Too afraid to really make an honest effort. http://amzn.to/2hHeNww
Book: Eleven Rings
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The courage behind an honest effort
Phil Jackson describes a common trap in Eleven Rings. Some people are too afraid to really make an honest effort. It sounds strange at first. Why would anyone fear trying? Yet the logic is familiar. If we never give our full effort, failure can always be blamed on something else, and our self-image stays protected.
Psychologists call this self-handicapping. Students who party before exams, athletes who skip training and professionals who start projects at the last minute all create excuses in advance. If they fail, they can say they did not really try. If they succeed, it looks even more impressive. The strategy protects ego, but it limits growth.
Why an honest effort feels risky
Giving everything exposes us. If we try fully and still fall short, we have to face our real limits. That possibility feels threatening, especially for people whose identity depends on being seen as talented. Carol Dweck’s research shows that a fixed mindset makes this fear stronger.
A growth mindset offers an alternative. When abilities are seen as developable, effort becomes the path to improvement rather than a test of worth. Therefore, failure after full effort is information, not a verdict. It shows exactly where to work next.
Practical steps help build courage. Set process goals, such as practising for a certain time, rather than only outcome goals. Celebrate effort openly. For example, a team leader might praise thorough preparation even when a pitch does not win the client.
Support also matters. People take more risks when they feel safe. Coaches like Jackson created environments where players could give everything without fear of humiliation.
Moreover, honest effort brings its own satisfaction. Knowing you truly tried feels better than wondering what might have happened.
In the end, Jackson’s observation invites bravery. Try fully, accept the result and learn. That cycle, repeated, builds both skill and confidence over time.
