A Vision of Excellence

Do you have vision?

More pointedly, do you have a personal vision of excellence for your life? 

When you do what you do, do you have a high standard set for yourself? A standard that challenges you and stretches you and forces you to evaluate your performance and get better? That's what I mean when I say "a personal vision of excellence."

Take a moment and think about that. Most of us have gotten past that stage in our lives (if you went through that stage at all) when we felt C+ work was good enough. We recognize that A and B work is necessary for success. But do we do our best for the best reasons? Doing great work is good. We get accolades and attention. People see it and are impressed. But that seems pretty shallow to me. Why not do your best work when no one sees it? Why not excel behind the curtains, out of the spotlight, because you value what you do and why you do it? You see, the thing about a personal vision is its "personal." Sure people may see you work and be impressed, but you don't work to impress them. Your vision is set higher.

I came across this quote a few years back and it still inspires me. I hope you're inspired as well. 

"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion.

He hardly knows which is which. 

He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. "

- James Michener