10 Ways to Step Forward after Slipping Back
The first step toward excellence goes down not up.
You step down because you’re stepping where haven’t stepped before.
Proficiency takes time and practice.
Prepare yourself; you won’t reach excellence. There’s always better, if there isn’t your aim is too low.
The place for average
Be average at things that don’t matter to you.
Brushing your teeth, stacking groceries in the cupboard, car care… Reach for excellence when reaching matters.
10 strategies for stepping forward after slipping back:
- Lift yourself by lifting others.
- Remember lessons; forget failures.
- Remain focused on the big picture when your emotions let you down. They will let you down.
- Get close to those who are great at things you want to be great at.
- Compare your progress with your vision not with mediocrity. It’s arrogant, self-gratifying, and de-motivating to think you’re doing well compared to those who aren’t.
- Think progress. Take one step toward excellence.
- Stay strong at the end. The closer the deadline the stronger the temptations to lower your reach.
- Celebrate successes they’re fuel for your fire.
- Stay away from negative people.
- Don’t feel you need #10 if nine is enough.
You never reach excellence but you can pursue it.
How do you pursue excellence?
What’s the best suggestion you have for those pursuing excellence?
Third paragraph, “The two articles…” – what?
Thanks, I fixed the links.
Thanks for the reminder that we move towards excellence, we don’t reach it. That’s a real encouragement today.
Diedre,
I think this post might go either way. I’m glad you found it encouraging.
Best,
Dan
I agree. I heard a great quote this week – Perfectionism is always wanting everything perfect. Idealism is making everything as perfect as you possibly can. I think that is the only way to achieve the excellence you are talking about. Thanks for the post.
AND you need to remember that when “On Writing Well” was written, William Z. we didn’t even have blogs and social networking. Wonder what advise he’d give for these???
Not so surprisingly, really. In a way, it’s like the typical initiation at most groups or religions. You go down (die) at first to finally go up (be reborn).
#10 cracked me up Dan, thanks!
#5 fits in also when we compare ourselves to others and gloat or even go “I did it better”…there will always be someone better, someone worse, that’s not much of a measure ‘cept for your ego.
As far as never reaching excellence, still pondering whether I agree or not. I think by some external standards and benchmarks, concretely, excellence can be reached briefly. Whether it is six sigma, or 0 errors, that sort of thing does define a basic level of excellence.
Often, when we may be in the midst of excellence, it seems we do not exactly realize it, how magical and transitory it is…and then all too soon…was.
I had the opportunity to work in a place where a very negative traumatizing event occurred frequently and through a long, focused process of continually asking ‘why’, shining a light and asking ‘why’ more, totally eliminated those traumatizing events.
After that, then, perhaps excellence was reached with that specific measure. For that brief period of time, that was a mythical Camelot for me. Didn’t know it when I was in the middle of it either…too busy working late late nights and 3 am calls into the morning hours.
Absolutely Dan, it was not sustained excellence and it was not excellent across the board in many other ways. So the bar that had been set high, was now lowered and needed to be reset.
Maybe that is my rose colored reframe. Set an excellence bar and do not waver… once reached, move it on up. It can briefly be reached, but then you have to stretch again.
And definitely, share/celebrate the success and the lessons learned, together the bar can be raised higher than one person can reach.
Here’s something more on #8, published a couple of months back: “don’t be afraid to relish those moments of appreciation and recognition, they’re fuel for your fire”.
http://karmainmycorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/embracing-positive-feedback.html
I think the criteria you named to know when you are “doing well” (number of shares, number of comments, etc.) are good ones.
I would add to your list that you need to have some measurability in there — setting a baseline and goals along the way to know what kind of progress you’re making.
BUT in your case I would also acknowledge that some of the impact of LF does not lie in number of page views, tweets, and comments. Some of these concepts will plant themselves and not be worked on right away, but will bubble up for that individual at just the right time. I think that is often true for people who want to excel. Some effects of striving for a goal last much longer than the momentary celebration of reaching it.
Dan, thanks for lifting me up! Bad start to the morning but it will pass. #9 is such an obvious one and the danger with it is when people do not realize the negative voice in the midst, particularly when it is yourself. For those of us that enjoy achieving and chasing more goals, our strength can become a real weakness in that we measure the miss and overreact (negatively). As you say, “The first step toward excellence, surprisingly, goes down not up.”
Personally, I differentiate between excellence and perfection. I do believe you achieve excellence, albeit for a short while as Doc mentioned. Striving for perfection on the other hand is setting yourself up for failure in my mind.
On the topic, I enjoyed this http://blogs.hbr.org/ideacast/2011/05/the-hidden-demons-of-high-achi.html and am putting the book on my reading list!
Dear Dan,
My suggestion to pursue excellence is get focused and work hard. Raise your achievement bars everytime you succeed and increase the confidence in your own capabilities.
Excellence is a habit if you remain focused and act with adequate preparedness.
Dear Dan,
I pursue my excellence by progression. I measure my progress towards my goal and when I find closer to it, My confidence increases and I try to make it as a habit. I agree that excellence is impossible becuase being excellent is error free, that could be impossible. However, one could move bit by bit towards excellence by making it habit and aligning focus and effort towards goal.
My best suggestion to those pursuing excellence is moving towards your goal, not diverting your focus, and believing in your effort whatsoever obstacle come. Journey towards excellence could better be made by strong determination, great perseverance, committed passion and worm’s eye approach.
If I were on line, I would’ve read them. Sweet tides, Linda
I really appreciated the thought on the first step toward excellence going down, not up. How true. We expect greatness of ourselves too early – and in our disappointment we may mistake that downward step for a lack of ability. Thanks for the reminder.
Susan
Number 5 is so simple…yet so challenging to consistently practice! Thank you for the reminder!
Thank you Dan for such a great post.
I like strategy no# 3 and 5
Because these two strategies help us to reach there where we want to be.
Great post Dan
I like the strategy no#3 and 5
because these two strategies really help us to reach there where we want to be.
I was intrigued by your comment that in the first step toward excellence your performance goes down. So I reflected on my own experience. I think that has usually been true for me when the change comes from outside instruction.. like when I make a change in my tennis serve or try a new approach to speaking, It’s like putting on new shoes and needing to wear them long enough that they conform to my feet. On the other hand, sometimes an idea for a change naturally arises from within my self, and in that case, often my performance immediately improves. Thanks for raising the interesting question, Dan. I’ll enjoy thinking about it further.
Dan,
I have Zinsser’s book. It’s impressive that you were able to transfer this article from what you read in his book. I think you DO have to remember your failures, but view them as stepping stones toward excellence. It humbles you to know where you’ve been, and where you are now.
Well said, Dan.
I also have Zinsser’s book. I revisited it and it has a lot of markings.
What do you mean by the articles “did not do well?” Sometimes we just ponder, not respond. I for one, am a STRONG proponent of not hiding weaknesses. I FULLY believe we can’t improve unless we invite feedback and take it gratefully (gracefully is harder!). I silently gave you big credit for saying what you said. It actually melded my connection with your work, just by the fact that you would say such things.
Now I won’t be silent. I have worked a long time (with superior help) refining myself, and I have a long way to go. I am motivated by your 9-10 points. I made them in the following form, which is how they work for me:
1. Be engaged. See what is needed and assist. If you’re watching the clock (or measuring in any way, like counting the points or benefits you’ll get), you’re not engaged.
2. See the lessons in everything. Everything is a test. It’s customized for you. You can take it, and you have the tools to meet it. How you meet it is what counts. Oh, and don’t forget to appreciate (not judge) how others meet their tests rather than looking solely at their outcome.
3. Remain focused on the big picture. Keep your mind in control of your emotions. Smart emotions work for you (rather than work you).
4. Get close to people you respect and look up to.
5. Compare, don’t compete. Track your progress according to your vision not against what others do. It’s arrogant, self-gratifying, and deflating to think you’re doing well compared to people who (you think) aren’t doing well (when maybe they are stronger than you and are given bigger tests that you can’t handle).
6. Progress one step at a time, and keep progressing.
7. Stay strong past the end. Cross the finish line at full steam.
8. Realize successes only long enough to fuel your next move.
9. Stay with positive people only.
10. What is your #10?
Mine is express the truth, and express it in a relevant and pleasant way.
Hi Dan,
I really enjoy your posts! Really great tips, but #4 feels wrong to me, especially if it’s not coming from a genuine place. What are your tips for authenticity in approaching people you want to learn from? Also, as someone who gets targeted a lot, what’s your go-to for politely turning down those types of people?