How have you been doing: good or well?
So, what's the difference between doing good and doing well, you ask? It's a good question. Well, back when I was teaching middle school kids, I'd always greet them as they entered my classroom, using some nickname or friendly comment or just a general "How are you doing today?" When I knew they were just coming from a big test in a previous class, I'd often ask them, "How did you do on that test?" Their usual answers were "I did good" or just "Good"! Being an English teacher, I naturally took every opportunity to correct their grammar by saying, "I'm really happy and proud of you for doing 'well' on a important test! It's really good to do well!" (This kind of thing is what English teachers like to do.) The grammar issue here is switching an noun/adjective for an adverb, or something, but it really is a lot more than simple semantics; it's a lifestyle focus choice.
Think about it this way: when we evaluate our success as adults, we say that he/she/we are "doing well", right? If we are very successful, we are "doing very well, indeed"! We know immediately that this person is making good money and enjoying the rewards of their efforts. But what do we mean when we say somebody is doing "good"? Is it a grammar error or something else? What do we mean when we call somebody a "do-gooder"? Is it good to be a "goody-goody"? Should we be content to "leave well-enough alone" and not worry about being good, as well? Well, this is a "deep topic", so let's clarify:
The difference between doing "well" and doing "good" is all about for whom you do it. If you succeed in advancing your own personal wealth, health, comforts, etc., you do well for yourself. Doing "good" means doing the same for others, but not necessarily for yourself. When you do "good", you are doing "service". When you are not motivated by personal gain or recognition, you do "Service Above Self", which just happens to be the motto of Rotary International. But you really can't be a Rotarian unless you do well enough for yourself to be in a position to do good for others in a Service Above Self manner. Is all this word-play confusing? Let's simplify:
If you are a successful person who cares about "giving-back" and sharing some of your personal good fortune, your skills, and your energy, you should join Rotary! As a Rotarian, you will team with 1.2 million other successful and like-minded folks who collectively do good things at home and abroad. Think about leveraging your "good intentions" 1,200,000 times! I have been a Rotarian for 6 years now and working with my club, our district, and with the Rotary Foundation to raise money and do projects sure trumps the "cupcake sales" I used to hold as a school teacher! It's amazing how much "good" Rotarians can do because Rotary manages their Foundation and their organization so well! If I am preaching to the choir here, and you are already a Rotarian, then you know "well and good" about all of this. I would simply implore you to continue to give generously to the Foundation to keep the "green life-blood" flowing! If you are not yet a Rotarian, why not? Are you good enough to do well or have you done well-enough to do good? Visit your local Rotary Club and find out if Rotary is 4 U!!!!
Well, it's a good time to stop this blog, but Rotarians and hopefully soon-to-be Rotarians alike . . . I wish you all well, good, er, both! Cheers, Bill R
