Evaluating A Project

Some thoughts on evaluating projects. Sometimes we beat ourselves up because we look at the empty space in the glass rather than how full it really is. There are, I think, better ways of looking back.

1. Did you do your best?
                - Your best does not have to equal or be better than someone else's best.
                - You will always find someone who's best is better than yours.
                - You can often find someone who's best is worse than yours.
                - DON'T compare your best with that of others.

2. How did your best affect the poor?
                - Did the poor live better lives because of your efforts?
                - Were the poor more equipped to help themselves?
                - Did the poor feel more self-confident in their own abilities
                       and in their own "best"?
                - Did your best cost the poor more than they received?
                - Did your best allow the poor to teach you something?
                - Did your best exclude any groups of people?

3. How did your best affect the earth?

                - Did your best cost the earth more than she received?
                - Is the end result of your best a benefit to the earth?

4. How did your best affect yourself?

                - Did your best cost yourself more than you received?
                - Were you able to learn from the situation?
                - Is your next best going to be better?
                - Will others connected with your best be able to do better as well?
                - Is your best something that will positively affect your "grandchildren"?
                - Did your box get bigger?

5. Was your best skewed towards pleasing the rich or the poor?

                - Who benefitted the most?
                - Did your best narrow the gap between rich and poor?
                - Did any rich see the poor with new eyes and new appreciation?

6. Does your best make earth a place of value or a place to escape?
         (In Christian terms - Thy Kingdom come on earth ...)

7. Would you do it again?
                - What reasons do you have?
 
Irrelevant Considerations
 
1. Could your best have been better? Of course it could have been better.

2. Was your best successful in terms of material gain, things built, prizes won?