Manager's Column

Authored by: Richard Fowler

Reaching for excellence is a worthy goal for all of us, but truthfully, it is rarely achieved. In trying to think of an example of excellence, my mind goes to some athletic performances.

Athletes compete in different ways. Sometimes the physical abilities are there, but mentally, the athlete is clueless and is unable to compete at a higher level. Sometimes the athlete has great mental skills but just doesn’t have the physical abilities. Trying to will it to happen rarely works. When an athlete has both the mental side of the sport and the physical side, it’s a joy to behold. There are times when the sport just comes to the player naturally and the success seems so effortless. These are rare occurrences.

But what is really special in athletic competition is when two athletes are having “one of those days” at the same time. They are both in a zone competing against one another. Their performance is outstanding. Every time one athlete achieves – the other responds with equal skills – and they are on a plateau oblivious to the world around them, able to focus on their sport with uncanny clarity. This level of competition is rarely reached – neither backs off, yet both admire what the other is doing. The competitors appreciate the competition – because this competitor has brought out your best. You have raised your level to meet his level – and he has raised his level to meet yours and together the two have achieved what neither could have reached on their own. It’s called Excellence. You can’t see it in yourself, but you can see it in your competitor and you are very much enjoying being at his level, and he – yours.

This excellence is worth striving for, knowing that at the end of the day – the two competitors will look each other in the eye, give a smile of admiration and respect, and not say a single word. Their performance has said it all, and their memories of this day will last a lifetime.

So how do we strive for this excellence in the world we live in, in the nonathletic world? By looking at others in similar positions who have shown themselves to be high achievers. By raising our standards to meet theirs, they will most likely try to raise their standards to meet yours.

Likewise, electric cooperatives nationwide continue to compare themselves to each other in hundreds of ways to challenge each of us to reach for this excellence. Probably the most important way we reach for this excellence is to listen to the feedback we get from you, our members.

So, - how are we doing? How can we improve? How can WE better reach for excellence? 

Submitted by Richard Fowler on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 4:37pm