Listen, do you feel like there is potential ability or capability inside you that isn’t being reached or realized? If you feel that way, I can relate. I know what it’s like to experience that frustration, but I also know what it’s like on the other side—to have the fulfillment of knowing you’re doing the best you can in the season you’re in with the resources you have available. I want to teach you how to attach excellence to your ability so you can take your life to the next level. We need to talk about the spirit of excellence.
I recently read something in a book that rocked my world and confirmed a conviction for me. Here is what the author said: someone who has ordinary talent but demonstrates extraordinary excellence will do more, have more, and be more than someone who possesses extraordinary talent but only ordinary excellence. That resonated with me and confirmed a conviction of mine—not just in my own life and experiences but also in my observations of others’ lives.
As a sports fan, when I look at certain athletes, I can see those who had raw material and ability that was unprecedented. I’ve seen athletes who were bigger, faster, and stronger than everyone else and dominated for a season, yet they still did not reach their potential. They didn’t dominate as long as they could because they didn’t attach excellence to their ability. They weren’t excellent in their diet off the court; they weren’t excellent in their workouts; they weren’t excellent in their work ethic. So, even though they had extraordinary talent, they didn’t achieve extraordinary accomplishments because they exhibited only ordinary excellence.
Conversely, there are others who are not as naturally gifted but possess intangibles—including the intangible of excellence—who went further, played longer, won more, and accomplished more. There is much discussion about the greatest basketball player of all time, which is subjective as different people have different criteria. One person in that conversation is obviously LeBron James. When I observe what he does on the court, I see not just ability but excellence. There is a commitment to do the best he can in the season he’s in with the resources he has available. That is literally what it is. When you consider LeBron’s longevity, it is not just tied to ability; it is tied to excellence.
So, my question is: in the game of life, do you want to be like LeBron James? I know I do, but that’s not solely based on ability; it’s based on excellence. That’s a commitment. Listen to me: excellence is not a feeling; it is a decision. What’s amazing about a decision is that you can make it right now. You cannot control your feelings at this moment. For example, if I say, «Be happy,» you can’t just command happiness. You can smile or fake a smile, but you can’t truly be happy because you can’t control feelings like that. You can regulate emotions, but you cannot control them; however, you can control decisions.
This is why I love the fact that excellence isn’t a feeling; it’s a decision. It’s a decision you can make right now. If you’re struggling with promptness and being on time, that is a decision you can make right now—to be excellent in that area. If you’re struggling with half-doing tasks, you can decide now to be excellent. You can’t change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction. It is important to pursue excellence, and here’s why: excellence is a trait of godliness.
Psalms 8 says, «O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name!» When the Bible refers to His name as excellent, it speaks to His reputation. When we say someone has a good name, we’re referring to their character; the Bible states a good name is more precious than rubies or diamonds, which emphasizes the importance of reputation. When the Bible says God is excellent, it refers to His character and competence; He is a God of excellence.
When the Spirit of God dwells within us, it embodies a spirit of excellence, empowering us to excel. In fact, in the book of Daniel, chapter six, it specifically states that Daniel was promoted because of an excellent spirit within him. The spirit of excellence is the spirit of God, unleashing the power of the Holy Spirit that equips you to excel and do your best in the season you’re in with the resources you have available.
This is something I’ve learned personally and professionally: willpower is stronger than will. I can tell you that we need to operate in excellence, and I can communicate that excellence is a trait of godliness, but willpower often supersedes determination. Let me quickly answer this question: what are the benefits of operating with the spirit of excellence? Here is the first: when you improve spiritually, everything else gets better. Spiritual life is not the only important aspect.
