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POSITIVE TALK... with Linda |
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A Commitment to Excellence Can you identify a business or an individual that is committed to excellence? A decade ago it would have been easy to do. However, in today’s high-tech, fast- paced, ever-changing world it is not so easy. Have we lost our commitment to excellence? Has excellence been replaced with expediency? Is it possible to become excellent at something when things are constantly changing? The
answer to the last question is a resounding YES.
It is not only possible, but it is necessary.
It is just as important today as it has ever been for a business or
an individual to commit to a standard of excellence. In their book In
Search of Excellence authors Peters and Waterman wrote -
“Excellence is extraordinary performance by ordinary people.”
They did not say you had to be an extraordinary person to do
extraordinary work.
They did not say it had to be a low-tech, high-touch, slow-paced
world to perform with excellence.
“Extraordinary
Performance.”
How do we make a commitment to extraordinary
performance in our personal and professional lives?
1.
Set
standards and then live up to them.
A
business or person must have a sound set of principles and most
importantly, adhere to those principles.
If you don’t have specific principles written out to which you or
your company should adhere, write them down.
Priorities change, principles do not. 2.
Develop
a dogged devotion to superior work.
Don’t settle for mediocrity. It’s easy to fall into the trap of
doing just enough to get by. If you want to stand out in the crowd, and stay ahead of the
pack, commit to excellence. 3.
Bolster
determination in the face of obstacles.
Lots
of people use difficulties as an excuse not to perform well.
When things are difficult, bolster your determination and do more,
not less. Things will
improve and you will become known as a person who can be counted on in
difficult times. What do you
think that reputation is worth to a client? 4.
Get
inspired by challenges. William
James said, “Need
and struggle are what excite and inspire us.” Use challenges to motivate you to do better.
Look for the lesson and apply it in the future (in other words
don’t make the same mistakes twice.)
Overcoming challenges can build self-confidence and bolster our
self-esteem. 5.
Find
a cause, discover a passion. When
we have something that we are passionate about we tend to do more, and try
harder. We work tirelessly
for that which we believe in.
Find that cause or discover that passion that motivates you and
you too can do “extraordinary things.” Remain
flexible, stead fast and committed to excellence.
Not a perfectionist.
There will never be a perfect time, perfect place or a perfect
opportunity.
It doesn’t have to be. |
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[Positive Talk]
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Yourself First] [How to Sell Your Book] |
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