Recently, I was contacted by an individual leading a group of young engineers into a state-wide competition. This leader wanted to discuss the project and see if I had any advice. I provided him a simple improvement that would have greatly improved the product that the team was working to produce. Then, a few days later, I heard that he had decided not to take my advice. Instead, he would use my suggestion as an improvement if his team was selected to advance to round two of the competition. This really disappointed me. This leader has taught his team to try just hard enough – not to do your best. And, he made the mistake of assuming that his inferior product would advance to the next round. In today’s highly competitive market, this is the exact opposite of what the next generation needs to see. Instead, we need to install in those underneath us a quest for excellence – not mediocrity. If you can do better, why aren’t you? If you can make the product better, what’s stopping you? Innovation and excellence require pushing yourself every day – you can never settle for anything less. In everything you do, bring your A game. If you don’t, someone else will and you’ll be left on the sideline.
