Excellence: the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.
I am pretty certain that no-one ever really sets out in life with the desire to be sub-standard. Regardless of how competitive or ambitious you are, anyone with an ounce of self-pride (the good kind) wants to feel that they are good at something. Granted, life and circumstance can rob us of our desire to be more than just average but if you look at any child you will see that in the beginning we all have a will to be good and give of our best.
It’s not about talent
There is an image doing the rounds on social media at the moment that lists 10 things that require zero talent.
I love this because it’s so true! Being of out-standing or remarkable quality doesn’t have to mean that you are the most gifted or talented person in the room; in fact a lack of skill can mean that you focus more on the characteristics that really make for an amazing person of excellence, instead of coasting by on your God-given abilities.
Consistency is the key
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle
It has to be remembered though that to be truly excellent is a full-time, 24/7, no time off gig. You can’t be a bit excellent, you either are excellent or you‘re not. Yes, we’re all a work in progress and yes, we all make mistakes and have off days but being consistent is a vital part of being exceptional. If you are committed and always present, giving of your best and going the extra mile at work, but you’re unreliable, selfish, and detached in your home-life or friendships, then you’re not really being a person of excellence. Similarly you can’t be considered first rate if you are honest and integrous with your friends and family but you cheat in business and are deceptive at work. Living life inconsistently will only do more harm than good. The Bible puts it this way:
Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honourable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
It isn’t always fun
Being a person of excellence and living consistently is known to contribute to how successful your life will be. Excellence is attractive, it’s admirable, and speaks of quality and discipline, but like all things that produce good results being consistently excellent isn’t always a walk in the park. It’s easy to put in 110% effort when you are doing something you love or spending time with people you like, but what about when you’re doing something that’s necessary but not enjoyable? The true test of excellence and your ability to be consistent is how you navigate those things where your passions are not engaged and it takes effort to continue to be outstanding and valuable. The Bible teaches that God wants us to live outstanding and excellent lives, but more than just being brilliant as a once-off or a part-time state, He wants us to live lives that are consistently honourable and bring value.