It is true that a lot of people admire excellence. However, what many people may not understand is that excellence is not really a function of just one outstanding or extraordinary performance. Rather, it is built over time through consistent habits. For example, for someone to have gained mastery in a particular skill, they must have practised it over and again, not just one moment. It is true that a single extraordinary act may attract some attention, but it is the lifestyle of excellence that earns you a lifetime of respect. This is why excellence is not an event, rather it is a habit and a lifestyle.
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I have come to understand that excellence is built through discipline. Great achievements are mostly a function of actions repeated over and again. Even on the days you are not motivated, at times you do not feel like, and even when you are not willing, you still have to keep going. I have been to the gym, and I have seen how bodybuilders develop their muscles. The last time I went there, there was this man I met there, he was so built and muscular. So I asked him how long he has been doing it. His reply shocked me. He said "consistently for 4 years." I understood why he has achieved that level of body muscles. It is not about lifting weights once in a while, but it is the consistency that counts. In the same way in life, the excellence you want will come on the platform of discipline and consistency.
More so, you do not need to focus more on having a perfect start. You only need to be willing to continuously improve yourself. As a matter of fact, it is not much about how you started, but how much you have improved over time. There are lots of people who started from very little or even from a place of disadvantage, but have made it to the front row in their career. This is a function of continuous improvement. It does not matter where you were yesterday, what matters is that your are better today than you were yesterday. This is why you should not be in a competition with anyone but with yourself. Strive to become a better and more improved version of yourself.
You have to also know that excellence is reflected in little details. A lot of people often think that excellence is shown in some major achievements, but what they do not know is that it is also reflected in the seemingly ordinary daily activities. For example; being punctual to work, preparing for an event very well, treating people with respect, paying attention to details, completing a task, etc. You will agree with me that the people who perform small tasks very well will be entrusted with a much bigger task and responsibility. This is simply because they have been proven to be reliable in the little tasks.
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While building a lifestyle of excellence, you also need to be selective of who you stay around. Trust me, if you stay around mediocre, it will not be long and you will join them in their mediocrity. But if you stay around inspirational people, they will motivate you to do better and will also support you along the way. The truth is that people generally turn out to become a subset of who they stay with. Which means that you can actually build a habit of excellence when you stay with the people who are also doing the same. If your circle does not influence you to become better, then the wise thing to do is to change your circle.
It is worthy to note that your daily habit, over time, will be part of what will become your lifestyle, and it is what your character will be built on. Success is not determined by what you do once in a long time, nor what you do only when you feel like, but by your daily habits. These include habit of consistent discipline, continuous improvement, paying attention to details, and then being committed to maintaining high standards.
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