Excellence Defined Your Way

Do you want to be excellent?  Do you choose to be average?  The difference between excellence and average is surprisingly small. You can close the gap by being more intentional in just a couple of areas in your life.  The first area is mindset.  We choose average because it is the path of least resistance and largely what has been demonstrated by the major influencers in our life.  To be excellent, you will need to realize it is a choice and not an accident.  A person does not wake up excellent.  Instead, they make a choice to be excellent and act accordingly.  After you have chosen excellence, it is important to define excellence.  Ask yourself, “What is excellence?” and write down the answer.  This definition is going to be a point of reference for you in your pursuit of excellence.  It has to be your definition.  To recap – we made up our own mind to be excellent and defined what excellence is to us.  Now is the challenge – be consistent.  Excellence is a grind.  Excellence is not sexy.  It is shooting 1,000 free throws every day.  It is getting up at 4:30 each morning to write or work out.  It is doing what the average folks refuse to do day in and day out.  Excellence is not an accident – it is a grind with clear intention and clear definition.  Now is the key.  Don’t try it alone.  Surround yourself with others that are committed to excellence.  The major key to success is accountability.  You could hire a coach, find a mentor, or join a group that is committed to excellence.

My mentor Jim Rohn would say “Excellence is a few simple disciplines practiced every day, while average is a few errors in judgement practiced every day.”

I want you to be excellent.  Here is how:

Step 1: Mindset – Choose excellence and avoid average.

Step 2: Define Excellence – What is excellence to you?  Cover all aspects of your life – family, work, faith, health.

Step 3: Be Consistent – Excellence is a grind requiring mental discipline and routine.

Step 4: Be Accountable – Excellence is most often achieved in community with other excellent people.  Ask for feedback and listen. 

Excellence is not an accident.  It can only be achieved by intentional and consistent effort.  Make the choice for excellence, implement the necessary disciplines, monitor your progress, and course correct when necessary.  That is it.  This formula can be used to develop any new skill.  Now, get your mind right and go make a difference.