I was attending a Techpoint networking function recently when I got into a conversation with Ann Clifford of Safari Solutions about the business benefits of blogging. Ann commented that, “You get out of it what you put into it, just like these networking events.” I thought about how often that statement is true, and it came to me that it is almost always true. You get out of it what you put into it could be a phrase to live by.
As a matter of fact, it’s a phrase by which we should live most of the time. In everything we do, we should try to do it so that we can point to it later and be proud. It doesn’t matter whether it’s cleaning a toilet or cooking a meal or training for the Mini Marathon or just hanging out. Try to put your whole self into it because you expect to get a lot out of it. When the return seems less than you expected, see if you can think back to when you stopped putting yourself fully into it. Sometimes I catch myself slipping and can turn it around. Other times I get the chance to go back and do it again with more gusto. Then there are the times when I can only regret that I didn’t commit more fully while I had the chance.
Why do it if you aren’t going to do your best? Are there many things that are only worth doing poorly? Wouldn’t that time be better spent doing something that is worth your best effort?
We’re in the time of resolutions. Why not resolve to put more into the things you do this year. It will increase what you get out of it, for sure.
Damon's Thoughts and Oughts 