None of us can be great at everything. 

 

So, in our home and our work, we live by a simple rule:

 

 

(Does that make you squirm?)

I’m not talking about critical situations where necessary precision is life or death, like skydiving or flying a commercial airliner; however, the first skydiver, the first pilot, and even those learning from the experts today had to start somewhere. I’m referring to those moments where failing to try or to give true effort impacts the determination of what you can be great at.

 

When my sons were young, we often quoted Tony Horton, personal trainer and creator of P90X: “Do your best and forget the rest.” If you give 100% effort and still fall short, your wholehearted effort outweighs not hitting the mark. Personally, my previous 150% effort doing P90X likely measured at about 50% of the fitness trainers’ effort. If you know, you know….

 

Furthermore, this does not mean we’re off the hook for getting results. We also need to be accountable for the quality and intention behind our efforts. Not all “tries” are equal, and not all effort moves us forward. True effort includes evaluating the effort to determine whether we actually gave it our best shot.

 

"I’ll try” can become a comfort phrase used as a shield that signals hesitation more than commitment, and today, “try hard” has also become slang for forcing things, overcompensating, or ‘trying’ to be someone you’re not.

 

So, are you a “try hard,” or do you try hard—in the right way?

Even if it’s a bit cliché, I like to quote Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.” Why? Because a) who doesn’t love Yoda, especially when there are Star Wars fans in your midst, and b) depending on the context, “I’ll try” often sounds like the aforementioned commitment without engagement, signaling fear of failure or a hedge against discomfort.

 

Using humor when appropriate, I also remind clients, my family, and myself that “Try is a weasel word.” It can keep us from deliberate, brave action when we use it as an excuse. But trying can also represent genuine, lock-step effort when we step in fully, out of our comfort zone, willing to risk imperfection while giving our best and accepting the uneasiness that growth usually brings.

 

(Click on Yoda for inspiration)

Research from Harvard Business Review on psychological safety, studies on growth mindset and neuroplasticity, and insights from Positive Intelligence show that when we connect our effort with purpose and values, we build resilience, clarity, and sustainable progress. It isn’t about perfection or just “looking good;” it’s about engaging with intention and learning from the process. Outcomes matter, but they are shaped by the quality of our effort, not just the quantity, and our willingness to develop.

When I am overwhelmed, thinking (or overthinking) about ‘trying’ to complete a big project or achieve an outcome doesn’t help. Yes, envisioning the finish line is motivating, but it’s like expecting to be able to run a marathon when you haven’t ever successfully run a mile. Changing “I’ll try” to “I will take this one step today” is actionable, realistic, and keeps the unhealthy stress responses at bay.

 

Recently, a client told me, “I’ll try to set boundaries at work.” We explored what it would look like to replace “try” with “I will.” By the next session, they had set a clear end time to their workday for the first time in months—not perfect, but real, committed effort.

Trying hard, in the right way, is about bold, focused effort. When you amplify your effort with AMPLIFY (Accountability, Mindset, Purpose, Leadership, Innovation, Family, and You), you protect your values, relationships, and growth. And when you know you’ve truly given it your best, you can give yourself permission to forget the rest. Remember, perfection isn’t typically the goal—progress and self-compassion are.

 

✨ This week, replace one “I’ll try” with “I will.” Notice what changes.

 

Share where you are choosing to “try hard” in alignment with what matters, and give your best effort, by replying here or tagging me on LinkedIn.

 

Email me for a free one-page AMPLIFY application on effort.