Chapter 51 Excellent Performance.
You should have seen the sparkle in Andre Agassis eyes and his handsome smile on TV last week, as he lifted the champions trophy after a major tournament. The sight fascinated me, as always. In less than a year in 1995 he has zoomed from the tennis worlds No.14 to No.1. Winning and being on top of the world is sheer ecstasy. I had a similar experience, when I remained first in class right through primary school. I enjoyed the reign in a way beyond description. Top students are loved and adored like heroes everywhere, especially by their teachers and parents. It is fantastic.
Most of you are probably still in college, where grades are important and they lead to satisfying careers. Here, I will first impart to you the secrets of excelling in school:
1. A prolific use of time. Many straight-A students also shine in sports, head debating teams, the choir or the science society. Their productive time contrasts vividly with that of the low-ranking students, through good organisation, clever scheduling and exploitation of time. At study time, TV and phones are shut out. Schooling is business, and business precedes pleasure. They study everywhere and seize every learning opportunity. They would learn a new word or medical term while tooth-brushing or sitting in the toilet! Each minute is progressive and no time is wasted in procrastinating or hunting for a lost ruler or pencil. Every minute is organised and fruitful. Try that!
2. Keeping abreast and even ahead of teachers. The super-achiever arouses his own burning interest and has 100% focus, curiosity and understanding on everything taught. If he misses a little, he catches up swiftly. He studies right after school when the text is still fresh in his mind. He even outruns the teacher by grasping a lesson before a class. Imagine the miserable student, who panics and struggles to understand concepts and formulas on the eve of the examination. Too late!
3. Adroit tackling of class projects and exam papers. The top-student ploughs through rich and relevant library materials to raise his papers to superlative levels. He not only breaks complex tasks into manageable pieces, he prioritises them on importance and urgency. He tests himself extensively on all possible exam questions. When the day comes, he exerts his prowess with all faculties clicking. Just visualise the other student, nervously spending an hour on a 10-mark question then the last 10 minute on a 40-mark one! Pathetic.
4. Good reading habits and skills. The super-scholar reads abundantly, analytically and selectively for useful and applicable information, with speedreading and digesting skills.
5. Excellent note-taking and memory. Later, notes are shortcut to recap, complete understanding and memory, allowing the recall of a string of important facts and figures. Memory skills are used to the full.
6. Good overall image and human relationship. The best student presents well, not only his looks, but his paperwork and speeches. He does it in the best taste, packaging, style, contents with overall psychological consideration! He speaks up and asks questions, not just for show, but to leave all darkness and doubts behind him. He communicates and articulates beautifully. If he pales beside others he takes speech and drama lessons or even joins the Toastmasters Club. He studies socially too, not to gossip but to explore new ideas, approaches and solutions; furthermore, he gains other information that he overlooked or missed, and more knowledge too! He is courteous and wins the constant support of his parents and teachers. Every teacher keeps track of conduct and activities, and gives the grade, remember?
7. Diligence and going the extra mile. The high achiever does more than asked, knowing that learning through practising leads to excellence. He works hard, but he works smart. Research has shown that the top pupil often spends no more time than the bottom one, who often stares at a book that glares blankly at him.
8. Discipline is paramount. So are concentration and perseverance. If you run to scavenge the frig every 20 minutes, frequent the TV, and loiter in the shopping centre, think of the consequences.
9. Powerful desire, goals, drive and love for winning. The winner-student has all of these. Winning is heaven on earth I cant help saying it again and again. Now, is it that difficult to be a top student?
It is not just students and individuals, nations are winning too. Nowadays many good products are Japanese. Sony, Canon, Toyota, etc, are as familiar as the sun. Similarly, many quality cars and tools are German; Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Audi need no introduction. In just 30 years Japan and Germany rose from their massive destruction and defeat in the 2nd World War like phoenixes from ashes, to become major economic and technical powers. Together with Switzerland, USA and a few others, they enjoy the highest per capita incomes in the world - over US$20,000 - while poor countries are struggling with US$200! Why? You may say it is a combination of capital, human and natural resources, but prosperous countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore have little natural resources. Watch how the Japanese people live and work. Superior attitude, discipline, resourcefulness and perseverance work wonders. It is not accident or luck. This all boils down to one thing: Excellent performance.
Why do people scrape by in bare, lifeless existence while others live rich, charitable and fulfilling lives? My answer is: Give the best to the world and the best will come to you. Few people do their best, and we have the golden opportunity to outshine them! The British writer S. Maugham said, „Its a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it. The American football coach V. Lombardi had the best answer: „The quality of a persons life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavour. Excellent performance sways the largest conglomerates, down to the tiniest cafes! Recently I savoured 2 eateries in town. The first one was packed with customers. True enough, the food, service and pricing were superb. The second restaurant was only next door; but it did not get the spill-over of diners and was quite deserted. The waitresses seldom showed up or responded to signals. One dish had too much chilli, despite my pre-request. The mud-crabs were uncooked, so I asked for re-cooking. Later, I had to gulp down diarrhoea pills when I got home. There are hundreds of restaurants in town and I need not return to them. It is sad that many people still do not recognise 2 things: That they dont always get a second chance, and that they dont get something for nothing. Memorise these 2 lines!
God inclines us to take pride in our work. Nothing tastes as good as our own cooking, as the fish we caught and the vegetables we grew! The desire for victory and the joy of winning are God-given qualities too. Entrepreneurs and corporateclimbers would do well to emulate the fighting spirit of sports champions. Two respected coaches commented fittingly. B. Bryant said: „What matters is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of fight in the dog. V. Lombardi noted: „You dont win once in a while, you dont do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. Winning is habitual and fun; now let me usher you into victories:
1. Have purpose, objectives and dreams. Then set goals and stir up your desire, enthusiasm and commitment to pursue them. Do this in all forms of endeavours in sports, schooling, self-employment, services to employers and customers. As far as possible, get a job you love. W. A. Foster said: „Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skilful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.
2. Concentration is crucial for peak performance. This is so vital that I wrote an essay on Focus, please read Chapter 42.
3. Perseverance and practice will perfect performance. Remember these 4 Ps for all your tasks. Physical practice is vital; so is mental practice, which is not daydreaming, it is deliberate and precise visualisation and rehearsal, as used by champions.
4. Get results first, perfection later. You can be so obsessed with perfection that you never get something completed. Take one step at a time and make little improvements. Cardinal Newman noted: „A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault. Work on something first, improve from experience then strive for excellence with the least errors and defects. Henry Beecher, the great lecturer said: „Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself.
5. Keep improving. Compete with yourself and raise your standards. Identify all the things you no longer accept in your life, as well as those you are now yearning to achieve. Do everything better than you did before, it adds to creativity too! Remember, one of lifes challenges is that everything can be done better. Most products are being improved around the world.
6. Work hard but work even smarter. When you reach physical limits, exploit your mental and internal resources. Dont forget your subconscious powers! Unlock your self-esteem and self-actualisation.
7. Reward yourself along the way. Always hold out a carrot for your achievement. Whenever you reach your target, buy yourself something! Rewards inspire you to work harder. They empower you and boost your performance further. Start that exciting upward spiral!
8. All-round good health, vitality, energy and creativity. These are important, so are beliefs, self-image and confidence.
As you reach higher planes of success, your capacities for distinction should be more sophisticated with: A high level of drive; a competent mind against problems, that responds objectively and effectively; abilities to originate and communicate ideas; skills in empowering people; a knack for organising and running large projects, and the aptitude for leadership and greatness. Dream greater dreams and aim higher, there is always room at the top; the bottom is crowded with the dull and ordinary. Do your best, they say the wind and waves are always behind the best sailors; and above all, excellence gives dignity, character, beauty, meaning, fulfilment and richness to our lives.
“Believe in the best, think your best, study your best, have a goal for the best, never be satisfied with less than the best, try your best, and in the long run things will turn out for the best. Always add up the best.” - Henry Ford.
“If you must be a servant, serve the rich; if you must be a dog, be a temple dog.” - Laotian proverb.
“Most people know what ingredients are necessary for success. The only problem is that they are not ready to pay the price.” - Rich Port.