Hi There
Many people say or set the goal of "I want to be the best of xyz..." or "I want to be the best I can in everything I do" ..." - but have we ever thought what 'the BEST' means in everyday language? And I accept that it can mean different things to different people.
In my opinion however this is not a good goal to set ourself or for tohers. So let's unravel what 'being the best' means.
As kids we often ask "Dad, who's the best footballer in the world?" or "Dad which's the best car to have when I grow up?" or "My dad/mum's the best dad/mum in the world so yours can't be". Ah-ha - perhaps this last statement is more pertinent. Because TO ME my dad/mum IS the 'best in the world' and as a child, with a child's view of THE world aka a very limited view of the world, my dad/mum IS important to me and so /shehe IS the 'best dad/mum in my world'.
Very soon in the UK we're going to have 'Father's Day' - and there are literally thousands of cards filling newsagents, corner shops, supermarket shelves and card shops which say "YOU are the BEST dad in the world!" - yet how CAN there be thousands of cards when obviously MY DAD is the best and I only need one card to tell him that? Sorry - that's being too logical for kids - so let's try to tie some adult things together shall we?
As a child I enter into 'the best' arena starting with whatever I come into contact with that I love or I hold dear or I cherish or I have - and all in my child's own miniature world. And THIS is very important to me - I need something in my own world that I can relate to - as THIS reflects on ME, and it says that I AM SPECIAL - and really every child is special, we all know and recognise and appreciate that - I hope.
Ok, now let's take a peek into the adult world, the world of £££££ or $$$$$$, the world of votes, the world of 'internet hits', the world of relationships, the world of reality! And 'the best' interpretation here is tied up with marketing. After all you wouldn't want to not be the BEST dad/mum in the world by not buying your child 'the BEST clothes, trainers, bike, toys, holidays, tv, computer' - now would you?'
And let's not forget that we NOW have telephone/mobile 'phone votings for the 'BEST sports personality of the Year' on tv; and we have voting for the 'BEST celebrity get me out of here' on tv; and we have votings for the 'BEST star' on tv and the 'BEST dancers' on tv etc etc - oooopps but wait a minute don't we have to vote via those 'these calls will cost you £/$x per minute' lines???? SO WHO gets the ££££££££££ OR $$$$$$$$$$$$? Nah! We the voters don't ask, do we, we just follow instructions, child-like getting caught up in the euphoria of it all - well some do anyway.
So when I hear an adult saying "I want to be the BEST in all I do" or "I want to offer the BEST for my clients so I only want to learn from the BEST ..." or "I only want to be associated with the BEST" or even "The clients will ONLY go to the BEST and the rest will just fade away because THEY won't have any clients because obviously the clients ONLY go to the BEST (and THAT's ME!)!" then I read/see/hear ££££££££ or $$$$$$$$$$$ being rung up on the cash till/register of someone's votings listings; or someone's trainings; or someone's book sales; or someone's internet sites.
And WHY? Well you may think that I'm being a wee bit cynical about things here but the real reason (in my opinion) is because I see a child there (aka an emotionally under-developed, unfulfilled, uncaring adult) - not caring about 'the others - the rest - who will just fade away because they obviously aren't THE BEST!' AND I see a very clever marketing ploy being played out in a very uncaring way - yet being played out as if it were in a 'very caring way' because "we care for YOU (and your money!)".
I hear "Don't worry about those who are NOT going on my courses or trainings or workshops or conferences or seminars or who are NOT buying my books or products or services - because THEY'RE the world's losers. Because I BELIEVE I AM the BEST and you really do want to learn from the BEST, don't you?" So - come to daddy/mummy ... and don't forget your money-boxes little ones ...
Hozho
Christina Elvin
