What is Excellence?

Do you know what's excellence?

Simply this: To have (a) the character to be brutally honest with yourself about your present level of competence, the amount of effort you have put (or not) to get where you are, and the amount of effort you are putting now (or not) to get better + (b) the humility to respect, listen to and learn from those better than you + (c) the will and determination to put in the effort required to continuously improve yourself till the day you die.

That's it. That's Excellence: Character + Humility + Determination.

It has nothing to do with your class rank or grades or whether you pass or fail a course. If you are committed to the above three qualities, you are walking the path of excellence and 'success in the world' will come in time - for some sooner, for some later - but it will come. Just stay committed to the above three qualities. Your whole personality will blossom and shine and every success you will achieve will be permanently yours. People who understand quality will respect you - and these are the people that really matter in the long run.

And mediocrity is simply the absence of these three qualities.

Those who are unwilling to make the effort required on the path of excellence often try to "get ahead" using dubious means. While this may give short term "victories", long term success eludes such people because lack of quality always shows in time. Always.

However, if you are committed to excellence, you must stay alert because there will always be such people who will try to trip you out of jealousy. Choose your friends wisely, stay vigilant about troublemakers, and stay steadfast in your efforts - you will shine - I guarantee it.

Look at the kid in the picture below. Look at the circumstances he finds himself in and how he is responding. That's excellence in action right there. Without even having met him, I can guarantee that he will break many barriers in his life. He will not make excuses, he will not be lazy, he will not waste his time with cheap jealousies, he will not pull others down to get ahead, he will simply keep pushing forward relentlessly.

That's excellence.