My Super-Charged Life

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Striving for excellence is key to living a super-charged life. If you want to get the most out of life in every way, then you have to put the most into it. I’m sure you’ve heard that you get out of things exactly what you put into them, right? Well, life as a whole is no different. We have to put our best foot forward in every endeavor. When we do, then life rewards us accordingly.

This is a universal law that is well documented. All the ancient wisdom literature confirms it. The Bible tells us that you reap what you sow. If you sow excellence in everything you do, then you will reap excellent rewards. It may take awhile. You may get discouraged and life may beat on you a little, but if you persist then you will prevail. It has to work this way. It is an immutable law. If you do what successful people do, then you will achieve success. However, if you persist in doing what leads to failure or unsatisfactory results then you are going to continue to get undesirable outcomes. Change what you are sowing and reap the benefit. Sow excellence!

What does striving for excellence look like? In practical terms, it means seeking continual improvement in everything we do. We never actually achieve perfection. Products, processes, attitudes, beliefs, all aspects of life can always be improved upon. Think about it. What if the automobile, light bulb, or telephone had been declared perfect even 10 or 20 years ago? These products are continually being improved upon. The original inventors are gone, but others are still striving for excellence with these items.

We should likewise continually seek to improve our work and ourselves. We need to reevaluate our thoughts, habits, and lifestyle. What worked yesterday may not be working today. Results are what count. Are you getting the results you want in each area of your life? If not, then take the time right now to write down 5 to 10 ideas on how you can improve what you are doing to achieve better results. Experiment. There is no one right way to live life. You have to find the combination of behaviors that suit your circumstances, personality and desired outcomes. Again, the key is to continually strive for excellence.

Here are some tips that will help you in your quest for excellence:

1. Be Open to New Ideas. Seek ideas for improvement. Adopt an attitude of continual self-improvement. Read books and blogs on self-improvement. Ask others for their input on what you can do to improve. Be specific. Tell a trusted friend that you are trying hard to improve in a particular area (listening, positive thinking, taking action, etc.) Ask them for one or two suggestions on how you can improve in this specific area in the future. Here are some more ideas at 5 Ways to Work on Yourself at Work.
2. Dress for Success. If we feel we look great, then we are more likely to have the confidence to strive for excellence. Also, like it or not, we are judged by our appearance. People react to us based on how we look. If we look sharp, then people often assume good things about us. This can open doors of opportunity. Pay attention to the details. Ask for help from someone you trust. Is it time for a super-charged makeover?
3. Seek Inspiration. Read The Elegant Solution by Matthew May. In his book, Matthew details what he learned about striving for excellence and innovation while consulting for Toyota Motor Company. Toyota has an incredible culture that promotes continual improvement. Matthew does a great job of inspiring us all to apply these principles to our lives and work.

Never stop pushing yourself. You are already taking steps in the right direction by reading articles like this one. You have already begun to set yourself apart. Very few people seek to truly change their habits and behavior for the better. You are one of those few. You are in an elite group of people that is headed for a super-charged life!