Excellence and Brick Walls

In 2010, while in the midst of a job search, I spent time exploring motivations. Through that exercise, I conceived a meaning for Excellence which embodied my pursuit. From there, I developed a brand, started an LLC, and published blog articles touching on dimensions of Excellence.

Now, in 2024, I am working to re-publish these articles. The following is from March 10, 2010, and remains applicable today.

**********

I believe we are afraid of going after excellence. Some choose to equate excellence to perfection, and for those that go down this path, I can understand the fear. In a world where the only constant is change, how can perfection ever be attained? Quite a monumental quest, in my opinion. But I don’t equate excellence to perfection. Excellence is about striving for the best and achieving the best.

Last year I completed a motivations definition inventory and came up with excellence as my top motivator. But because each of us defines excellence differently, I added some context to my motivation; what excellence means to me.

The ability to overcome obstacles in our strive for the best is excellence.

And here’s your first clue as to why it is behind a brick wall.

Let’s break this down (no pun intended). First, let’s look at “strive for the best.” When we begin projects, we set a goal; have a vision, mission, and purpose. The goal we set at the beginning is our best. It is our best because we set it when we were motivated, when we were excited, and when we didn’t let micro-level details interfere. At the beginning, we have a clear vision of how this change event would positively affect the whole, and that is what we set out to achieve.

Now, along the way, how often do we lose motivation, do we forget about the excitement, and do micro-level details impact that vision? I don’t know about you, but it happens to me all the time. Instead of sticking to that vision, we adjust that vision downward, and it isn’t as grand (nor effective) as it once was.

At this point I suspect some of you saying to me that it is important to be flexible and to change as necessary. First, stop talking to your computer screen, I guarantee it isn’t listening and that I can’t hear you. Second, I challenge you to think about the types of change that should impact a plan. What I mean by this is macro vs. micro. A change that affects an organization as a whole would be macro, such as a reorganization. A macro change could very well affect a plan (your vision) and you should be flexible at this level. A change that affects a process would be micro, and something that small should not affect your plan (your vision can still be achieved).

So now that we are resisting the influences of MICRO change, let’s get back to examining the meaning of excellence. The second half of the meaning is “overcoming obstacles.” And guess what, all those micro changes that you encounter along the way, those are the obstacles you must overcome so that you stick to your vision. We already mentioned that a process change is an obstacle, but what else might be. Any number of influences can be obstacles, but the ones I deal with frequently are people, process, and knowledge. I could take another 12 paragraphs to detail how these are obstacles, but to save you from lengthy reading, I’ll sum it up by saying obstacles only exist when looked at on the surface. When you look at obstacles systemically, or with a very broad perspective, you can see how they can be incorporated into your plan or rearranged so you can continue on your path. Take that brick wall, for example. Up close, that brick wall blocks your view/path. But a brick wall can either be incorporated or redesigned so that once again you can see the excellence “behind the brick wall.” You have just overcome the obstacle and are continuing on your path to your original vision.

In words this all seems simple; actually tackling obstacles head-on takes strength and determination. Thus, the fear of going after excellence. Isn’t it so much easier to avoid obstacles and justify their influence on the original vision? It’s easier until you realize, two months after completion, that those changes you made have just made your job harder because now you need a workaround – all because you didn’t stay the course. If your project completes adrift from the original vision, and no macro changes occurred, you didn’t do your best; excellence was not achieved. Nothing to fret though, you will have more opportunities come your way.

Performing to our best is hard work, but the rewards are grand. I know this first hand. For two years now I kept saying I would launch a blog. I put it off because I let obstacles get in the way. Now that I have done it, I feel great. I accomplished a goal which I set out to do, and that sense of accomplishment is fuel to my innovation and innovation is the key to my success. See how grand that is?

So next time, when you set down the path to a goal, and you hit a brick wall, remember, excellence has not moved, it is still at the end of the path, and that brick wall, you can overcome it.