I keep a personal notebook where I write down ideas and brainstorm. It’s something I carry in a leather portfolio—a gift from a good friend years ago. On the front, stamped right into the leather, are two words: Do Better.
The story behind those words goes back to a junior high football game I helped out at with some friends. We were on the “chain gang,” working the down and distance markers along the sideline. If you’ve ever done this, you know it gives you a front-row seat to the other team’s sideline chatter. That day, there was one kid on the bench in jeans and a jersey (so, not even playing), and every time his team missed a tackle or a play went wrong, he’d yell two words: “Do Better!” He’d stand up, lock onto the field, and holler those same two words over and over again: “Do Better!”
It didn’t take long for that phrase to stick with us, and over time, it’s become a joking mantra among friends. Whenever one of us falls short, someone will say, “Do better,” and we all know what it means. It’s simple, it’s funny, and it’s motivating—but this week, as I unwrapped my notebook to write down an idea, I started thinking about those two words in a different way.
What if, instead of saying “Do Better,” that kid had yelled, “We can do better”?
Think about how different “Do Better” sounds when you add “We can” in front of it. Instead of a degrading command, it becomes an inspirational invitation. Instead of calling someone out, it brings them in. It turns “Do Better” into “We’re in this together,”. We all know it’s not helpful to just shout at people to do better, but I believe there’s a lot of value in showing people that we can do better together.
Criticism is easy to dish out; encouragement takes more effort. It’s easy to point out what went wrong, but it’s more useful to get in there with people and lift them up. I had a leader who poured into me early in my career that repeatedly told me: “Anyone can bring a problem; valuable people bring solutions”. When we remind each other, “We can do better,” we’re saying that improvement isn’t just their job. It’s a shared goal, and we’re here to solve it together.
This has been a reminder for me lately, especially when I look back on mistakes or things that didn’t go as planned. I can critique them, or I can remind myself that improvement is a shared journey—and having people alongside me who believe has made an enormous difference in my life.
Beyond the individual performance, we should be focused on building each other up as a team. Adding “We can” to “Do Better” shifts the focus to building a stronger team, whether it’s in our families, workplaces, or communities. When we aim for improvement together, we’re setting a culture of support and accountability. We create a community where no one has to go it alone, where we work together to lift each other up. I’ve been incredibly blessed to have the support of my wife, loving parents, great friends, and good leaders throughout my life, so I can personally attest that it’s a lot easier to move forward when you know there are people behind you, encouraging you every step of the way.
That Leads Me to This Week’s Challenge…
This week, I challenge you to replace “Do Better” with “We can do better.” Whether it’s at work, in your personal life, or with friends, add those two words the next time you feel like something needs improvement. Approach the conversation as a team effort and see what happens. Be the valuable person that brings solutions and ensure you are the tide that raises all ships.
I’m thankful you took the time to read this, for choosing to work, and for being part of what makes this world amazing. Let’s keep finding ways to do better, together.
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