The discussion was Buddy Rich and his notoriously famous foul language laced tirades against his band. There are many documented accounts of just how much of an ogre and temperamental bastard he could be. He ranted against his band, calling them names, and by the stories of many people would blast off F bombs at the drop of a hat if he saw, or heard something he didn't like from one of his band members. But there is one thing that is absolutely certain by the body of work that this man left..He was a great musician beyond compare. And he was passionate about playing music, and left everything he had to give with every performance. Every recording I've ever heard, and every film I've ever seen of the man indicated that he played as though it was the last time he would get to do so. If you listen to the recorded tirades what he was saying was simple and blunt. He wanted the pursuit of passion and perfection from his musicians..Plain and simple. He hired them to perform a job the way he envisioned it, and when it didn't happen because someone wanted things done their way, he got pissed. Since his name was attached to the traveling marquee he had a right to be. If someone did not like the way he wanted something, or was not playing up to their potential, his suggestion was to go and start a band their way, but while he was paying them, do it his way. That's it in a nutshell..Plain and simple talk.
So coming full circle to how this applies to life is also simple. We all have things in our lives that we are passionate about, and/or good at or even outstanding at. When we set out to pursue these ventures, I am almost certain that no one said to themselves, "I want to be mediocre at this." Everyone wanted to be great, and be fulfilled by that particular reward in itself. As the saying goes, "Aim for the stars and you may reach the moon". How can you not want and demand excellence for not only the things that you enjoy, but your life in general? The pursuit of excellence should never end at what you love to do. It should permeate how you approach everything.
Too many times people settle for mediocre situations, people around them, and how they approach trying to do something. It is perfectly fine to demand excellence around you, from yourself, and from others. Excellence from yourself means having a level of acceptance that is a high standard of carrying yourself, behavior, and how you should be treated. It is not cocky, or stuck up, or bourgeois. It is deciding that you are special in this universe, and deserve the best things that can come to you. If you pursue something, demanding excellence from yourself will drive your ship of desire, and you will work hard to attack what you choose to do, with passion and grit because it is your name on the marquee, and if someone sees what you do, you want to be proud that they saw it. That is demanding excellence for yourself, because you are on a quest for fire. And that journey, and quest is to be outstanding, and achieve great things for the reward of doing it. Excellence is its own reward, and when felt, can be a springboard for even greater heights, because you will be inspired to those heights by you and you alone. The reward is a centrifugal force of positivity that breeds more desire for excellence.
Demanding excellence of others is simple also. The people you surround yourself with can propel you or drag you. It is reasonable for you to see the people you surround yourself with for who they are, and if they are good folks who you can count on, talk with, have their heads on straight, and have reasonable goals for themselves, and can be trusted, then they are part of your excellence equation. They don't have to be rich, powerful, or have a Mensa like IQ. They just have to be genuine, and sincere. Excellence comes in all varieties, but what excellence is NOT is nonsensical. Any people around you who are full of nonsense, and of bad character, or nefarious is not someone of excellence, and what they display to you is only the tip of the iceberg. Cut them loose, and seek and demand better acquaintances for yourself. If you are pursuing something with a group of people, then demand that they have the same passion as you, or it will not work. Something has to go. Either you have to leave, or someone not giving the effort has to. This is not rocket science. If something is to be great with people pursuing it, everyone must read from the same sheet of music. The quest for excellence demands it.
There is nothing wrong with excellence, and there is nothing wrong with the quest for it. I personally believe that the journey towards excellence is exciting and fulfilling, and I believe that there is no reason to accept mediocrity as your standard. Whoever you are, demand excellence for yourself, and around yourself. Raise your bar, and keep it raised. There is no reason for it to be lowered, and let substandard behavior, people and treatment in your life. Life is too short for that. Treat yourself special, and you will attract others who treat themselves special, and in turn will treat you special. The pursuit of excellence should be a standard way of life. You may not always achieve it, but as the statement earlier said, "Aim for the stars, and you may reach the moon." If you happen to dance and play in moonbeams, that would be most excellent.
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