Did You Do Your Best
Jimmy Carter landed the chance of a lifetime. He was able to sit down with Admiral Hyman Rickover for a chance to become a member of the nuclear submarine program.
Admiral Rickover, basically invents the nuclear Navy. Part of Admiral Rickover’s process is he interviews every single candidate for the program himself. This includes Jimmy Carter, who would later become the 39th president of The Unites States, from 1977-1981. Carter got his chance to sit and be interviewed by Rickover in 1952. The interviews were rumored to be hours long and Jimmy Cater spent just as much time preparing.
At some point in the interview Admiral Rickover wants to learn about Jimmy Carter and his time at the Naval Academy. Carter feels proud, so he goes down the list of accomplishments while there. His grades, his performance and being 59th in a class of over 800 students. Rickover asks, “did you always do your best?”
Naturally we would all answer with a yes. Carter on the other hand, paused. And something came over him. He started to think about the times he did not do his best. Where he could have done more, studied harder, trained with more focus, etc. “I recalled several of the many times at the Academy when I could have learned more about our allies, our enemies, weapons, strategy, and so forth,” Carter responded. Honesty came out of Carter, “no, sir, I didn’t always do my best.” Rickover said nothing and looked at Carter for a while and asked one final question “Why not?” Then he stood up and walked away. Interview over.
Carter would never forget this question, this moment and most importantly, it went on to shape the rest of his life. When her ran for Governor of Georgia, Carter had a memoir titled Why Not The Best?
This question became the catalyst of Carter’s life. Of his presidency. As a husband and father. And today, it should be for ours.
Did you do your best? Are you giving your best? Are you really trying?
Thought Provoking Questions : Are you really trying? Your best…
Dan Roman is a writer that releases a daily meditation. A quick read. Sharing wisdom and asking thought-provoking questions. Influenced by the obstacles, success and failures in life and of others. Using history, books, current events, philosophy, and ancient wisdom. These writings are actionable, thought-provoking, designed to make your life better.
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