On Doing Your Best

What is "On Doing Your Best" about?

Gilad argues that top performers are defined not by their ability to control outcomes but by the quality and standard they bring to actions they would rather avoid, since every meaningful goal breaks down into a mix of enjoyable and resisted tasks. The essay confronts the conflict between the fantasy of an end result (a thriving business, a strong body) and the often tedious or uncomfortable reality of the specific actions required to get there, noting that many people unconsciously lower their effort or care on tasks they dislike, undermining their own larger goals. He reframes 'doing your best' as a deliberate choice to bring full presence and excellence even into disliked tasks, rather than reserving quality effort only for enjoyable or high-visibility work. Gilad proposes practicing this intentionally and repeatedly with a specific resisted task, then observing whether the experience, speed, precision, or emotional resistance shifts as a result. He concludes that the real transformation isn't only in the improved outcome but in becoming the kind of person who brings excellence into tasks they once avoided—suggesting the deeper reward is who you become while doing your best, not just what you produce.

In brief

What are the key takeaways?

1. 01Top performers are defined by the standard they bring to disliked tasks, not just the ability to control outcomes.
2. 02People often unconsciously lower effort on resisted tasks, quietly undermining their larger goals.
3. 03Practice bringing full presence to a disliked task repeatedly, and notice how both the task and you change.