What is the difference between Success and Excellence?

Success is based on a comparison with others. Excellence is measured against your own potential.

The only comparison I should be managing is with myself. Will I be better tomorrow than I am today? Will I be more optimistic, more determined, more focused, more thoughtful, more intentional, more purposeful in the future than I am right now? Do my habits, routines, rituals, and actions match my intention to be better tomorrow than I am today? These questions are the gateway to excellence because living a life of excellence is about the fanatical pursuit of gradual improvements. Incremental steps. As author Darren Hardy describes the compounding effect of gradual improvements: “It’s the principle of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices. Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = Radical Difference”

Accepting the challenge of excellence means showing up and doing it well. Embrace the challenge – be committed to pursuing excellence.

Success is an absolute term. Success in the performance world is about achieving outcomes better than others by comparison.

Excellence, on the other hand, is a relative term.  It is about maximizing your personal and organizational potential. Excellence is about fulfilling potential rather than meeting a number or winning a contest.

If you can truly grasp the concept of absolute verses relative performance, it is an empowering sense of freedom. You are no longer captive to numbers, results, and comparisons to other people. You are motivated by achieving your potential rather than meeting an arbitrary standard set by others. Excellence is the pursuit of quality in one’s work and effort.

“Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution, and the vision to see the obstacles as opportunities.”
-Unknown

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”
-Aristotle

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude. The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”
-Unknown

Excellence – Always striving to do better. Not a skill set, but an attitude. The result of risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible. If you are excellent, you will be successful. Commit to excellence – its more meaningful. And, by the way, it’s more fun.