Striving For Excellence: Quotes That Will Guide And Inspire

We should be striving for excellence in all that we do.  Why do less than your best?  People notice when you aren’t performing up to your capabilities.  They may not say anything, but they make a mental note.  This can and probably will come back to haunt you.  At the very least, it will leave you stranded on a plateau of mediocrity somewhere below your full potential.

Quotes with timeless advice on striving for excellence

Wisdom writers from all over the world and throughout time have expounded on the importance of excellence in life.  Here’s how we can apply their advice to living life the fullest.

1.  Make excellence your habit in all you do

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle

Are you in the habit of striving for excellence?  Where have you set the bar for yourself?  We often let ourselves slip into a rut of producing inferior or insignificant outcomes.  This is common, but dangerous. 

In a time when many organization are cutting back on personnel, it is more important than ever to prove you are a difference maker.  If you aren’t putting your best foot forward to push the organization toward its goals, then why should they keep you around?

2.  Make your actions speak louder than your words

“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
~ Confucius

Exceptional performance is what counts.  Look at your output.  Is what you are producing making a difference?  Are you meeting your goals?  We can talk about high and lofty ideas all day long, but are we making the right effort to get the excellent results desired? 

Less talk and more action is often what it takes to achieve excellence.  No one likes a braggart, especially one that has little to show for what they’ve done.

3.  Make your life count for something

“Life’s like a play; it’s not the length but the excellence of the acting that matters” ~ Seneca

Isn’t it interesting how some people live very short lives, but have an incredible impact on those around them?  Look at someone like Randy Pausch who didn’t even live to be 50 years old, but what an incredible difference he made in the lives of so many! 

That’s because Randy had high standards and lived everyday to its fullest even before he knew his life was going to be cut short.

Are you investing your life in something significant?  It doesn’t need to be something that will make you famous or rich or even  well-liked, but whatever it is it should be something that you can devote your whole heart to and be excellent at.  Make your life count!

4.  Make a commitment and stick to it

“No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation”  ~ Horace

Excellence isn’t easy although a few make it look like it is.  These few have spent countless hours practicing and sharpening their skills until they can perform very difficult tasks almost effortlessly.  They devote every waking moment to becoming the very best in their field.  They make incredible sacrifices all in the name of excellence.

We often want to be that Olympic athlete standing on the podium receiving the Gold Medal, but we usually aren’t willing to go through the process necessary to get there.  The Gold Medal athlete worked, studied and endured innumerable bumps and bruises to achieve their moment of glory.  What are you willing to put forth in your quest for excellence?

5.  Make yourself stand out from the crowd

“Excellent things are rare.” ~ Plato

The person that truly devotes themselves to excellence is rare.  That’s why they are so valuable and adored by us.  That’s why they make the big bucks and deserve it.  For whatever reasons, few choose the path of excellence in their life.  For those that do, the life itself is its own reward.

Become that rare person that is dedicated to doing their very best and then push yourself even further.  Believe that excellence is the only standard worth pursuing and you will reap the dividends of a rich and full life!

Striving for excellence will be a sacrifice worth making!

Excellence will never let you down.  You will always be able to hold your head high knowing that you did everything you could.  People will notice.  It will pay off.  Excellence is not a quick fix or get rich quick scheme, although you will likely realize the benefits sooner than you think because most of the world is stuck in mediocrity.  Striving for excellence is a sure way to make yourself stand out!

Photo by little_frank

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