How do you define “better” as a leader, when better is the continual battle cry?
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” — 1 Timothy 6:6
For three decades, I’ve been chasing one word: Better.
Better results.
Better work habits.
Better organizations.
Better teams.
But here’s the truth—it often feels like fool’s gold. One year goes well, and instead of resting in that, I immediately ask: How do we make the next one better?
The Resolutions Trap
I’ve asked hundreds of people about their New Year’s resolutions. Over time, fewer and fewer even bother making them. Why? Because we fail at them. We confuse our desire for better with the ability to sustain it.
As a CEO, your job description is basically twenty different ways of saying: “Get better.” We’re handed dashboards, scorecards, and metrics—hundreds of measurements—to prove if our organizations are “getting better.”
However, it raises a more challenging question: What exactly is better?
Is it better to run your staff fast and hard to squeeze out maximum performance?
Or is it better to slow the pace—building strength, giving encouragement, and helping your team last for the long haul?
A Different Take on Better
Here’s my take: progress, excellence, and extreme care.
- Progress means we don’t have to perfect everything today, but we should learn from mistakes and build on our wins.
- Excellence means we aim to achieve the right results consistently, year after year—not just hit a home run once.
- Extreme care means we help one another do the same—making progress, learning from mistakes, and developing consistency in excellence, because real improvement isn’t a solo act.
I would much rather have someone who delivers strong results steadily over ten years than someone who burns bright for a short time and disappears.
The Long Game of Leadership
The mystery of better is not found in chasing after new resolutions, new slogans, or even new metrics. It’s found in being flawed people who still choose to move forward together—year after year.
Over time, this kind of faithful commitment creates something more profound than “better”—it builds stronger, focused teams who know how to endure, grow, and serve with consistency.
And here’s the hope: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
That means “better” is not just on our shoulders—it’s God’s work in us, through us, and despite us. Our job is to be faithful, to keep showing up, and to keep trusting that God is shaping both us and our teams for His purposes.
For New and Seasoned Leaders Alike
If you’re new in leadership, resist the temptation to prove yourself by sprinting.
If you’ve led for years, resist the fatigue that says growth is no longer possible.
Instead, lean into this truth: better will take care of itself when you commit to progress, excellence, and extreme care—and when you trust God to finish the good work He’s already begun.
Final Word
The pursuit of “better” will always tempt us to chase harder, faster, more. But true gain comes from godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). Better is not ultimately something we achieve—it’s something God is completing in us as we walk faithfully with Him. Your role is not to strive endlessly, but to keep showing up with progress, excellence, and extreme care—trusting that Christ Himself is the one carrying your work to completion.
Call to Action
As you lead, ask yourself:
Am I chasing after “better,” or am I trusting God to shape me and my team for lasting impact?
Take one step this week—slow down, encourage your people, and remember that faithfulness today prepares the ground for fruit tomorrow.
If you’d like to explore how to apply this to your nonprofit’s fundraising, board leadership, or strategy, I’d love to connect. Email me at dave@boldleading.com. Let’s grow your impact with clarity, strategy, and Christ-centered confidence.