Excellence Settles The Issue - Part 2

In his speech "What Is Your Life's Blueprint?" Dr. King spoke of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great essayist, who said in a lecture in 1871, "If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door." Why? Because it's excellent (better). Dr. King went on to tell his listeners to study hard and stay in school. Furthermore, he urged them to discover what they are to become in life. Upon discovery of their assignment - they were told to do it so well that "the living, the dead and the unborn couldn't do it better."

In order to reach this level of excellence sacrifice must be made and a price must be paid. When I first went back to college after dropping out I took on a full load of classes while working a full time job. There were days and nights when I entertained the idea of quitting again but I just couldn't do it. The pressure was tremendous and time with family and friends was extremely limited. Monday's came around before I could bat my eyes and a little more sleep seemed like a dream that held no promise of manifestation. Reading, writing, study groups and scantrons - I paid the price and I am glad I did. My educational achievements continue to encourage me to be a finisher. I believe that when employers seek to hire qualified people for positions in their companies they ask for degrees in certain instances because (1) it usually guarantees some level of mastery or understanding in the area of your assignment (2) you made it through all of the sleepless nights and the temptation to quit. Excellence may fall down but it gets back up again.

Dr. King said fulfill your assignment "as if God Almighty called you at this particular moment in history to do it." "If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures or Shakespeare wrote poetry." The essence of one of Dr. King's most prolific public orations is be the best you can. This is the voice of excellence. Excellence is full of wisdom and is always optimistic. Excellence finds solutions when others are terrified of problems. Excellence is focused when average is all over the place. Excellence desires integrity but average is in love with anything goes.