20 Ways to Strive for Excellence (2024)

I believe in striving for excellence, not perfection. Some might think that striving for excellence means perfectionism. To me, perfectionism is the opposite of excellence. Perfectionism is a personal standard to which we hold ourselves to and it is completely unattainable. I say this because I used to be a perfectionist. I spent countless hours trying to improve those tiny details or special projects just so I could look good and avoid criticism.

What I learned down the road is that a perfectionist fears failure, uncertainty, and lives with doubt hanging over them. It’s like walking around with a dark cloud of negativity over you, except it’s all inside your head. One of my favorite authors and speakers, Brené Brown, says that “perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame”. I wish I had learned this when I was a teenager or young adult.

I had to learn the hard way that perfectionism won’t give you permission to feel confident. It won’t get you the job. And it certainly won’t help you reach the outcome any faster. My perfectionism was such a waste of time and energy that could have been focused elsewhere.

Now I focus on all the ways that I can strive for excellence in life and in business. Excellence, for me, is about being who I want to be. Here are some things to consider if you want to strive for excellence in your personal or professional life.

20 Ways to Strive for Excellence…

1. Know yourself and your strengths
2. Have pride in yourself and your work
3. Share your knowledge and talents with those who value them
4. Believe that you will make this world a better place through your contributions
5. Practice gratitude for the small and unpredictable moments
6. Learn something new as you work towards being your personal best
7. Show compassion and empathy for others
8. Choose to excel despite the level of difficulty
9. Honor your needs and make them a priority
10. Reflect on your successes that contribute to a larger goal
11. Step outside of your comfort zone to do something risky and creative
12. Accept the challenge and choose to be a leader
13. Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people
14. Forgive yourself of past mistakes or failures so you can learn from them
15. Build a trusted connection with a mentor and seek advice when needed
16. Reach for your dreams, even when they are scary or seem impossible
17. Speak your truth and let the world know what you stand for
18. Be brave, no matter what the challenge or obstacle may be
19. Embrace your authenticity and give yourself permission to be you
20. Close the gap between who you are and who you want to be

After all, isn’t healthy striving so much better than worrying, “what will they think”? Choose happiness. Choose success. Choose excellence. Will you join me?

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Sarah Lehberger is a family photographer based in Easton, Connecticut. She is known for her nostalgic approach to portraits that celebrate the spirited family life of unstoppable women. Why are her subjects unstoppable? Learn more here. Sarah is also known as a speaker, mentor and creative business consultant for entrepreneurs who want to build a business with purpose and the brand of their dreams.

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