Being the Excellent Warrior

On business in Mexico City this week, it was fascinating watching the World Cup with locals: talk about caring about something. And loudly! And why not? They were cheering on their warriors—people they know dedicate themselves to the superb execution of their task.

Earlier this year, the day before the Super Bowl, I was reading an article on warriors of a different sport, the two opposing quarterbacks, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. And the article left me, not someone who knows a lot about these two players, inspired. Truly and memorably inspired. And the word that came to mind, as the article outlined aspects of these two lives and how they’re lived on and off the field, was “excellence.” I was sitting in an airport reading the article, and I had to read it twice. Because while I was thinking excellence, what I was feeling was humility. Earned humility. As much as I like to think that I’m committed to being at the top of my game, these two people put me to shame. A good sort of shame—the kind that made me want that same level of excellence in my life. And literally, as I sat there, my physicality changed. I sat up a little straighter, breathed a little deeper, and began thinking about the ways I could raise my own level of excellence.

It seems like there is so much that conspires to keep us in “just getting through the day” mode. Whether it’s the news, health, frustration in a relationship, overwhelm at work, finances, or something else, commitment to our own excellence seems to go by the wayside.

What’s wrong with this? Two major and unhappy outcomes:

• Literally, the outcome will be less than it can be. Maybe way less. Maybe warranting failure in whatever the task is.
  
• Tremendous personal dissatisfaction on your part.
  

This week, choose one area of your life, and commit to excellence in that area. It may be large or small, but make it something concrete—an action you’re going to take. It may be around how you tackle a project, how you handle a conversation, how you prepare for a meeting or an important phone call.

Note (two, actually):

• For you recovering perfectionists, please know that “excellence” and “perfection” are not the same thing.
  
• If your life is in a state of overwhelm right now, don’t let this article add to it. Do this: because excellence truly is inspiring, and a little inspiration would probably be a good thing for you right now (especially coming from yourself), simply choose one small task this week that must be done anyway—nothing additional—and ask yourself how you could do it with excellence. And experience the satisfaction that comes with your own excellence.