Excellence is not about grand gestures – it’s built through daily practice on tasks both large and small. Here are three principles for doing things well.
Take Your Time
At 16, I worked in a pool supply warehouse, transferring heavy bags between trucks in sweltering conditions. By working methodically rather than rushing, I completed the job correctly on the first attempt. My boss noticed and I earned recognition and an early afternoon off.
Rushing creates mistakes that take longer to fix than doing it right the first time. Slow down, focus, and get it right.
Prepare
I once attempted to ride my grandfather’s bike down a hill without any practice. I hadn’t learned braking and crashed into a parked car. That painful lesson taught me that making sure you are ready to do the work is as important as the work itself.
Preparation isn’t wasted time – it’s the foundation of quality execution.
Be Honest with Yourself
While scraping and repainting at my grandfather’s house, I rushed through the initial work. My grandfather’s inspection revealed numerous problems, forcing me to redo everything under closer scrutiny.
It would have been easy to convince myself the work was good enough. But my grandfather held me to a higher standard, and I’m grateful for it. Being honest about the quality of your own work – even when no one is watching – is what separates excellence from mediocrity.
The Bigger Picture
Developing strong habits through daily practice changes everything. Approaching small tasks with excellence builds character traits that yield dividends on larger challenges. How you do anything is how you do everything.
This post is part of a series of letters to my kids. My goal is to reflect on and capture as many life lessons as possible.