Did you do your best today?

Recently, I’ve been asking myself “Did I do my best today to…?” as part of my Daily Questions.  This is part of an accountability tool I learned from reading Marshall Goldsmith’s book, Triggers.  Goldsmith is a world-renowned executive coach and best-selling author.  He found these Daily Questions helped his clients be more accountable and engaged in what they want to accomplish and to live the life they want.  These questions create an environment to succeed at desired behavioral changes and to become the person you want to be.

You can make up the questions you want to ask for whatever behavioral change you want to make. The questions should be items important to your life and things that contribute to you being the person you want to become.   All questions start with “Did I do my best to…”

Examples:  Did I do my best to exercise today?  Did I do my best to learn something new at work?

Goldsmith suggests the following be included in your questions:

Did I do my best to…

…Set clear goals today?

…Make progress toward my goals today?

…Find meaning today?

…Be happy today?

…Build positive relationships today?

…Be fully engaged today?

The power in these types of questions is that you have personal ownership and responsibility.  You are rating doing your best so you can’t blame other people or circumstances for things not happening.  It’s about you and your commitment, motivation, self-discipline, self-control and patience.  While change doesn’t happen overnight, success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.  If we make the effort, we’ll get better.  If we don’t, we won’t.  Goldsmith says “Did I do my best to…” triggers trying and this delivers unexpected emotional “wallops” that inspire change.

So what have I learned?  Asking these questions every night is a TRIGGER for me to think about my goals and intentions for myself – how I’m doing and what I want to do going forward. These questions are popping into my head during the day also, reminding me to do my best to…

Give it a try and let me know what you think!  Lois@LoisCarson.com.