Pursuing Gold: Striving for Excellence

Are you facing a huge challenge? Something daunting and intimating? Even chores we want to do can seem impossible after we start.  In nursing school, I had to take human anatomy. Our first test terrified me because I had to name all the crevices and ridges in every human bone. Tough! However, I learned the way you confront each exam can impact you for years to come. Let me encourage you to tackle each situation in life with courage and determine to pursue gold, just like an Olympic athlete. Here are some reasons why you should give life everything you have.

First, accomplishing a difficult task builds character. As we confront our problems, we often develop skills useful in other areas of life. I have a disabled child who struggled to learn the very basics of education. He reversed letters and numbers, making it hard for him to read or write. I had to use special techniques to help him discern the shape and direction of anything on paper. We wrote letters in whip cream, in sand, cookie dough, and play dough. Even doing that, it still took him months to connect the shape of the letter with the name and sound. After that gut wrenching battle, he learned to read and write, and he has boundless compassion for anyone unhappy or suffering. Just like a bee rushes to nectar, he finds that one discouraged person and tries to make him or her feel better.

Second, working hard to pursue a goal brings self-esteem. You can look back on the job you tackled with pride because you didn’t quit when it was hard. Maybe a trophy will sit on your shelf or perhaps you earned a degree you can frame. The pride and confidence you earned from doing the impossible can stir you to even greater achievements. I was quite proud to tell my family I had mastered the names and ridges of all the bones. Plus when my patients had injured bones, the names I learned came in handy.

Third, if you build a reputation for pursuing excellence, other people will respect you. You might receive an incredible job opportunity or an invitation to speak to clubs or other groups. Perhaps you’ll have a chance to encourage someone who feels beaten down. When people know they can trust you, they’ll seek you out and value you.

Fourth, when you strive to do your best, you can make a difference in the world around you. Just imagine if everyone put out their best effort. Your car mechanic would fix your car the first time. The cashier at your grocery store would be fast and efficient. Your pharmacy would never run out of your medication. Wow! Maybe your example can inspire someone to work harder.

Doing your best has so many benefits. You build character, self-esteem, gain the respect of others, and make the world better. Go for gold and strive to be excellent.

Text by Cynthia L. Simmons