“Excellence is never an accident.” Right?

By Jean Baptiste Ndabananiye

“Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skilful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.” This constitutes a quote widely attributed to Aristotle, though there are people who deny that the words belong to him. Meanwhile, our intention is not to confirm or refute whether or not the words were said by this Greek philosopher. We instead intend dedicate our attention to these words themselves.

Meaning of excellence

“Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way,” according to Booker T. Washington. Vincent Lombardi once said ” Perfection is unattainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” Lombardi agreed that a flawless goal is impossible but affirmed that the relentless pursuit of such a goal drives us to achieve outstanding results – excellence.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines excellence as the quality of being excellent. The same source defines ‘ excellent’ as ‘extremely good.’ This adverb comes from ‘extreme’. Dictionary.com says that ‘extreme’ means ‘great, severe or exceptional.’ It writes “Use extremely, to let people know that what you are talking about exceeds or goes beyond the norm. A joke that’s not just funny, but extremely funny, is one that might have you gasping to catch your breath from laughing so hard.“

Impact Health Sharing, in its 3 November 2022 story “12 ways to strive for excellence in life“, states “In our quest for excellence, it’s vital to understand that this pursuit is not about chasing an elusive state of perfection. Instead, it’s about striving to be a better version of ourselves each day. The journey toward excellence is marked by hard work, a sense of accomplishment, and a commitment to constant learning. Know yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses. Focus, focus, focus. Procrastination is your strength enemy, but so is distraction. Striving for excellence requires hard work and dedication. It’s about doing your best and challenging yourself to exceed the norm. The process can be both rewarding and challenging, and the sense of accomplishment at the end of each day serves as a powerful motivator“

Craig Wilkinson, in its 18 March 2021 story headlined “12 keys to an excellent life” echoes “Excellence is about being the best you can be, and that means benchmarking yourself against the best. It’s easy to be a big fish in a small pond, to excel in the company of people who have embraced mediocrity. As the old saying goes. ‘in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king’. Surround yourselves with excellence, benchmark yourself against the best and you will become your best. You may not become the best but you will become your best. The benchmarks we choose set the ceiling on our performance. For example if you play squash try and you always play against people you can beat you may feel good because you win but your game won’t improve, it will stagnate and regress.  If you want to get better play opponents wo are better than you.” Excellence Management underlines ” A life of excellence is life that surpasses the standard.“

Excellence – not an accident, but the outcome of high intention and sincere effort

Excellence doesn’t happen on its own. There lie enabling factors behind it. This signifies that it is our daily and disciplined actions which shape who we become and our level of achievement. These actions, even if they were or appeared small or insignificant, are they that eventually turn into excellence – excellent, extremely good or outstanding accomplishments which would otherwise not have materialized.

Over time, these small but steady efforts certainly accumulate and develop into outstanding or exceptionally high – quality achievements. Without such regular discipline, no remarkable can come into existence. Large – scale or high – impact actions are likely to generate proportionally significant or incredible achievements. Nevertheless, this doesn’t negate the underlying principle that mammoth success is fundamentally  driven by small actions. In fact, the actions that have produced the colossal success appear small, compared to the magnitude of the success attained.

Another reason behind excellence is high intention. The latter one mirrors what one of remarkable personalities on this planet, Tony Robbins, describes as an insatiable hunger for success and echoes the principle expressed in the teaching of Matthew 5:6 through the metaphor of hunger and thirst – the idea that deep longing precedes fulfillment.

This high intention signifies the profound, consuming desire which fuels sustained action and eventual corresponding fulfillment. Such an intention will preclude you from feeling exhausted. It will render obstacles arising on your path so powerless that you won’t be overwhelmed. It refills you with energy, whenever you meet adversities which tend to deplete it. 

Intellligent direction and skilful execution

An intelligent direction is one guided by intuition – an inner, persistent attachment – embraced with full commitment and revealed by the unrest felt when one tries to abandon or ignore it. It however becomes fully intelligent only when disciplined/ smart planning transforms conviction into action. Intelligent direction and skilful execution form the twin pillars of meaningful achievement. Intelligent direction is not merely following a logical path or conventional advice; it is the alignment of purpose with intuition, a persistent inner compass that insists upon being acknowledged. This direction calls for awareness, reflection, and an honest assessment of one’s convictions, distinguishing fleeting impulses from enduring guidance.

An intelligent direction manifests as a quiet insistence within, a restlessness or unrest that arises whenever one contemplates abandoning it. This unrest is a signal, an emotional barometer indicating the depth of attachment to a chosen course. Ignoring it may provide temporary comfort, but the absence of alignment between inner insight and outward action leads to inefficiency, frustration, and unfulfilled potential.

Yet intuition alone cannot guarantee success. Without careful planning and smart organization, even the most compelling inner guidance risks becoming wishful thinking. Transforming conviction into actionable steps is essential; here, discipline acts as the bridge between awareness and achievement. Structured strategies, well-thought-out timelines, and deliberate resource management are the tools through which intelligent direction gains tangible form.

Skillful execution complements intelligent direction. It is the capacity to act decisively, to navigate challenges with competence and adaptability, and to translate plans into measurable results. Execution requires clarity of thought, consistency of effort, and a willingness to refine approaches in real time. Even the most inspired vision remains unrealized without the practical ability to implement it effectively.

The interplay between intelligent direction and skillful execution creates a virtuous cycle. Thoughtful planning, grounded in intuition, informs precise action, which in turn provides feedback to refine strategy and deepen understanding. Each success reinforces confidence in one’s inner guidance, while each challenge strengthens resilience and resourcefulness. The result is a path that is both visionary and pragmatic.

Furthermore, intelligent direction nurtures discernment. By listening to the subtle signals of intuition while remaining anchored in reason, one learns to prioritize what truly matters and avoid distractions that waste energy. Skillful execution ensures that this prioritization translates into real-world outcomes, allowing efforts to compound over time and produce meaningful impact.

Ultimately, the fusion of intelligent direction with skilful execution distinguishes ordinary ambition from extraordinary achievement. It is not enough to have a compelling vision; one must also act with precision, adaptability, and persistence. Those who master this combination create paths that are not only successful but also deeply aligned with their core values and inner purpose, demonstrating that true accomplishment is as much about how one moves as where one chooses to go.

The vision to see obstacles as opportunities

Reframing obstacles or adversities as opportunities or blessings in disguise which have arisen to strengthen and enable you to reach incredible success, constitutes a critical point we have always addressed. Life in Humanity attaches extremely great importance to this particular aspect. 

” The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition,” says Ryan Holiday in his book “The Obstacle is the Way.” According to E. Joseph Cossman, ” Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes of their goal.” Friedrich Nietzsche points out “That which does not kill us makes stronger.” Booker T. Washington highlights ” Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities: it is this that in all things distinguishes strong soul from the weak,” emphasizes Thomas Carlyle. Christopher Reeve says ” A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ”  John Quinch Adams says ” Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” Michael Jordan underlines “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’ t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.”

Ultimately, obstacles are not roadblocks but invitations to grow, innovate, and strengthen our character. Every challenge carries within it the seeds of opportunity, rewarding those who confront it with perseverance, patience, and creative resolve. By embracing adversity as a guide rather than a hindrance, we transform the very barriers in our path into stepping stones toward remarkable success.

Back to the question, yes, excellence is never an accident. It constitutes the product of deliberate intention, disciplined action, and consistent effort over time. Small, regular steps, guided by intelligent direction and skillful execution, accumulate into remarkable achievement. In other words, excellence is earned, nurtured, and consciously pursued, not stumbled upon by chance.