Tips to Elevate Ordinary Efforts into Extraordinary Excellence

“Remember. Every day, some ordinary person does something extraordinary. Today, it’s your turn.”

— Lou Holtz (Hall of Fame Football Coach)

What separates the ‘good’ from the ‘great’?

An unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Why?

To consistently be better, to become inevitably brilliant.

How?

By always going the EXTRA mile!

Sounds simple, right? Yet we know, it’s easier said than done.

If you also aim for brilliance but are looking for ways to make being better a habitual process, here are some tips to SPARK you into action:

1. IDENTITY ALIGNMENT 

Purpose + Mindset = Identity

  • Put your Purpose at the forefront of any intention or initiative
  • Develop a Mindset that helps you move forward motivated by that Purpose
  • Make this aligned Purpose Mindset your Personal Identity in life and in your work

Result: By aligning your tasks with your deeper values and identity, you will naturally put in the extra effort needed to turn your work into a meaningful and sustainable journey. And this shift in mindset will create consistency to find excellence.

2. SOLVE PROBLEMS, NOT SIMPLY TASKS

Problems > Tasks = Solutions

  • Look beyond the Task – attack it in relation to the end goal you are trying to achieve, not just to tick a box
  • Fully accept the challenge of the Problem at hand – break the routine by imagining the alternatives and mental disposition needed to put into play additional skills and different activities that break walls, not just maneuver speed bumps
  • Develop a process that can easily help you distinguish between tasks and problems – visualize obstacles, think up creative ideas and actions that are Solution-oriented

Result: An unmatched problem-solver mentality that looks beyond immediate responsibilities by envisioning larger issues as incentive to create lasting extraordinary solutions of excellence.

3. SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

Attention + Detail = Quality

  • Be perceptive – pay attention to your environment by taking in as much information as you can 
  • Be analytical – process the details to determine its positive and negative impacts on your purpose-driven outlook
  • Deploy practical strategies and tools – use the information and details to plan a roadmap and allocate mechanisms that focus on Quality, not quantity achievements

Result: A workplace with management excellence built on attention to detail – from the smallest touches to the grandest gestures – all in the name of the best possible result, Quality!

4. DON’T WAIT, INNOVATE

Pro + Active = Innovation

  • Be professional in all areas of your service – don’t cut corners when designing, developing and deploying, especially in evaluating your labor because it is the latter that allows for the greatest growth possibilities 
  • Be active in all areas of your problem solving – don’t wait, use all your learnings to actively R&D and (re)build solutions and improvements
  • Think out of the box – proactively look for ways to adapt to changing needs and wants by challenging yourself and your teams to dream big to do better

Result: A proactive, innovative, and motivated braintrust and workplace that is wired into the present to inspire the future by going the extra mile. 

5. TRANSFORMATION OVER TRANSACTION

Authentic Vision + Best People = World Class 

  • Build your environment on a credible, trustworthy and reliable outlook – go beyond a bottom line built on strictly profit by motivating your teams to aim for value and virtue
  • Surround yourself with excellent people with a first-class mentality –  such people aspire for self-improvement, value community, show gratitude and mutual respect in their pursuit for excellence 
  • Live local but give world class – there is nothing wrong with using the ‘change begins from the inside’ approach while still having an aim ‘to change the world’ because any pursuit that is pure on the inside is fulfilled with passion which forces the masses to join the journey to help achieve the intended purpose

Result: A stoic and symbiotic culture that transcends transactional motivations to build transformational relationships and rewards.

A life well-lived and a job well-done is filled with purpose and meaning. And nothing fulfills this to the fullest quite like a pursuit of excellence.

If you want to SPARK a life of excellence, always aim to go the extra mile—whether it’s for your family, for yourself, for your customer, or your stakeholders at large. By following the tips above and consistently doing that little bit extra, you will develop habits that will set you and your organization apart. 

We are just around the corner from the second installment of my Ignite Your SPARK – 5-Step Masterclass in Transformational Leadership. If you’re ready to level up your life and work, from ordinary to extraordinary, sign up today!

Share this post on social media

leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *