Nexus of Success and Significance

How does one achieve excellence? How does an organization operate at peak performance? The answer to these interrogatories is often simple in theory, but difficult in practice. Often, many individuals and organizations set out on a journey which they hope will culminate in excellence. Unfortunately, they become lost before they arrive at their chosen destination.

Individual success is nothing more than discovering what contributions one is capable of and then fervently pursuing them. Organizational success begins at the same place but its end is a much farther destination. There are three components which must come together in order for an individual or organization to achieve success and sustain it. Asking one’ self three questions and answering them honestly will lay the foundation for sustained success. First, what talents and unique gifts do I have to offer others? In other words, what am I good at? Second, what am I passionate about? Third, what needs exist in the marketplace? It is at the intersection of these three answers that an individual or organization can find its contribution. This nexus can lead an individual or organization beyond success. It can lead them to significance. Any single part, no matter how compelling, is insufficient to drive sustainable success.

Allow me to share an example. Perhaps, I am very good at sales. I am well-spoken, possess a smooth delivery, and have an innate ability to understand the needs, ants and motivations of others. With these qualities, a career in sales would likely be fruitful, profitable, and productive. However, suppose that I am either shy by nature or I simply do not like to work at the same job for very long. Or, perhaps, I choose, as my profession, to sell umbrellas in the middle of the desert. I may possess, in abundance, the talent and skills to be a wildly successful salesman. However, if there is no market (selling umbrellas in a desert) or I do not enjoy sales (shy), then this career choice is unsustainable. Similar examples can be seen with respect to the other questions.

It takes courage to act once an individual has found an opportunity that is located at the nexus of success and significance.

What is PEAK Performance?

PEAK Performance is an easy to remember acronym meaning performance which is Professional Excellent Appropriate and Knowledgeable. In order to truly get to the heart of PEAK performance, let us examine the meaning of each of these words, as well as examples, and how they can personally effect our lives.

Professional is defined as "done by a professional or expert; distinguished from an amateur". As an individual works to develop professionalism in his life, he seeks to perform his duties in a manner befitting someone that is an expert at the top of his game. One who considers herself a professional is one who performs well consistently, over and over again.

Excellence is derived from the word excel. The greatest definition of excellence, which I have ever found, comes not from a dictionary, but from the ancient philospher Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC). Though delivered almost 2400 years ago, the words ring more true today: "Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." Those who strive for excellence make it a part of their daily lives. Whatever their endeavor (i.e., business, family, hobbies, church, etc.), they perform to the best of their abilities. Their motto is Good Enough Seldom Is!

Appropriate stems from the need to match one's efforts to the various situations encountered. Would one wear a three-piece suit, complete with wing tips, to help construct a home as part of the Habitat for Humanity program? Appropriate is not to be used as a means of working less. It compels the individual to work smarter. By acting in a manner which is appropriate to a situation, the individual gains creditability from those with whom he works or serves.

Knowledgeable involves far more than simply memorizing facts or figures. While becoming knowledgeable most certainly involves substantial quantities of information, it also connotes the possession of an understanding of how these facts and figures can be applied to any given situation. Personal and professional application is the ultimate expression of true knowledge. To know and not to do is really not to know. As self-help guru Tony Robbins (1960-present) stated: "You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough!"

From the above defiitions, hopefully you can begin to gain a sense of how powerful these attributes can be when joined together. This blog will seek to provide its readers with information, as well as ways to apply this newly acquired knowledge. By using the information contained herein, true professionalism through is excellence is obtainable.