Quotes and Wisdom
from the Top of the Mind™
from the Top of the Mind™
Excellence
"Excellence is the result of:
Caring more than others think is wise...
Risking more than others think is safe...
Dreaming more than others think is practical, and
Expecting more than others think is possible."
Caring more than others think is wise...
Risking more than others think is safe...
Dreaming more than others think is practical, and
Expecting more than others think is possible."
I have chosen this quote at this time because I believe it can offer those of us looking to have more influence over our experience of life, a guide for infusing this process with the quality of excellence. Therefore, I suggest that we look at this series of thoughts by Mac Anderson line by line to discover how these words might serve us in this endeavor.
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise."
Many people would say that caring deeply about something or someone isn't wise. They would say that it only sets one up for disappointment, and the more prudent path would be to develop a sense of detachment, or learn to care less. I suggest, however, that to care less or to lose this passion for excellence is to resign one's self to a life of mediocrity. While it may be true that we may not experience the disappointment of failure in this less invested state, we will also never be able to bring our best to any venture. To care less is to be careless, and even though it might provide a convenient allay for falling short of one's goals ("Hey, I really didn't care whether I succeeded or not"), the result of adopting this perspective as a way of life almost guarantees failure because it limits the effort, energy, and enthusiasm we can bring to any experience.
The bottom line is that to summon our best, we must care deeply about someone and/or something. Does that mean that we will care more than others think is wise? Probably. Does that mean that caring isn't wise? No. It means that those who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of excellence will by definition bring a deep commitment or caring to everything they do, and this will make their lives and the lives of everyone they touch more meaningful.
"Excellence is the result of risking more than others think is safe."
Ah, here is the question, isn't it? To what degree are we willing to risk failure and rejection when we follow the dreams that caring and passion have spawned? Is this a "risky" way to live? Yes. However, what if to avoid all risk in an attempt to stay safe is even more risky? I'm sure you have heard the phrase, "To risk nothing is to risk everything." For me, this means that when we attempt to live our lives "risk free," we also limit who we can become and what we can accomplish.
Given that we can never know the future, all reaching for dreams and goals, will entail some risk. Does this mean that in the pursuit of excellence we will risk more than others think is safe? Probably. Does this mean that this risk is unwarranted? No. Whether we are talking about a baby learning to walk or mankind learning to fly, the willingness to take calculated risks will always be inherent in all great ventures and adventures. The key is whether what we want is more important than what we are afraid of. If so, then let us not determine how much we risk by what others think is "safe" but by what we have decided infuses our "reaching" with excellence.
"Excellence is the result of dreaming more than others think is practical."
It's probably fair to say that anyone who has accomplished anything of note was at one time, a dreamer. Given all the trials and tribulations one must go through to become successful, only those who are able to hold fast to their dreams can achieve such status. However, the term "dreamer" has always been somewhat of a double-edged sword. In its pejorative sense, it has been applied to children who don't seem to succeed in highly structured, academic environments. It has been applied to adults who chose to pursue nontraditional careers that involve art, music, the theater, helping the poor, etc. The question, therefore, would seem to be, is being a dreamer a good thing or a bad thing? I believe that history can help us with this answer. Was Leonardo DaVinci a dreamer? Were Michelangelo, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and the founders of our nation dreamers? Was Martin Luther King a dreamer? Dreams are simply a vision of the future and unlike nightmares, are generally positive. Therefore, I suggest that we embrace our internal dreams and external dreamers, for herein lies the hope for mankind. Does this mean that we will find ourselves dreaming more than others think is practical? Probably. Does this mean that dreaming isn't practical? No. In fact, it's practically essential to all achievement.
"Excellence is the result of expecting more than others think is possible."
While it is probably fair to say that those who have achieved great things were dreamers, we can assume with a great deal of certainty that they can also be described as people who expected more than others thought was possible. Again, this is a curious phrase because there are so many that advise against this sort of philosophy. Similar to the admonition not to care too much, they say that one shouldn't expect too much either, because it will only lead to disappointment. Further, they would probably become even more adamant about the wisdom in this philosophy if they determined that what is being suggested is indeed impossible! In fact, I would imagine that the words, "Forget about it. That's impossible!" were heard when someone first brought up the ideas of sailing around the world, curing polio, forming a nation that is governed by elected representatives of the people, building an airplane, and going to the moon. To some, however, the fact that others think something is impossible is only one more reason to accomplish it. In fact, those who care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible are pursuing their special brand of excellence every day of their lives.
Of course, we don't have to be astronauts, explorers, or great scientists to choose excellence as a way of life. For most of us, the everyday experiences of doing our job, loving our significant other, raising kids, interacting with friends or colleagues, and living life, offer a myriad of opportunities for caring, risking, dreaming and setting high expectations. The challenge would seem to be to create this experience of life "on purpose" or in a way that is deliberate, makes a statement about who we are, and in a way we would teach or recommend to someone we loved. Because when we are willing to bring this purposeful focus to all we do, then all we do will reflect the quality of excellence.
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise."
Many people would say that caring deeply about something or someone isn't wise. They would say that it only sets one up for disappointment, and the more prudent path would be to develop a sense of detachment, or learn to care less. I suggest, however, that to care less or to lose this passion for excellence is to resign one's self to a life of mediocrity. While it may be true that we may not experience the disappointment of failure in this less invested state, we will also never be able to bring our best to any venture. To care less is to be careless, and even though it might provide a convenient allay for falling short of one's goals ("Hey, I really didn't care whether I succeeded or not"), the result of adopting this perspective as a way of life almost guarantees failure because it limits the effort, energy, and enthusiasm we can bring to any experience.
The bottom line is that to summon our best, we must care deeply about someone and/or something. Does that mean that we will care more than others think is wise? Probably. Does that mean that caring isn't wise? No. It means that those who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of excellence will by definition bring a deep commitment or caring to everything they do, and this will make their lives and the lives of everyone they touch more meaningful.
"Excellence is the result of risking more than others think is safe."
Ah, here is the question, isn't it? To what degree are we willing to risk failure and rejection when we follow the dreams that caring and passion have spawned? Is this a "risky" way to live? Yes. However, what if to avoid all risk in an attempt to stay safe is even more risky? I'm sure you have heard the phrase, "To risk nothing is to risk everything." For me, this means that when we attempt to live our lives "risk free," we also limit who we can become and what we can accomplish.
Given that we can never know the future, all reaching for dreams and goals, will entail some risk. Does this mean that in the pursuit of excellence we will risk more than others think is safe? Probably. Does this mean that this risk is unwarranted? No. Whether we are talking about a baby learning to walk or mankind learning to fly, the willingness to take calculated risks will always be inherent in all great ventures and adventures. The key is whether what we want is more important than what we are afraid of. If so, then let us not determine how much we risk by what others think is "safe" but by what we have decided infuses our "reaching" with excellence.
"Excellence is the result of dreaming more than others think is practical."
It's probably fair to say that anyone who has accomplished anything of note was at one time, a dreamer. Given all the trials and tribulations one must go through to become successful, only those who are able to hold fast to their dreams can achieve such status. However, the term "dreamer" has always been somewhat of a double-edged sword. In its pejorative sense, it has been applied to children who don't seem to succeed in highly structured, academic environments. It has been applied to adults who chose to pursue nontraditional careers that involve art, music, the theater, helping the poor, etc. The question, therefore, would seem to be, is being a dreamer a good thing or a bad thing? I believe that history can help us with this answer. Was Leonardo DaVinci a dreamer? Were Michelangelo, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and the founders of our nation dreamers? Was Martin Luther King a dreamer? Dreams are simply a vision of the future and unlike nightmares, are generally positive. Therefore, I suggest that we embrace our internal dreams and external dreamers, for herein lies the hope for mankind. Does this mean that we will find ourselves dreaming more than others think is practical? Probably. Does this mean that dreaming isn't practical? No. In fact, it's practically essential to all achievement.
"Excellence is the result of expecting more than others think is possible."
While it is probably fair to say that those who have achieved great things were dreamers, we can assume with a great deal of certainty that they can also be described as people who expected more than others thought was possible. Again, this is a curious phrase because there are so many that advise against this sort of philosophy. Similar to the admonition not to care too much, they say that one shouldn't expect too much either, because it will only lead to disappointment. Further, they would probably become even more adamant about the wisdom in this philosophy if they determined that what is being suggested is indeed impossible! In fact, I would imagine that the words, "Forget about it. That's impossible!" were heard when someone first brought up the ideas of sailing around the world, curing polio, forming a nation that is governed by elected representatives of the people, building an airplane, and going to the moon. To some, however, the fact that others think something is impossible is only one more reason to accomplish it. In fact, those who care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible are pursuing their special brand of excellence every day of their lives.
Of course, we don't have to be astronauts, explorers, or great scientists to choose excellence as a way of life. For most of us, the everyday experiences of doing our job, loving our significant other, raising kids, interacting with friends or colleagues, and living life, offer a myriad of opportunities for caring, risking, dreaming and setting high expectations. The challenge would seem to be to create this experience of life "on purpose" or in a way that is deliberate, makes a statement about who we are, and in a way we would teach or recommend to someone we loved. Because when we are willing to bring this purposeful focus to all we do, then all we do will reflect the quality of excellence.
Take care and God bless, Dr. Bill