Excellence…it’s a concept that seems to have escaped much of
the modern world. We live in a culture where “good enough” will get you by, and
many believe that “good enough” is worthy of some reward. The idea that you
should always do your best in everything you do has become a rare quality in
this present age, and for many is merely a quaint memory of the way the world
once was. Of course, no one is perfect, but the idea of pursuing excellence
should be paramount in our daily lives. Pursuing excellence gives oneself pride
in whatever they accomplish because they know that they’ve put forth their best
effort. That’s a pride that might otherwise be unknown. The pursuit of
excellence also pushes people to accomplish things that they may have thought
impossible, but the desire to continually grow and the push to be better stretches
them to attain to things they may have believed unattainable. Unfortunately, our
self-serving society has created a generation of mediocre citizens content to
live their lives as “good enough”.
“Good enough” has never produced anything worth having. “Good
enough” doesn’t get you that raise you think you deserve. “Good enough” will
keep you in your current state as long as you think “good enough” is “good
enough”. “Good enough” is likely to blame for many of the hardships that our
world is enduring today because of the examples set for the children of those
who live lives by doing just enough to get by. Each generation is being taught
to believe that any effort, however little it may be, is “good enough” (I’m
really beginning to hate that phrase) and “good enough” become less and less
with each passing generation.
For me, “good enough” simply isn’t! I attribute my desire to
pursue excellence and always put forth my best effort to my dad. When I was
growing up my dad had a lot of stories (as I’m sure most dads do). You know the
stories…awake at 3am to work, and then off to school, only to go back to work
after school…the torturous stories you’ve heard so many times you could say
them right along with him (though you didn’t dare). In all of his stories
(there actually weren’t many, but a few that kept getting recycled) there was
always a recurring theme of hard work, diligence and a work ethic that taught
you to be the best in anything you do. He would say “I don’t care if you’re a ditch-digger.
You be the best damn ditch-digger they’ve ever seen!” That one thought has
stayed with me through the years and has been a cornerstone of my personal and
my professional life. Applying that concept to any and every endeavor has made
life pretty easy. Of course life has its’ share of difficulties to throw at
you, but remember the old adage “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how
you handle it”. There will always be another challenge right around the corner,
so prepare the way with excellence. Handle every situation with excellence. Run
your business or work your job with excellence. Teach your kids excellence. Strive
for excellence in ALL that you do and you will be amazed at the results.