Quotable Quotes: Excellence
by Miki Saxon
Excellence. People talk about it all the time; kids are told to strive for excellence; companies claim excellence for their people, culture, work environment and, of course, their products. But what is excellence really?
John W. Gardner says, “Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” As opposed to half-assed, which seems to be more the norm these days.
While Rick Pitino believes, “Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer.” Too bad more companies don’t take this to heart.
Excellence isn’t an accident and it rarely makes its appearance early in any process. As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Is there a way to claim excellence through other than our own actions? According to Voltaire there is, “By appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.”
Thomas Boswell tells us, “There is no substitute for excellence – not even success” Obviously Wall Street wouldn’t agree!
Finally, here’s an anonymous bit that explains excellence in a most excellent fashion.
“Excellence can be obtained if you:
…care more than others think is wise;
…risk more than others think is safe;
…dream more than others think is practical;
…expect more than others think is possible.”
Flickr image credit: Micah Taylor
