What "At Your Best" Actually Means (And It's Not What Most Think)
How do YOU bring out the best in others? Do you? Is it a thing you value?
Someone asked me the other day, "Who is Bryan?"
Without much pondering, the thought that rushed into that space said, "I'm the kind of guy who seeks to bring out the best in those around me."
I may have a different idea of "Best" than others. Maybe not, though.
The Bullshit Version of "Best"
When most people talk about someone being at their best, they're often referring to external markers:
Scratch in the bank.
Toys in the garage.
Who's on your arm.
The title on your business card.
A blue checkmark.
That version of "best" isn't just bullshit – it's expensive bullshit. It costs you time, energy, focus, and ultimately your sense of who you actually are.
What "Best" Actually Looks Like
"At your best," in my experience, happens when the gears of a person's ATTENTION, INTENTION, and ACTION are all connected, moving, and shifting together.
ATTENTION: Where you're actually looking, what you're actually seeing, not just what you're trying to observe.
INTENTION: What you genuinely want to create or accomplish, free from the static of others' expectations.
ACTION: The concrete steps you take that align with where your attention is focused and what your honest intentions are.
When these three elements are out of alignment, you end up grinding. You burn energy but don't create momentum.
I've watched it happen with a client who was a highly successful agency owner. On paper, she had it all – the business was growing, clients were happy, revenue was up. But she'd come to the point of wanting to fire herself from her own company.
Why? Her attention was scattered across every operational detail. Her intention was split between what the business "should" be doing and what actually energized her. And her actions were reactive rather than purposeful.
We stripped away the noise. Focused her attention on what she actually wanted to create. Got brutally honest about her intentions. And realigned her actions to match.
A year later? Same business, entirely different experience. Not because she transformed into someone else – but because she accessed what was already there when the static was removed.
Potential vs. Perfection
Best doesn't mean you step on the podium every try. It does mean, though, you've developed the inner potential to readily meet the moment when the moment, timing, and a dash of fortune are aligned.
People at their best show up centered and grounded, because they feel foundationally grounded and seen.
They have created momentum, because—to steal some Thoreau, here—they have chosen not to "loiter in winter when spring is already here."
Finding Your Own Alignment
Want to check your own alignment? Ask yourself these questions:
Where is my attention actually going each day? Not where I think it should go – where does it actually land?
What do I intend to create or accomplish? Again, not what I think I should want – what do I actually want?
Do my daily actions align with that attention and intention? Or am I grinding away at things that don't connect?
The gap between your answers is where the static lives. It's where the friction happens. And it's where we can start cutting through the noise.
I've got space for three new clients who have a goal or personal end state they've been holding back on…. (It'd be super interesting if you're an established Director to VP-level INTJ. iykyk).
Walk with smart feet, yo.
My name is Bryan. I ride bikes, build communities that bring out the best in people, and help established creative leaders cut through their static, get brutally clear, and build sustainable momentum to get shit done.
Join me for a free session. It’s just a 30-minute no-pitch chat.