Before an objective can be successfully attained, we need first to define its parameters and prerequisites and, in this case, take a self-perspective.

1. Matthew Brannelly - Personal
Excellence - The Key To Success

2. The pursuit of excellence is a valuable business asset that stems from a
time-honored objective.
How often do we set ourselves and our subordinates this target? I
suspect often, but with what degree of success?

3. Before an objective can be successfully attained, we need first to
define its parameters and prerequisites and, in this case, take a self-
perspective.
With the gift of intellect, imagination is the only limitation to what can
be achieved. To achieve excellence in our endeavors, we need to use
our intellect to maximum capacity in seeking optimal solutions and
maximizing opportunities.

4. The major inhibitors to the use of our
intellect are self-imposed barriers
such as self-doubt, consternation, and
procrastination, which superficially
may lead us to make inferior
decisions.

5. Once these barriers can be identified, they can be confronted and
overcome. Often, a lack of knowledge in an area induces these
barriers, and the obvious solution is to identify the barriers, seek the
required knowledge and proceed to act.

6. EXCELLENCE IS PERSONAL
To each individual, excellence is a personally determined level of
performance. This is vital to allow an individual the opportunity of
perceiving excellence — while in certain areas a hierarchy can
establish conditions and achievements for recognizing excellence,
this is not as important to the individual as the personal recognition
of excellence.

7. Most individuals strive for excellence in some manner. As we
approach this achievement, the feeling of personal value increases,
which in turn improves our attitude to ourselves and others, and our
overall output. Put simply, the satisfaction of being successful in the
pursuit of excellence significantly improves performance and as a
result, many other positive benefits occur.

8. As excellence is based to a great extent on our ability to make optimal
use of our intellect, it is vital to have a positive state of mind. Success
in pursuing excellence creates and reinforces a positive state of mind,
which establishes a foundation for the next course of action — is the
next challenge to achieve excellence. There are interdependent
relationships between the state of mind (attitude), self-imposed barriers,
effective use of intellect, success in the pursuit of excellence.

9. Ideally, with a positive state of mind, self-imposed barriers will be
minimal and overcome and allow intellect full scope in endeavoring to
seek excellence. If we fall into any of these areas, the pursuit of
excellence will be jeopardized. Most people will be able to identify at
least one area where they should improve. Once identified, certain
remedial actions can be taken to re-instate the full potential to achieve
excellence.

10. Positive Mental Attitude
The best description of the optimal attitude to fit into the scenario
outlined is that of a “positive mental attitude” (PMA). Many great
writers have identified PMA has a vital ingredient to success. One
central theme to PMA is self-confidence, which reduces any self-
imposed barriers, so critical to full use of intellect to successfully
achieve excellence. PMA is itself self-determined. Only the
individual can truly judge this ingredient to success.

11. Excellence and Success
Excellence and success need to be clearly understood if we are to set
goals based on their achievement. Success is most often associated
with a pre-determined level of achievement set by others or
ourselves. Once this level is reached; ie a given level of performance
attained; the project is completed and we refer to it as successful.

12. Excellence, however, depends upon individual attitudes, value
judgments, and opinions. Excellence is perhaps not as quantifiable as
success; and is more likely to be determined by oneself, rather than
others who may have set the pre-determined performance criteria for
“success”.

13. We should never be satisfied with only reaching the level of “success”.
By utilizing a positive mental attitude with every endeavor undertaken,
our objective should be a level of excellence. This feature of personal
performance is often associated with successful individuals, business
entrepreneurs, and social leaders.

14. Like most aspects of human endeavor, success, excellence, and
achievement are more easily understood and achieved, when broken
down to components such as attitude and minimization of self-imposed
barriers.

15. Today’s world relies on interaction, both of economic forces and
interpersonal relationships. Society has developed from a state of self-
sufficiency to one of interdependence. Interdependency has many
advantages, but most importantly it provides the foundation for the
network necessary for individuals with a positive mental attitude and a
desire for excellence to have an equally positive effect on others in
society.
Influence on Others

16. In many situations, successful individuals in their pursuit of excellence
have relied upon assistance, input and direction from others. They have
gained this assistance by encouraging others to perform in such a way
that benefits not only the successful individual but also the individual
supplier.

17. An important ingredient of success in the pursuit of excellence is,
therefore, the ability to attract assistance from others; which basically is
due to a recognition of the role of others and the desire to reach the
goal of excellence.

18. Often, society as a whole is closed to requests from individuals seeking
assistance. This is to be expected. Persistence from the individual will
usually result in desired results, but it is definitely not an automatic
process. Of course, once success and excellence are achieved the first
time, certain avenues will open and be available for use in the next
project.

19. A person responsible for others, who acknowledges the importance of
excellence, has the difficult task of ensuring certain conditions exist
that will foster the development of the attributes outlined above, in
individuals.
Seeking Excellence in Others

20. Essentially each individual will require different stimulation. In broad
terms, the controlling influence (i.e. manager) must open
communication channels with subordinates and be conscious of
identifying deficiencies individuals have. Once identified, specific
remedies can be offered on an individual basis.

21. Alternatively, if management is not aware of this issue, they will not
provide an environment of encouragement in the necessary personal
attributes of excellence, and hence may not maximize the real values of
employees. To develop the pursuit of excellence in others requires,
initially, a personal understanding of the concept, and recognition of its
importance if favorable conditions are to be created to foster its
development.

22. Thank You For Watching