I think “Next time don’t give up so quickly” or “Next time keep working until you’ve produced something you’re proud of” etc. is often useful advice in a way that “try harder next time” is usually not. It’s a specific thing to do, not just a generic cranking up the motivation dial.
I think “You weren’t trying at all. Next time you need to try.” is also frequently useful (but only if it’s in fact true, from their own perspective, that they weren’t trying at all) (and also only if accompanied by a reason that is likely to convince them, or better yet discussion / debugging of why they weren’t trying at all).
I imagine that there are people who have already mentally replaced the common definition of the words “try harder” (i.e. “crank up the motivation dial”) with an enlightened alternative definition of the words “try harder” (i.e. “strategize about how to improve results, and then execute that strategy”). For those enlightened individuals, “try harder next time” is probably fine. Although I still think that it’s often wise to do the strategizing part right now rather than waiting for next time. Then you can have a plan / advice which is more specific: “Do X next time.”
I agree that “try harder next time” is not bad advice / bad plan in every conceivable situation. I would say “there is frequently a much better option for advice / plan”, especially if “try harder next time” has already been attempted unsuccessfully.
Thanks for your comment!
I think “Next time don’t give up so quickly” or “Next time keep working until you’ve produced something you’re proud of” etc. is often useful advice in a way that “try harder next time” is usually not. It’s a specific thing to do, not just a generic cranking up the motivation dial.
I think “You weren’t trying at all. Next time you need to try.” is also frequently useful (but only if it’s in fact true, from their own perspective, that they weren’t trying at all) (and also only if accompanied by a reason that is likely to convince them, or better yet discussion / debugging of why they weren’t trying at all).
I imagine that there are people who have already mentally replaced the common definition of the words “try harder” (i.e. “crank up the motivation dial”) with an enlightened alternative definition of the words “try harder” (i.e. “strategize about how to improve results, and then execute that strategy”). For those enlightened individuals, “try harder next time” is probably fine. Although I still think that it’s often wise to do the strategizing part right now rather than waiting for next time. Then you can have a plan / advice which is more specific: “Do X next time.”
I agree that “try harder next time” is not bad advice / bad plan in every conceivable situation. I would say “there is frequently a much better option for advice / plan”, especially if “try harder next time” has already been attempted unsuccessfully.