Yes We Can!

I realize this is a catchy phrase or slogan often used for political speeches, campaigns, and agendas. But this is not the purpose of my title or blog this morning. Though it is election season, my desire it not to push a political agenda but rather to create a revolution of self-belief. I want everyone to believe and say a resounding “yes we can” when it comes to being successful in life. If we as people could simply believe in ourselves, our capacities, talents, abilities, we could become so much more, contribute such greater amounts to our society, and have such a stronger influence on others for good. Yes each of us can have a profound impact on this world! We just have to believe it!!

At my business, one of our core values is Greatness. We define greatness as doing our personal best every day and helping others to do the same. This is what we all strive to do. Imagine if each of us strived to do our personal best each day in everything we do. Imagine if we tried to be a better employee or employer each day, a better husband and father, a better member of our community, a better son, daughter, sister, brother, a better friend, a better person. Imagine if this was everyone’s mantra in life—to do their personal best each day—how different would the world be?

Now if greatness is defined as doing our personal best every day and helping others to do the same then everyone can be great! It does not matter our experience in life, our backgrounds, our education, our talents or hobbies, our positions at work, our circumstances, our socioeconomic status, everyone has the capacity and ability to be great every single day. Though different from everyone else, each of us can do our personal best every single day. There is no one that can stop us other than ourselves. We decide and we can do it!

Now doing this is not easy and we will falter at times and have bad days. That is part of life. But if we can commit to this, to greatness, we will begin to make great strides of improvement. And as we improve each day, it will become a little bit easier the next day. Again this is absolutely not easy but with focus, effort, and determination, it can be done. I’ve seen it at my place of work.

I’ve heard said, “Life by the yard is hard but by the inch it is a cinch.” Thus each of us can strive to do this just one day, that’s it. And then after we do it one day we can then try for another, and then another one after that, until it becomes who we are. If we do this one day at a time and wake up each morning with a determination to do our personal best for that day and that day only, we will obtain success in life. There will be no stopping us!

So, Yes we Can! Yes we can be something special! Yes we can do something great! Yes we can have a profound impact on the world! The only one that can hold us back is ourselves. Because each of us has the capacity, talents, and ability to be great every single day! I truly believe this and so should you! Yes we can!