The Pursuit of Excellence
The idea of excellence is being reinforced by business leaders throughout my experience across companies. Every conversation reminds us of the fact that excellence is a deep inward human drive and environment is a catalyst. The innate desire to push the envelope is a critical factor for companies and individuals to leave their legacy behind. The idea of excellence cut across thoughts, processes, methods, frameworks, and solutions. Though it’s hard to quantify excellence, however, it’s more than an innovative idea, creative deliverable or powerful strategy. It’s a culmination of numerous strategic choices weaving core purpose, commitment, problem alignment and mastery on the craft.
What has changed in the recent times is understanding of how to keep the pursuit of excellence alive in everything we do. Everyone has a different lens to see and express concept of excellence but core DNA is somewhat similar. Whether it’s a small email conversation with a client or a big transformation, the principles of excellence remain same. This post summarizes my perspective on excellence throughout my years of design.
I see excellence through these 4 lenses.
1. Understanding the purpose — The understanding of core reason of why something is done is the starting point to drive excellence. Driving excellence is an enormous effort. People need a compelling reason to fuel this drive and to be pushed beyond their comfort zone; the understanding of bigger goal empowers; the pursuit of excellence is tied to this purpose. When we understand the big picture, we give ourselves more permutations to explore. The purpose is the North Star which guide the way forward. When we understand the broader purpose, we work with the growth mindset and work towards excellence and not just on instant success or immediate recognition.
“The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying.” — David Ogilvy
2. The alignment — the understanding of purpose alone does not ensure excellence or success. Mental and emotional alignment is must to bring success and right ideas to life. Alignment is about individual inner aspirations and passion meeting the core purpose. This is similar to Ikigai philosophy — that strives to balance the spiritual with the practical. Alignment is at the intersection where passion and talents meet the purpose. The purpose guides but the alignment create the common ground for excellence; wherever there is an alignment purpose become the focus and raison d’être of consequence.
3. The commitment — How many of us have said this — “I will do whatever it takes this to be an excellent?” in a project. Nothing great was achieved without commitment, without proactive effort. Excellence is a continuous painstaking marathon.
Commitment should not be seen through the lens of time but from the point of view of cognitive energies channelizing actions. Behind every excellence, there is a painstaking sacrifice, mental toughness and bouncing back from low moments.
4. The craft — Craft is what world see, the visible aspect of excellence. That’s how we communicate ideas, strategies, and vision. Craft expertise helps in communicating thoughts and masterstrokes. Mindset is the starting point but skillset and toolset are required to showcase or demonstrate value.
“To learn requires a sense of humility. We must admit that there are people out there who know our field much more deeply than we do. Their superiority is not a function of natural talent or privilege, but rather of time and experience.” ― Robert Greene, Mastery
It is imperative that our sense of excellence is informed by an understanding of the purpose and amplified by alignment and craft. My parting thought would be, “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.”
This post is part of #SapientRazorfish-A Journey towards Excellence campaign. Raise.Rise.Redefine. Views are personal.
Happy reading.
