This document outlines 10 principles for achieving excellence in business and life. The principles include doing what you love, being clear on what you want to be known for, embracing excellence in all that you do through practice and rituals, being committed to continuous self-improvement, setting goals and plans, being willing to work hard, seeking feedback, creating an inspiration strategy with mentors, being a lifelong student, and seizing opportunities. Achieving excellence requires an ongoing commitment to bettering oneself through passion, focus, hard work, learning, and adapting to maximize potential.

1. Grow Your Business, Enjoy Your Life!
Achieving Excellence
Steve Smith
March 19, 2014

2. Excellence
The state or quality of being
exceptionally good

3. “Perfection is not attainable, but if
we chase perfection we can catch
excellence”
― Vince Lombardi

4. How do you achieve excellence?

5. Achieving Excellence: Principle #1
Do what you love:
• Is it something you believe in?
• Why is it important to pursue
excellence in this area?

6. Achieving Excellence: Principle #2
Be clear about what you want to
be known for:
The way to gain a good
reputation is to endeavor
to be what you desire to
appear.”
― Socrates

7. Achieving Excellence: Principle #3
Embrace „excellence‟ in everything
you do:
• Be purposeful
• Practice continually
• Establish rituals
10,000 hrs
Time required to become an expert
- Andres Ericsson

8. Achieving Excellence: Principle #4
Be committed to the journey
Be confident
Be committed
Be relentless in your
pursuits

9. Achieving Excellence: Principle #5
Become a master at goal
setting and planning
• Hone your focus
• Be clear about what
you want

10. Achieving Excellence: Principle #6
Be willing to do the hard work:
• Significant break-throughs happen
when you overcome adversity

11. Achieving Excellence: Principle #7
Seek expert feedback in
moderate doses:
• Find trusted sources
• Own the decisions you make

12. Achieving Excellence: Principle #8
Create an inspiration strategy:
• Find mentors/ role models
• Take renewal breaks

13. Achieving Excellence: Principle #9
Be a student of your profession:
• Be willing to change your mindset
• Focus on what benefits your clients

14. Achieving Excellence: Principle #10
Seize the moment!
• Maximize the potential of every
situation
• Be adaptive

15. When you are on the road to
Achieving Excellence
You know it
You feel it
You own it
Others want you for it

16. Steve Smith
President
GrowthSource Coaching
www.GrowthSourceCoaching.com
Be Excellent!
Your Success Matters