Have you ever gone into a restaurant bathroom only to find that it wasn’t very clean? Perhaps there was trash on the floor or the odor was foul. There is a feeling of disappointment when this happens, isn’t there? No matter how good the rest of the experience is, the bathroom has tainted it. Isn’t it also true that when the bathroom is clean and smells fresh, you walk out feeling pleased?
We like things to be done well, don’t we? Whether it’s a bathroom, a meal, a movie, or a trip to Starbucks, people are drawn to and will pay for things that are excellent. It’s also true that people will generally try to avoid experiences that are average or below.
Why should you and I strive for excellence?
1. Excellence will cause you to stand out.
Most people will settle for “good enough.” They will only do what is required and no more. Mediocrity is natural. When a person decides to go beyond average and strive for excellence, it causes them to stand out. They rise above the rest. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mouse trap than his neighbor, though he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door.” The bottom line is, people will notice.
2. Excellence will open more opportunities.
Most people are looking to improve their lives. They want more connection, more joy, more income, and a better job. These improvements only come when we consistently put out excellent work in our homes and at work. Jim Rohn once said, “The only way it gets better for you is when you get better.” When you and I get better at what we do, people will notice and opportunities will begin to open up. Zig Ziglar said, “The Quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to his or her commitment to excellence, regardless of his or her chosen field of endeavor.”
3. Excellence will help you feel better about yourself.
At the end of each day, I try to spend some time reflecting. It’s a really healthy practice for me. I ask myself, “Was today a good day?” “Did I do all that I could have done?” Only I can really answer those questions.
If we hold back and settle for what is “good enough,” we are the ones who will know it. That feeling of not having given my best isn’t the greatest feeling, but when I can answer with a confident, “Yes,” I then have a feeling of deep satisfaction. George Lorimer correctly observed, “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.”
In the end, excellence delivers. It blesses you by opening doors and providing personal satisfaction. It’s also important not to forget, however, that when you do your very best, others benefit as well. It rubs off on your family, your team, and even the community in which you live.
Are you striving for excellence or settling for average? The choice is yours.
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