Excellence is Contagious -- But how did you start the ball rolling?

[JaneYoung]

Hi Ian,
Thank you for creating this thread. It is a good topic and I, too, hope it doesn't get lost in the excitement of the competition season.

In my signature, one can read Andy Baker's quote. He said that to me during a conversation that he and I were having over my breakfast at the Alamo Regional a couple of years ago. The conversation was about growth and development in teams, regions, businesses, and life. It was an excellent conversation. I'm grateful for Andy's philosophy and attitude toward helping to spread excellence by getting the ball rolling wherever he is.

Getting the ball rolling.. I've kept my eyes on the ball. What I've learned by watching the ball is that it can roll in lots of directions. It can roll toward you or away from you. It can roll a strike or a gutter ball. But, the important part of the roll is the movement. By this I mean that the light really goes on when an individual or a team or a community or a region - realizes that excellence cannot be attained without help and support. Excellence cannot be confined to one way of doing things -> my way or the highway. Excellence will spread when the ball starts moving. The ball starts moving when we begin to reach out and ask questions, ask for help, realize that we don't necessarily have what we need to achieve our goals but we have resources that will support our efforts - if we use them. We also start the ball moving when we are willing to share our knowledge, experiences, expertise, and fun. When those two lights go on - excellence begins to spread. Like wildfire.

We've seen a wonderful example of spreading excellence just this season: 116's animation challenge. They didn't roll the ball - they picked the ball up and ran with it, acknowledging that the need for a place for those who value the animation award - still exists. They created that place. That is creating the opportunity for excellence to occur. By doing so, 116 is spreading excellence. Their excellence.

When we read the Woodie Flowers Award submissions and the Dean's List submissions, we often find that the mentors and students are being recognized for their dedication to spreading excellence. Often, the impact of their dedication is felt far beyond the boundaries of their team or even their community. That is when the ball is really moving, spreading excellence.

My advice is to keep your eye on the ball and watch it roll, helping to nudge it in the direction of excellence. Work with others and learn from them. Grow inspiration by committing yourself to a positive attitude dedicated to achieving realistic goals. When those are achieved - create more goals, then more, then more. Never stop dreaming. Many of our Hall of Fame teams - never stop dreaming, spreading excellence as they realize those precious dreams.

Jane