The Greatest, Egalitarian Bargaining Chip: Effort

You can imagine the scene. A young child gives her mother a Mother’s Day gift. And, while it is a painting. We can all agree it’s not a good painting. But, as they say, “it’s the effort that counts.”

And, it does count. 

Effort counts beyond gift giving, too. Most humans struggle with failure, doing things “wrong,” public shame, etc, but there’s a legitimate utility in a best effort. Hell, I’m here to say, I’ve never seen a best effort be inferior to the alternative. 

The perceived fear here is obvious. 

The fear is vulnerability. We fear trying our best and learning that it wasn’t enough, right? Well, as someone who has given a best effort and failed, I can tell you unequivocally that the universe and your fellow human is favorable to best efforts. 

In fact, the risk is hedging your effort. Withholding your best when it comes to starting businesses, apologies, expressing your love, and doing finger painting is actually what we as humans love. 

It’s the reason why the Rom Com scene with the guy holding the boombox over his head to confess his love gets us every time. We want effort and if you give it, you will be handsomely rewarded.