Excellence Should Be a Habit

Paul Chryst is the coach for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. He is known for his emotionless sideline demeanor, especially when compared to the billboard of head coaching characters in the Big Ten. What is particularly sobering is that as a program, Wisconsin will never stop being Wisconsin: sturdy, disciplined, homegrown and efficient. This coach follows the policy started by the prior coach, Barry Alvarez, and recruits for the team from within the state. Very unusual for a program that typically goes nationwide to court and develop prospects. And his motto? “Excellence should be a habit, not an accident.” End result? Chryst and the Badgers beat the Miami Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl this last weekend. They lived unstuck.

I was considering his motto when out on my morning walk. It seems to fit with the theme of the new year when I take a look and rescript my place in my life, my world. New Year’s is the time where the world stands still, not for long, but for enough time for me to catch my breath and see where I want to go. While I’m doing that, I like the idea of developing the habit of excellence in what I take on. Whether it be a project, learning new techniques to help my clients or upping my game of physical activity, it’s time to focus on “doing things right.” Not to the extreme of “paralysis by analysis” but to the point where I can get better at the skills I’m developing. As the phrase goes, “you can’t fly with the eagles if you’re hanging with the turkeys.” That’s unstuck living at it’s best.

Want to fly with the eagles? Or hang with the turkeys? Live unstuck. #Unstuck Living

What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.

—Ralph Marston