With Excellence

When something really matters to you, it shows. Passion is apparent. You dedicate time & energy, invest resources, share your knowledge, & are well-known by your passion. Your passion reveals what is important to you in life. This tells your story, and in many ways, defines who you are. True passion is often accompanied by excellence.

Excellence has a magnetic quality that draws attention. Excellence is set apart, vivid. It is not always easily quantified or defined, but it is evident. Excellence in any craft provides a sense of purpose and joy. It is also personal, rooted in your story. Whatever you do with excellence, recognize & acknowledge it! Undoubtedly there was real work involved, driven by passion and laced with difficulty. What passion has inspired the excellence you have achieved in your life? Often this story has a humble beginning.

“Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” -John Gardner

Excellence originates in ordinary things. Ordinary is found in the parts of your life that are consistent, repeatable, and in your control. I like to think of the ordinary things as the fundamentals. Coupled with passion, these everyday components in everyday life create opportunities for excellence. They are the foundation. The excellence you have accomplished in your life began with ordinary things. When you find yourself struggling to reach excellence in a desired area of your life, there is a real possibility that you are neglecting the fundamentals. When given extraordinary effort, ordinary is the pathway to excellence. There is no shortcut.

So much in life begs for your attention. You can easily become spread thin. Giving partial effort or attention to the ordinary parts of your life can feel inconsequential, but it establishes habits that hinder your pursuit of excellence. What matters to you right now? What kind of attention is that part of your life getting? The next time excellence does not feel attainable, practical, or worthwhile, think about the fundamentals. How do you prepare, show up, and engage in the parts of your life that need the best parts of you?

Excellence is not accidental or partial, it is intentional and yours to craft. When the ordinary in life receive your focused attention, it shifts your divided energy to the center of those moments, and locks in your best effort. What difference would it make for you to approach “ordinary” things in your life from a perspective of excellence? How would your relationships be impacted? Your team? Your home? Excellence leads to excellence; it builds on itself. When you achieve excellence on any level, it fosters further motivation & inspiration, laying the groundwork for continued growth and success. Notice the extraordinary possibilities in the ordinary moments of your life. Give those moments your best approach and live your life with excellence.

“Excellence is not a skill it is an attitude.  A key component of attitude is learning to do your best no matter what the task requires. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.”

-Terry Schmitz

Work With Me