Excellence in its best existence becomes a vessel that builds and grows itself as it develops additional, improved, lines of vessel builders behind it. The experience of excellence instills in its observer a deep respect for process, experience, and knowledge. We, as infants, are quickly lead from within to repeat certain behaviors based on responses to our needs. Our discomfort or delight in our very first days are purely communicated through our giggles or our cries of discomfort as a feeling. Our emotions, or experiences applied through experience to feelings, are structurally built over time. Very soon, however we realize that there are forms of communication and behaviors that produce more desirable results. We quickly experience life moments that simply reinforce those behaviors. A baby coos for attention or cries for attention dependent upon what behavior met their needs.
Many individuals operate just that way…however, if an individual or organization is over focused on control, power, economics, repetitive practices or procedures, excellence in action is quickly lost. Likewise, the learned discipline of excellence often inspires the desire to teach, share, and inspire others to learn its lessons and share its wisdom with those who seek her path. Excellence has prerequisites and her rigorous requirements are relentless in that it is a never ending path of learning and implementing practice regardless of how many lessons are learned or how far the learner has advanced. Each level births an additional realm of learning to be gained.
Excellence is based in creating awareness, actions, attitudes, practices, and activities that support the very best use of the gifts within us and within others. Excellence is often evidenced by the passion and growth it sustains in individuals, communities, and the systems that it supports. Every being has many channels of communication, belief, and balance that have needs in each area that create balance and boundaries for performance. There are many basics needs, if not met consistently that create emotional responses that are intended to be self protective but often lead to destructive behavior practices. The goal then is to develop systems of living that allow for our basic human needs to be met consistently while allowing the gifts that we’ve been given to be in service to others.
Our study of excellence therefore begins its journey at the basic level. We will begin to define the elements that are present where excellence exists. What are its prerequisites? What empowers excellence in individuals and organizations? What components are necessary for excellence to exist? Basics matter, and how we acknowledge the importance of basics in our life determines how we will experience living.
