The Price of Excellence

I was reminded of the price of excellence, or mastery as it is sometimes referred, the other night when I attended a RUSH concert at Copp’s Coliseum in Hamilton. I have been a RUSH fan since I was a young teenager and have seen them live many times. However, having garnered seats that put us directly beside the stage, I was truly struck by the level of “mastery” that these three musicians have attained in their own disciplines. As all three of the bands’ members approach 60-years-of-age, many critics now consider their level of musicianship to be at its highest. Whether you’re a fan or not, one can’t help but appreciate how many hours of practice and rehearsal have contributed to the level of ease with which RUSH execute each song, perhaps even each note. Malcolm Gladwell would argue that Geddy, Alex and Neil have undoubtedly reached their 10,000 hours and then some.

In life, no matter the pursuit, the same is true. In fact, I have never known anyone who has achieved excellence in their specific field of expertise who hasn’t dedicated a significant amount of time and energy to perfecting their craft. It really is a simple equation; the more time one spends practicing properly, the higher quality of excellence one achieves. One of my favourite expressions refers to over-night sensations that were 20-years in the making. So true!

Having said that, and to quote Neil Peart—the drummer and lyricists from RUSH—The point of the journey is not to arrive. Just because you’ve not yet arrived at the top of your game, doesn’t mean you can’t play. As we all pursue our own definitions of excellence, keeping in mind that it’s a process, it’s always a process will undoubtedly remind us that it is okay to fall down once in a while and that giving yourself permission to fail along your path will not only make your journey more interesting, but ultimately someday, more rewarding!

Jason Dorland is a High-Perfomance Coach who believes the most undervalued and underutilized components of reaching our goals are the mental and emotional areas of our lives. With your commitment, Jason can help you make a positive difference in how you approach your life’s dreams and goals. Guaranteed! To find out how, contact Jason today for a free no obligation consultation. He looks forward to meeting with you and getting started soon! 
Jason Dorland
Jason Dorland
Jason Dorland has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence for himself and those he supports.