A Journey of Excellence
by Lisa Marie Platske

Whenever I’m asked to present on the topic of motivation, I focus on the nature of work and the nature of people, and state that people don’t come to work to fail.  While this may seem like an odd statement, I have worked with individuals who don’t fully believe this statement.  Based on the Douglas McGregor model, they fall under the Theory X mindset which believes that the average human being dislikes work and will avoid it at any cost.  Theory X’ers aren’t upside thinkers.  Based on my life experiences, I have reason to trust Theory Y and believe that no one wakes up and says, “Gee, I hope I fail miserably today.” or “I hope I’m mediocre.”  We all want happiness, success and meaning; we all want to excel in life.  And yet, we don’t because “something” happens along the way.

Excellence is a journey, not a destination.  It isn’t a location that you finally arrive at one day—it is a state of being that requires making thousands of choices every day as you interact with others.  (Think about those statements and what the word “vacation” means to you.  Is your life a “vacation”, defined as a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, or is your life filled with vacations, destinations/locations which you run off to, feeling more tired upon your return back to “real life”?)

An efficient, well-organized plan and the ability to make good decisions are two critical elements necessary to help you chart the best course on your trip, ensuring a successful journey.  Being present along the way will enable you to see that which many other travelers miss on their excursions.

Whether you own your own business or work for someone else, to be in a state of excellence you need a written business plan.  Yes, written.  Two of my favorite questions to ask clients are, “Where are you going and how will you know if and when you get there?”  Write your answers down….now.  As my husband often reminds me, I am a thinker, which as one of my favorite TV characters, Adrian Monk would say, “…is a blessing and a curse.”  If I don’t write down my vision and my most meaningful goals, I would get too distracted by all of the ideas exploding like fireworks in my head and lose track of what I truly want for myself on my journey of excellence. 

The second critical element needed to chart your course is the ability to make decisions.  Back to another one of the foundational principles of Upside Thinking, Inc., “We are where we choose to be.”  If you answer “yes” to any of the following three questions: “Who turned out the lights?  What happened?  How did I ever get here?” and don’t think it was because of decisions you made, think again.  Before I discovered the “secrets” of upside living, I could rationalize just about anything and blame my circumstances on external happenings.  The logic that we humans possess enables us to dream up creative excuses, further wasting our precious resources.  We exert energy to accomplish our daily tasks and control the energy that is expended in life.  For this reason, it is exceedingly important to be aware of the energizing and energy stealing forces in our life.

Our decisions determine where we are today and many of these decisions foreshadow our future level of excellence.  What are the decisions you should be making at work and in life?  Personally, I need to be reminded of the effect that my right to choose can have on others.  I have a saying on my desk that reads, “…to be gentle and show courtesy to everyone…” reminding me that this, too, is a choice.  Another reminder of the right to choose is my plaque which reads “Will I make the decision to be right or to be kind today?” 

Keep a list or journal of what inspires you, moves you and excites you.  Make special notes of places you’ve been, people you’ve met, and moments you’ve experienced.  Remember to notice others on your journey and ask yourself whether you’re living in a Theory X or Theory Y world.  If you’ve read all of this and desire a more excellent life, seek out a coach to help you.  Coaches can provide clarity, and we all need someone to keep us on track and hold us accountable (which is why I have a coach).  I wish you well on your journey of excellence and encourage you to be present and fully engaged in all that you do. 

Dream BIG, be an Upside Thinker, and you will experience Amazing Success on your Journey of Excellence!  

Lisa Marie Platske is the President and CEO of Upside Thinking, Inc., an international leadership development company that wows audiences with inspirational seminars and workshops and provides coaching/consulting to change the way leaders approach their personal and professional lives.
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