The Excellence Edge

January has always been a time for me of looking forward and moving ahead with my life. I want to make it better each year.

In looking ahead to the life I want to create going forward in 2009, the word “Excellence” comes to mind. God has really challenged me to step up to the next level in being all that he wants me to be.

When I’ve read about excellence, I’ve been amazed to see the small difference between just being average or mediocre and being excellent and outstanding. Just taking that extra step, going that extra mile, spending that extra minute on doing something right makes all the difference!

Think about the Olympics for a minute. The difference between being a gold medal winner and a silver, bronze or no medal winner are in many cases only fractions of a second! The difference means fame and millions of dollars in endorsements - or obscurity, even for an awesome performance!

In the world of professional golf the difference between first and second place, which could be only one stroke apart, may be half a million dollars in earnings!

What are you losing by not going all the way? What could you gain by pushing yourself to the limit of your capabilities? This can apply in your personal relationships as well as in sales, your job or career activities, board positions or volunteer activities you’re involved in. Being at the next level or at number one or on top of your game or profession may be only a small nudge away from what you’re already doing.

What is that little extra you can do to be your best? Is there something else you can do to move beyond your best to be the best? Hint: study the top people who are doing what you want to do and you’ll gain some insights into the edge they have by what they’re doing that you’re not. Often the people who complain the loudest about people who are successful, thinking they don’t deserve to be, are the least willing to do what the top dogs had to do to get where they are.

What is it you’ve been unwilling to do in order to be the most successful?

Would it be worth it to you to do so?

How would you feel if you accomplished your best?

Are you willing to stretch yourself a little and move perhaps a little (or a lot!) out of your comfort zone?

In case you need a little more guidance, incentive or inspiration, here are a few verses to remind us of the kind of people we can become and that God expects us to be, if we call ourselves followers of Christ. Remember that He is with us in the process! And we will bring honor to his name because of how we live.

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. – Ephesians 4:1

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:23-25

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1-3

Here are some other verses you may want to look up: 2 Timothy 2:15, 2. Timothy 1:7, 1 Chronicles 28:8-10, 1 Peter 5:8-9, and Ephesians 6:10-20.

For more in this topic and to view a recently published article I wrote on pursuing excellence, go to: www.Real-Life-Institute.com/articles.html and click on “Entering the Excellence Zone.”