It Hit Me Like a Truck!

I was driving down the highway a few years ago, lost in thought, when a truck slowly passed me on the left. It wasn’t going fast enough to zip by unnoticed. Instead, it lingered just long enough for a few simple words on its side to catch my eye:

“Our Best is the Least We Can Do.”

At first, I thought I had read it wrong. I had to double-check, leaning forward slightly, as if somehow that would bring the words into better focus.

But I hadn’t misread it. That was their slogan—proudly painted in bold block letters. No fluff, no gimmicks. Just a striking, almost jarring declaration of what they believed.

“Our Best is the Least We Can Do.”

Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.

They’ve stayed with me ever since.

It wasn’t just a catchy phrase or a clever marketing line. It was a mindset—a philosophy, even. It implied that excellence was not optional, not extraordinary, not above-and-beyond. It was expected. The bare minimum. That truck company had made a decision: showing up with anything less than their best just wasn’t going to cut it.

And that made me wonder—what if the rest of us lived like that?

What if we led our families, our businesses, our communities with that kind of standard? What if we woke up each day and said, “I will give the very best of myself to this day, not because it’s convenient, not because someone’s watching, but because anything less would be unacceptable.”

How different would our lives look?

How different would our world look?

What It Looks Like to Live at Your Best

Let’s be clear—giving your best doesn’t mean striving for perfection. It doesn’t mean burning out in the pursuit of endless hustle or comparing yourself to others. But it does mean showing up with intentionality, with heart, and with integrity.

Here’s what living out “Our Best is the Least We Can Do” might actually look like in everyday life:

• In our work: We don’t cut corners. We honor deadlines. We give thought and care to each task—even the small ones—because we know that how we do anything is how we do everything.

• In our relationships: We listen fully. We forgive quickly. We give generously. We remember that our best often means being present, not perfect.

• In our personal growth: We stop waiting for permission to pursue our purpose. We read. We learn. We fail forward. And we keep showing up because excellence is a commitment, not a feeling.

Why Most People Don’t Choose This Path

Let’s face it—many people settle.

They settle for “good enough,” “just okay,” or “no one will notice.” And in doing so, they rob themselves and others of the extraordinary impact they were born to make.

Why?

Because excellence requires effort. And effort costs something.

But here’s the truth: so does mediocrity. It just costs more in the long run—more frustration, more regret, more missed opportunities.

When we choose to live by the standard that “our best is the least we can do,” we raise the bar—not just for ourselves but for everyone around us. We give others permission to level up, to show up, and to bring their full selves to the table too.

A Leadership Challenge for You

At Apex Empowerment, we believe that leadership isn’t about position—it’s about influence. And you influence others the most when your life reflects your values.

So here’s a challenge: for the next seven days, adopt this mantra as your own.

Write it on a sticky note. Put it on your mirror. Make it your phone’s lock screen. Whatever it takes to keep it in front of you.

And then, when you face a decision—big or small—ask yourself:

“Is this my best? Or just what I think I can get away with?”

Because if your best is truly the least you can do, imagine how much more you’re capable of.

Final Thought

That truck driver didn’t know he was driving a moving billboard of inspiration that day. He didn’t know his company’s motto would become a mantra that challenged me to reexamine the way I lead, live, and love.

But I’m grateful it did.

And I hope it does the same for you.

Because when we all start giving our best—not occasionally, but consistently—we don’t just do better.

We become better.

And that changes everything.