Why Be Great?

Have you ever thought of what it would take to make you "truly great" at what you do?
Look around you at your employees and co-workers and ask yourself whether any of them are "truly great" at what they do. No doubt, some of them really excel at their jobs and at life, while others just seem to get by. What is it that separates those that excel from those that don't?
Is it education? Training? Commitment? Willingness to work extra hours?
Do those that excel posses better communication skills, or maybe those that excel also have better technical knowledge?
If you put these factors to the test, I think that you will be surprised by the answers. Because those that truly excel at anything have one key factor in common. Those that excel at anything are simply those that are most passionate about it.
With the Olympics just completed, you saw world- class athletes competing with one another to see who was the best of the best. You saw hundreds of dedicated, passionate athletes whose skill levels are so high that the difference in their performances are measured in tenths or even hundredths of a second. The worst of these athletes still possess amazing skills and perform at levels far above those that most of us could ever even conceive.
Certainly, the Olympic athletes have amazing talent, but they also work with an unprecedented dedication to perfect their skills. However, for them, it's a labor of love because of the passion that they feel for their sport. They did not become great in a day; instead, they have dedicated their lives to being great.