest motivation after their most difficult failure.
Don’t allow yourself to give in when the going gets tough, as success could be right around the corner.
#6. Allow Time For Self Reflection
If you find yourself consistently failing to achieve what you want to, take some time to self reflect.
Think deeply about why you fell short, and how you could have accomplished the task in a better, healthier, and more productive way.
Use this introspection to guide the way you think about and deal with future tasks.
#7. Ask Questions
Before you complete a task, take some time to ask yourself some questions.
Ask yourself things like:
- Can I do a better job?
- Am I doing the best I can?
Many times asking yourself these questions will help you to realize you are only putting forth 90% effort and you can put in some extra effort.
This will lead to a higher chance of success in the end.
But there is a slippery slope here.
Don’t get consumed with asking yourself these questions and start to doubt yourself and begin to have pessimistic thoughts.
Be honest with yourself.
You know when you did all you can and there is nothing left to give.
#8. Do Not Be Afraid To Ask for Advice
Asking for help is not a weakness.
If you are struggling with a task, do not be afraid to ask people with more experience for their guidance.
Seasoned professionals will be able to give you tricks of the trade to help make tasks easier.
They may have valuable insights into the process and may spot things that you miss.
Ask people for their thoughts on your work, and listen to their feedback.
They may spot glaringly obvious mistakes in your process that you are simply too close to notice.
#9. Keep A Positive Attitude
This seems like an obvious point, but you would be surprised at how much this helps.
A positive mindset is a great place to start as this will instantly boost your morale and help to motivate yourself to work harder and better.
Negative thoughts are insidious and can quickly seep into your mind, sap your motivation, and ruin your progress.
Do not allow these to occupy your mind.
This is easier said than done but has a huge impact if done correctly.
Surround yourself with positive people and make some time every day to reflect on your accomplishments.
Being secure in yourself and your abilities will give you more confidence and make daunting tasks seem more approachable.
#10. Accept Failure With Grace
Do not allow failure to get on top of you.
Something you may perceive as a personal failure could have happened due to an outside influence you have no control over.
You will never be able to know for sure the exact reason a venture failed, so why spend time focusing on the negatives?
Accept that this time it did not work out for you, and come to terms with that.
Just because you failed once, does mean that you will fail every time.
Use this as a learning experience and build from this next time you need to try something new.
#11. Confidence Is Key
You’ve heard of the saying fake it until you make it.
This is a turn of phrase that has garnered popularity within common parlance due to the truth instilled in it.
People that project confidence give off a good vibe and things will come more easily to them.
Even if you do not feel confident to begin with, pretend you do.
Eventually, you will convince even yourself of the truth.
Doubt in yourself is what allows mistakes to be made.
Confidence is having a sense of security in your decisions and bouncing back even if mistakes have been made.
Final Thoughts
One of the most important keys to life is learning how to always try your best.
Too many times we allow others or ourselves to place limits on our lives.
This leads us to not being as successful or happy in life.
No matter what you have going on, always remember to put forth a solid attempt at everything you try.
When you stop trying, you stop living life and are just going through the motions.
Every day and every moment we have is precious, so don’t take it for granted.
Jon Dulin is the passionate leader of Unfinished Success, a personal development website that inspires people to take control of their own lives and reach their full potential. His commitment to helping others achieve greatness shines through in everything he does. He’s an unstoppable force with lots of wisdom, creativity, and enthusiasm – all focused on helping others build a better future. Jon enjoys writing articles about productivity, goal setting, self-development, and mindset. He also uses quotes and affirmations to help motivate and inspire himself. You can learn more about him on his About page.