The Hours for Excellence

Excellence isn't found during business hours. If it was, everyone would find it.  But to be more precise, excellence isn't really found.  It's made and it's only made after hours, before hours, when no one's watching hours, while no one's around hours, and where others won't go hours.

SO, ARE YOU WORKING DURING EXCELLENCE HOURS???

People believe that what you do from 8-5 will lead you to excellence, but the secret is this.  What you do, why you do it, and how much you learn from it separates excellence from the rest.  Excellence isn't awarded during business hours. Sure you may accomplish great feats during working hours, but the work that lead to your excellence is earned outside those hours. 

The temptation called mediocrity deceives us into believing that we're special and therefore entitled to be the given the rewards and titles of excellence because we show up.  But mediocrity won't accept the cold hard facts of what it takes to be the best.  To mediocrity, hard work and extra work are the obstacle.  To excellence they are the price to be paid every single day.



SO WHAT ARE EXCELLENCE HOURS???

Excellence hours aren't actually hours.  They are behaviors, beliefs and commitments to continuous improvement.  Here are just a few characteristics that the best people in their business exhibit during their excellence hours.

Humility - Excellence is about recognizing and accepting the fact that you are always growth in progress.  The constant goal is turning your weaknesses into strengths.
Obsession - Excellence hours accelerate growth when those hours are no longer about clocking in and out but being obsessed with your growth.
Unveiling - Excellence is about finding new things about yourself that you never thought you could do or would do.  
Research - Excellence hours are about searching for next steps, the latest research and the best practices that will make you better.
Slump - Good people work extra hours only when they are in a slump.  Excellence hours, however, are in place to prevent slumps from ever forming.

To become excellent at whatever endeavor you choose, it's never about time.  It's about focus, practice, reflection and practice some more. 

Good, better, best.  Never let it rest

Until your good is better and your better is best.

Bonus - 5 Tips to Succeed in your Hours of Excellence

1. Find an area that you would like to improve in.
2. Determine your plan of action to address this area with 3 tasks or less.
3. Schedule a regular time in your day to work your plan.
4. Set a deadline to check your progress.
5. Check your progress 
6. Repeat steps 1-5.