Why Not the Best?
Entry published aug 02 2009
“I had applied for the nuclear submarine program, and Admiral Rickover was interviewing me for the job... Finally, he asked me a question and I thought I could redeem myself. He said, "How did you stand in your class at the Naval Academy?" ... I swelled my chest with pride and answered, "Sir, I stood 59th in my class of 820!" I sat back to wait for the congratulations - which never came. Instead, the question: "Did you do your best?" I started to say, "Yes, sir," but I remembered who this was ... I finally gulped and said, "No, sir, I didn't always do my best." He looked at me for a long time, and then finally turned his chair around to end the interview. He asked one final question, which I have never been able to forget, or to answer. He said, "Why not?"”