Are YOU the best at what YOU do?

Are YOU the best at what YOU do?

“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Vince Lombardi

Truer words may have never been spoken. Those that know me know I love Vince Lombardi’s thought process. Perseverance is the key to success no matter what you do, and Mr. Lombardi emulated that.

I wrote about the keys to organizational success in a previous post and spoke about the importance of contact, and the janitor being the best representative of the company. This rings true very often. If you are in a job, why not be the best at THAT job? Why not strive to be more than is expected? Afterall, the pride of job accomplishment does not lie with the position, but rather the individual.

Take for instance the Sav-On/CVS worker, Thomas. Every time I go to the store where Thomas works, I notice how responsive and helpful he is. It is very apparent that Thomas has made a commitment to be the best employee on the premises. He stands out from the normal employees because he goes over and above what needs to be done.

Thomas still counts-out change! I mean he really does the math! I know that sounds like no big deal, but when was the last time you went to a store and the checker said, “That will be $6.23 out of $10.00 which means you will be getting $3.77 back in change.”? These are the little things that matter. Everyone in the neighborhood knows Thomas. He says hello to all of the customers when they enter HIS store and says goodbye as they leave. You see, Thomas may be “just a checker” in the eyes of many, but he is the best checker you have ever seen.

Imagine if everyone, in every organization took the time to be the best at their position. What if every DMV worker made a pledge to THEMSELVES to be the best DMV worker of all time?

As we near the beginning of 2007, my challenge to you is to be the best at what you do. Set your own limits and reach for the stars. It is critical to remember that everyone is important, and what each person does is important. To go the extra mile is something from times of past. Let’s see if we can incorporate it back into the fabric of society.


Josh Brody is the President and CEO of Corporate Guidance Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations and individuals realize their potential and enhance their performance.