When It Stops Getting Better, It Stops Being Good
“When it stops getting better, it stops being good.”
This quote is one I heard a thousand times during my college years. It was a favorite of our choir director, Dr. Mark “D” Deakins as he continually pushed his groups to grow and improve. It wasn’t long into my college experience that “D” would begin the quote only for everyone else in the room to finish for him.
As college kids we groaned about this. We did not enjoy being pushed because we thought “good enough” was…well…good enough. We would have happily settled into an easier rhythm of lighter work and simpler performance pieces.
We also knew that he was right.
We knew that if we chose to settle for “good enough”, the quality of our performances, passion and drive inevitably drop. Therefore it did not matter that this small college of 600 had a program of such quality that it sang at Carnegie Hall. It did not matter that a Christian College choir had been invited to Cuba, yes…Cuba, in 2004 to sing songs that were both secular and explicitly Christian. Past accomplishments were to be celebrated, certainly. However, the perspective was always forward. How do we improve? How do we get better?
Because when it stops getting better, it stops being good.
When it comes to preaching, public speaking, teaching and more, the temptation can certainly be to settle into a groove of “good enough.” Most of the time, your audience (or congregation), will be just fine with “good enough.” Most of the time, “good enough” will allow you the opportunity to ease off the gas and relax. Most of the time, “good enough” will frankly be considered good enough for those around you.
But what if you didn’t make a habit of settling for “good enough?”
What if you chose to push yourself? What if you chose to focus on details that perhaps only you will notice? What if you actively chose to dig in and continue improving?
What if “good enough” was not good enough?
Granted, there are some spaces I’ve accepted “good enough.” I’m ok with my mile times being slower at 41 than they were at 30. In that regard, I’m perfectly content to just remain active and fit. I’ve also recognized I have ZERO desire to learn more about plumbing or electrical work. I’m more than happy to call a handyman instead.
But over the last decade, even as my interests have expanded, I’m continuing to learn the value of not accepting “good enough.”
I certainly have more to learn about the craft of preaching. But now I’m also writing. Thus, I’m furthering my understanding of the publishing world, preaching trends, and even an understanding of how to coach others.
All these things I invest in because of messages about continual improvement like those instilled into me by Dr. Deakins.
So with that in mind allow me to ask you a question. What would change if you decided that “good enough” was not good enough?
