How do you feel about striving for excellence?

This is a personal question; I can answer only for myself. I do try to do the best that I can in whatever I try. But I do pick and choose what to attempt. I would not, for example, try to build my own dry walls, much as I would love to.

Personally, life is about being the best you can be and making yourself, and others, happy.

I was glad when I heard my father explain the exact same ethos, at least I know where I got it from. :-)

Unfortunately it’s people like me that get shafted by the rest.

I expect excellence especially from myself. Keep the awards but I’ll take a sub sandwich instead.

You can’t be excellent in everything. If you have one or two endeavors where you strive to be your absolute best, then great. But I don’t worry about being the best at everything I do. I don’t want to doom myself to fail most of the time. And a lot of times I just want to be able to relax and enjoy life without worrying about if I am doing my best.

It depends on what I am doing.It is nice to be recognized with awards ,but that has never the reason I do what I do.

For things that are really important, an emphatic yes. For things that are somewhat less important I apply the 80–20 rule which means that 20% of the total effort already gives you 80% results. The extra time can be used to strive for excellence.

Lately, I’ve been slacking. For me, it’s been a lack of motivation/in bit of a slump/trying to figure out what to do next sort of thing. I’m at a crossroad. Normally, though, I try to do the best that I can (if it’s important to me).

True Excellence is relative to each,

And to compare yourself to another, generally is not good.

The best you can be is being true to yourself.

“Do you think it’s important for everyone to be the best they can be”

Yes, because we usually fall a bit short.

Read my blurb about perfection.

http://phoebusg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15:thoughtfragments&catid=5:blog&Itemid=12

Cheers :)

It’s fine for people with nothing important to do.

If something’s important to me, I’ll give it my all & aim for the best. If it’s not important to me, I’m not so bothered

Yes, in everything but housework. I just can’t get worked up about a shiny floor too much.

It all depends on what makes a person happy.

Some people get depressed without achievement so they should strive for excellence more often than not.

Some people get anxious or depressed without any leisure or free time, so they should cut corners when they can, when doing so does not cause more work or suffering later.

The latter is no excuse for procrastination or cutting corners if something must inevitably be done, however (like housecleaning).

I couldn’t possibly do my best. I would burn out so fast, you wouldn’t even know I had been there. I believe in doing good enough. Especially at work. Although, of course, I still try to be perfect. It’s not good for me.

In between being perfect, however, I spend a lot of slacker time. Well, I don’t consider it slacking—writing on fluther—but my employer surely would.

Anyway, that was probably a completely contradictory comment. But I don’t care. It’s good enough. Or not.

I think people should try to reach their capability. I don’t think you can be satisfied with your life, at the end of it, if you have not tried. Trying is the important thing. This is not just with a career, but also in your personal life.

I feel that it’s better than striving for mediocrity.