It is time to get off the couch and reach for EXCELLENCE. At McCaffrey Professionals, our internal team motto is, IN PURSUT OF EXCELLENCE. Excellence is a mindset of learning and improving with each day, opportunity, and obstacle. It is constantly shifting, reevaluating, adjusting, and growing. Excellence is a HABIT not a destination. It is not perfection, but the pursuit of always better. It is not a competition except with ourselves. Working in Excellence is an action verb, not a final destination.
Whether it is from Covid Fatigue, emotional fatigue, or a result of your family history, we all fall into the complacency trap at some point. You are content to be in your comfort zone. It is a safe place without much stress. It should be where we go to rest and recharge but can turn into a place where we become STUCK. The forward momentum has stopped, and it is very hard to get the enthusiasm to make the change. Becoming stuck is a result of your mindset. Taking the risk and reaching for more takes courage and hard work.
How we got into this trap is a result of a number of factors. It could be circumstances such as a job loss or a change in your finances or the changes in the economy. It could be about your limiting beliefs that were ingrained through family, religion, or personality. It could be through family issues or health. Your internal message is I can’t, I’m not smart enough, I don’t have the resources or the skills. It is not a self-serving place to be when you are caught in complacency. You tend to shut down, feel shame and place blame outside of yourself.
You must be outside of your comfort zone to work in excellence. When you are working in the zone you are happier. This may seem counter intuitive because there is self-doubt, hard work, setbacks, and failures. While working in excellence you do not see the results immediately. Working in excellence is an internal process of discipline and clear and meaningful focus in all areas of your life. Through working in excellence, you become more confident and calmer.
GO SLOW TO GO FAST- In excellence you take the time to define what excellence means in each aspect of your life. It means scheduling THINKING, PLANNING TIME, and making it a priority on your calendar. It means having measurable daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual goals. These goals are ACTIVITY BASED not RESULTS BASED. These goals can be measured in number, frequency, or time. You also need time to review and adjust as circumstances change.
CHANGE YOUR I AM STATEMENTS- These are your internal beliefs. You need to embrace criticism from others but especially from yourself. Let go of ego and listen for incites to move towards excellence. Surround yourself with others striving for excellence and not those satisfied with the status quo.
Instead of; I am good at my business…add-but what if I were great.
Instead of: I have to work with 4 clients this weekend. Change to- I GET to work…..
Instead of: I am really bad at finances…add but I will work on getting better every week.
Instead of: I have a good relationship with X…How could I improve my relationship.
Instead of: I hate problems. Change to I see a problem as a learning opportunity where I show my value.
YOU CAN NOT IMPROVE WHAT YOU DO NOT MEASURE: Structure gives you freedom- emotional freedom. If you do not track it or put it on your calendar, you will not be working in excellence. However, don’t be busy for the sake of being busy. Activity needs to be purposeful and move you forward.
A ROCKING CHAIR TAKES EFFORT BUT GET YOU NOWHERE.
YOU ARE EITHER GREAN AND GROWING OR BROWN AND DIEING.
YOU MAY BE ON THE RIGHT TRACK BUT IF YOU DON’T MOVE FORWARD, YOU WILL GET RUN
OVER.
IT IS TIME TO SHOW UP FOR EXCELLENCE.