Legacy Worthy Excellence: Greatness & Excellence

Greatness and excellence share a close connection, yet they possess distinct qualities.

Excellence is the outcome of consistent actions; greatness transcends beyond habitual behavior. Greatness encompasses a profound impact that resonates with the world, elevating the human spirit to extraordinary heights.

As Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Similarly, greatness is not merely a habit but a transformative force that awakens our true potential. It is an embodiment of boundless vision, relentless dedication, and the audacity to reshape the very fabric of our existence. Greatness does not settle for conformity; it dares to surpass limitations and illuminate paths for others to follow. In the pursuit of greatness, we surpass the boundaries of excellence and ignite a flame that burns eternally, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of humanity.

When someone tells you that “you have greatness in you,” it means that they recognize exceptional qualities, potential, or talents within you that set you apart from others. It implies that you possess the capacity to achieve remarkable things, make a significant impact, or excel in your chosen endeavors. The phrase, “You have greatness in you,” has been made famous by Les Brown.

Having greatness in you suggests that you have unique abilities, strengths, or qualities that can contribute to your personal growth, success, and the betterment of the world around you. It encourages you to embrace your potential, cultivate your skills, and strive for excellence in whatever path you choose.

It’s important to remember that greatness is not solely determined by external validation or recognition. It is a personal journey of self-discovery, self-belief, and consistent effort to unlock your fullest potential. Recognizing the greatness within yourself empowers you to pursue your passions, overcome challenges, and make a positive difference in the world.

#1 What Is Excellence?

“Excellence is a bold experiment that defies formulas, driven by a unique spirit.”  Sherrie Rose

What is excellence? It’s something that many of us strive for, but how do we define it? Is it a way of life, or merely the result of a single action? The truth is that excellence can mean different things to different people. In this article, we’ll explore what excellence means and why it’s important to strive for.

Excellence is often described as the highest level of achievement or performance. It’s commonly associated with success and accomplishment, but there’s much more to it than that. Excellence involves personal growth and development, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement. It requires dedication and hard work, but it also requires an appreciation for learning and self-improvement.

Excellence requires setting high expectations for yourself and others. It involves striving beyond what’s expected and pushing yourself to be your best every day. When you strive for excellence in all aspects of your life, you create a culture of high standards that encourages everyone around you to reach their full potential.

Excellence is the highest level of achievement when it comes to any kind of endeavor. Excellence requires hard work and dedication, and involves setting goals and doing whatever it takes to reach them. It’s more than just doing something well; it means going above and beyond what’s expected in order to truly excel. It also means having a passion for what you do, and striving for continuous improvement.

#2 What Is Greatness?

“Greatness encompasses the power to inspire, leaving a profound and enduring impact through our words and actions.” – Sherrie Rose

Greatness is based on individual views and opinions, as well as people’s experiences. Greatness can be measured in a variety of ways, from the achievements of famous individuals to the accomplishments of everyday people.

Greatness doesn’t necessarily mean fame or even success. It could mean simply being kind to others, finding joy in life’s small moments, or just living life with integrity and passion. It could also mean pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and challenging yourself to do things you never thought possible.

Whatever it means for you, greatness is an internal feeling of accomplishment that comes from taking risks and really living your life. It’s about striving for something more than just material gain or recognition; it’s about doing what you love and loving what you do.

#3 Compare Excellence and Greatness

To compare excellence and greatness, we say excellence is the highest level of quality in terms of skill or achievement. It’s something to strive for, as it involves a level of mastery that goes beyond normal expectations.

Greatness is more subjective. It could be attributed to a person’s character or their influence on others. Greatness can also refer to something lasting or influential over time.

Excellence implies an exceptional performance in a particular field or activity, whereas greatness is broader in scope and refers to sustained accomplishments or acts that are deemed noteworthy and significant. Excellence is often achieved through hard work and dedication, while greatness may not require such effort; it could simply come naturally or be attributed to luck, opportunity, or circumstance.

Excellence is different from greatness in that greatness isn’t necessarily tied to any particular accomplishment or goal. Greatness can be achieved by having a positive impact on people around you or making meaningful contributions to society in general. This could mean volunteering your time, inspiring others, or simply being an example of how one person can make a difference in the world.

Excellence and greatness are laudable qualities that mark a person as remarkable and unique in some way. While one may be able to achieve excellence with hard work and dedication, greatness is often seen as something more intangible—the ability to inspire others or become an icon within a specific field.

Excellence and greatness are both admirable levels of achievement that everyone should strive for in their own way. Excellence requires effort, dedication, and passion while greatness requires making an impact on the world around us through our actions. No matter which level you choose to pursue, always remember that with enough hard work and dedication you can achieve anything!

#4 Books on Excellence

“In Search of Excellence” is a highly influential business book written in 1982 by Robert H. Waterman Jr. and Tom Peters. The book explores the fundamental principles and practices that lead to exceptional business performance. It emphasizes the importance of organizational culture, leadership, innovation, and customer focus. Drawing on extensive research and case studies of successful companies, the authors distill eight core principles that contribute to excellence in organizations. These principles include a bias for action, close customer relationships, autonomy and entrepreneurship, productivity through people, hands-on and value-driven management, sticking to the knitting (staying true to core competencies), simple form and lean staff, and simultaneous loose-tight properties. “In Search of Excellence” has had a significant impact on management thinking and has become a classic guide for business leaders seeking to enhance their organizations’ performance.

Other notable works by Robert H. Waterman Jr. and Tom Peters. include:

* “A Passion for Excellence” (1985): In this book, Waterman and Peters delve deeper into the principles and practices that drive excellence in organizations, focusing on topics such as leadership, customer service, innovation, and creating a culture of excellence.

* “Re-Imagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age” (2003): Peters challenges traditional notions of business and offers new perspectives on achieving excellence in the face of disruptive technologies and market dynamics.

Tom Peter’s solo books:

* “Re-Imagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age” (2003): Peters challenges traditional notions of business and offers new perspectives on achieving excellence in the face of disruptive technologies and market dynamics.

* “The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence” (2010): Peters provides a collection of practical insights and ideas for pursuing excellence in business and life, offering actionable advice and thought-provoking perspectives.
* “Tom Peters’ Compact Guide to Excellence” (2022) was published as a visual book with quotes and images.  The book is infused with Tom’s principle of Extreme Humanism: ensuring people always come first, which is similar to Sherrie Rose’s motto: “The Real Currency is Relationship Riches.”

“Tom Peters’ Compact Guide to Excellence” is an aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking book that combines Peters’ insights with captivating design by Nancye Green. Organized into 13 thematic sections, the book covers familiar business topics concisely, with each page containing just a few words. Peters emphasizes the social and community purpose of business and advocates for a holistic approach, long-term results, and leadership that cares. The book includes quotes from notable figures and offers a visually inviting reading experience with generous font size and white space. While not information-heavy, it serves as a gift book for those familiar with Peters’ writings, providing a collection of pithy and insightful quotes. Although some pages may feel like filler, overall, the book’s design and content make it an appreciated gift for Peters’ fans who desire easy access to conceptual points in a well-designed package. For deeper explorations of leadership and management, readers may turn to Peters’ other works or those by other business thought leaders.

#5 GREATNESS BOOKS

Four books that explore the theme of greatness:

• “Mastering the 5 Core Values to Achieve Greatness: The YEARN Advantage“ by Sherrie Rose. Let your authentic yearning to become the force that drives your actions and decisions, aligning them with the five core values. Are you ready to harness your full potential and achieve greatness?
• “The Art of Greatness: The 10 Principles of Great Leadership” by Tony Richards: This book explores the principles and qualities that contribute to great leadership, offering insights and guidance on how to lead with excellence and achieve personal and professional greatness.
• “The Psychology of Greatness: 10 Skills and Techniques to Master Your Mind, Attitude and Mood” by Glenn Williams: This book explores the psychological aspects of achieving greatness, providing practical techniques and strategies to develop the necessary mindset, attitude, and emotional intelligence for personal growth and success.
• “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins: While the word “greatness” is not directly in the title, this book examines the factors that differentiate truly great companies from their competitors. It delves into the characteristics and strategies that propel companies to sustained success.

These books offer valuable perspectives on the concepts of greatness, success, and leadership.