“42. Stop ‘Trying’!

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t like the word ‘try’. Trying to do something just sounds like you’re not really making that much effort - and the result is almost inevitable.

(I mean, what does it say about someone if you describe them as a ‘trying’ person? It means they try our patience to the limit!)

Somewhere in our brains the word ‘try’ gets associated with phrases like ‘He tried his best’ and ‘Try again’ or ‘I’ll try to make it’. It’s almost as if trying to do something means you’re setting yourself up to fail short of your goal.

So I swap the word ‘try’ for the better version: endeavour.

If you endeavour to do something, this indicates real intent, a willingness to stick with it, and an ability to see things through to the end.

Also, an endeavor sounds like you’re on an epic, polar, life-or-death mission, which instantly makes whatever your task is more appealing!”