The Pursuit of Excellence: A Simple Guide for Today's Insurance and Financial Professional Part 2

The Pursuit of Excellence: A Simple Guide for Today's Insurance and Financial Professional

?In Part 1 of this 3-part series (link to Part I ) I shared some background about the challenge of pursuing excellence in a fast-paced society where complacency and criticism run rampant.

?How can we, in the insurance and financial profession, contribute as employees to our company’s pursuit of excellence? I shared 10 questions to help assess our own contribution.

?Part 2 – Evaluating my Personal Fulfillment

?Once we’ve taken the time to assess how we contribute to our company, how do we then rise above the challenges and become a doer??

?First, we must enjoy what we do. If we do not, then it will show vividly to others. Regardless of the money, prestige, or perks, if it is not your passion, happiness will never come and you will never reach your maximum ability. You owe it to yourself, your family, and others who come in contact with you to be in a career that brings your passion to the forefront and brings you satisfaction and daily joy. For this, there can be no compromise.?

?Second, never stop reaching for more. In the words of John Rhodes, an English businessman:

Do more than exist…live.?

Do more than touch…feel.?

Do more than look…observe.

Do more than read…absorb.

Do more than hear…listen.

Do more than listen…understand.

?To have completeness, one must keep striving to reach, grow and be more.

?Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger asked an assistant to prepare an analysis. The assistant worked day and night on the task. An hour after he gave it to Kissinger, he got it back.?There was a note attached that said to redo it. The assistant stayed up all night redoing the report. The next morning he gave it to Kissinger and got it back a second time an hour later. After redoing the report three times, the assistant asked to see Kissinger. He told him, "I've done the best I can do." Kissinger then replied, "In that case, I'll read it now." Kissinger expected more and in the end, he got it from the assistant who also discovered that good reports can actually become great reports when we strive to deliver more.

?Third, don't fear failure. Many years ago a tearful man was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He had over 560 home runs; over 2,800 runs batted in; and, over 2,000 hits during his great career. However, he also holds to this day the record for striking out the most times of any baseball player in history. Do baseball and sports fans remember this man, Reggie Jackson, for his home runs or his strikeouts? He truly failed more than he succeeded in his career, yet he made the Baseball Hall of Fame.???

?No failure in life is as final as giving up before you discover what you do best. At some point, everybody encounters failure in life and business. What so many of us do not understand is that failure can actually be a step forward. For example, a legendary Chinese emperor attacked an enemy castle 99 times and failed to conquer it. But on the 99th try, he discovered the weakness that made his 100th attack successful. Don't fear failure. Failure is only finding out something does not work. You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.

?Fourth, maintain your enthusiasm. It has been said, "If you don't have enthusiasm, you don't have anything!" Enthusiasm will reveal solutions where there appear to be none. It will facilitate success when success was thought impossible. ?Enthusiasm can turn losers into winners and is worth more than money. As B.C. Forbes once noted, "Enthusiasm is the electric current that keeps the engine of life going at top speed.?Enthusiasm is the very propeller of progress."

?When Vince Lombardi took over the Green Bay Packers they were at the bottom of the league. In 1958, they lost 10 out of 12 games, tied 1, and won 1. When the players came to camp in June 1959, they were greeted by a new coach, Lombardi. The new coach said, "Gentlemen, we are going to have a football team. We are going to win games. Get that!! Now how are we going to do this? You are going to learn to block, run and tackle. You are going to outplay all teams that come up against you." Then he threw the clincher, "You are to have confidence in me, and enthusiasm for my system. Hereafter, I want you to think of only three things: your home, your religion, and the Green Bay Packers. Let enthusiasm take hold of you!" The rest is history. Lombardi and the very players who before lost 10 of 12 games began a dynasty that propelled them into the Hall of Fame. Enthusiasm matters and will make a difference!

?Fifth, force yourself to laugh and enjoy life. Think for a moment, it is 11:00 PM. It is raining. You have locked yourself out of your car with the motor running and the lights on. You have no change. You are in the middle of nowhere and you have just ripped your pants. What else can you do but laugh? All the words ever known to man are not going to change the fact that you "messed up".

?In our pushy world, we do not stop to "smell the roses."

• ???We fail to notice the sounds of the leaves as the wind gently blows through the trees.
• ????We fail to listen to the crashing of the waves that hit the beach.?
• ??We fail to gaze over a beautiful valley from the mountains above and just envy the glorious picture we are given.?
• ??We think it too improper to openly laugh at a comedy show or to just talk with a neighbor or co-worker with no ultimate goal. Just talk.

?Life is the greatest gift that man has at his disposal. You can't repeat it once it's gone. Why waste an opportunity such as life, especially knowing that you'll never have it again? As noted Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, "If you wish to glimpse inside a human soul and get to know a man, don't bother analyzing his ways of being silent, of talking, of weeping, or seeing how much he is moved by noble ideas; you'll get better results if you just watch him laugh. If he laughs well, he's a good man."

?Lose yourself in life. Laugh, and enjoy yourself! Learn to loosen up. Laughter is cheap medicine and attracts your attention, changes attitudes and outlooks on life. It relaxes tension and promotes a complete feeling of well-being. With so much to gain, and in turn so much to lose, learn to laugh and enjoy the beauties of life!

?Finally, do your actions, thoughts and words make a difference in someone's life each day? We can't ignore the community around us. Abraham Lincoln used to tell the story of a wealthy businessman who spent his life so involved in his own affairs that he ignored the community around him. When the man died, he had inscribed on his tombstone beneath his name: "Here lies a businessman and a patriot." The first person who saw the inscription said, "A patriot and a businessman, what a shame to have to put two men in one grave." It is imperative that we employ our ability to make a difference in the lives of others so that no one has to say, "What a shame" as they look upon our gravestone and reflect on our legacy.