Greetings dear readers.
Note how i place 'professional' before 'personal' excellence. While at the same time, i do not believe the ranking to be such. The aim of this post is to illuminate the importance of personal excellence in pursuit of professional accomplishment.
First of all, let's look at my credentials for having an opinion on this topic. I am a... i have achieved... i have established...
Oh wait. Let's take a different approach here. You see, if i tell you i am a decorated business person or a PhD of some sort, you will be naturally more inclined to believe my words. But it goes counter to my message here, and i really want you to consider the crux of the matter.
Consider someone who fits the mold of 'excellence' ... you can see a myriad of external markers that indicate success, but in reality, you do not know that persons inner level of success. And in a way this is rightfully so, because people are judged by their achievements and merit, not by intangible metrics concealed within one's psyche.
But if you wish to attain success, and to do it the 'right' way, read on.
Let's take Trump, just because, of the top of my head. You cannot deny his worldly success. He epitomizes in a way, the American dream itself! But, if you look closely, his health is waning, his personal relationships are somewhat eroded, and there is a big history of events that can in one way or another be used to discredit him Ad Hominem.
'For God sakes, get off the twitter... you are the president of the US!'
The problem i am aiming at is that, external markers of success do not paint the entire story, and in fact more often than not, we see successful people struggling in many areas of personal excellence. I envision a new dawn of human evolution. I am a futurist. And it is about time we start talking about inner accomplishment in a non woo woo, deliberate manner, so as to promote a higher tier of consciousness in all strata of society.
I am sick of executives running this society, while they cannot run their household or their own selves. Almost each and every politician and exec is an image of un-health. Not that beautiful, young people should take any precedence in high ranking positions, but seriously... our executives are the heads of this system of things, and if the head is unwell, what to make of the body?
I think someone should tell Trump that he should lay off Twitter. It's not that hard. Control your impulses, be meticulous and strategic. Do not make a mockery of yourself. Thus i come to my first point in personal excellence;
Control your emotions. There is a saying; 'nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so' (Shakespeare). The ancients understood that emotions, or what you are feeling, is not a results of external circumstance, but is a self inflicted state. Thus, regardless of external stimuli, it is possible for you to remain relatively calm amidst any storm you encounter. In fact, it is necessary if you want high levels of success. Imagine yourself travelling and dealing with many people, the poise that you would need to remain calm amid stupid questions, accusations, stress and unknown variables of life. Can you handle it? Be honest with yourself. If you cannot, do not complain about being excluded from the table of success. You need to be ready for it.
Which brings me to: Be honest with yourself! The mind is a tool of self deception. Do not think yourself prepared, and will yourself into something, when deep inside you know that you are not ready. In a way we are never ready for the big leagues but, a self deception of your state is to your own detriment, and you risk catastrophic failure. If you are not emotionally ready, if you have not done enough mindfulness practice, self knowledge, establishing your psychology etc.. you are going to have breakouts. I'm not saying you should beat yourself up about it... just know yourself. Be honest. It is okay to not be ready for something, what is not okay is for you to live in a bubble.
Third: diet! If you do not think that food has any bearing on your performance, then i don't know what to tell you. You think you can function at your best, in a high ranking position, just eating whatever and hoping that:
- Your bowel movements will be regular?
- You will not have unpleasant odor coming off you in closed spaces
- You will not sweat profusely in critical situations (a universal marker of nervousness)
- Your skin will not breakout in random pimples just as you are about to do a big presentation
- You have consistent energy levels from dusk till dawn?
Take my word for it. Health is key. And Diet is the key to health. Your personal excellence will reflect itself most in this area. You want to binge out on meaningless foods instead of eating superfoods? It's fine, just do not aim at the highest levels of success. You can do fine on average foods, but excellence will evade you.
You have two basic, diametrically opposed diet systems which both work, glued together by a third:
- A ketogenic, high fat low carb approach.
- A plant based, high carb, low fat approach.
Glued together by everything in moderation, for those who do not have particular issues. If you do have particular issues. Sorry to break it to you... you have to be diligent. You have to lay of the bread or whatever it is. If you are after high levels of success that will be more important than base instincts to eat comfort foods.
There is so much more but these three things should do for now. Remember... you are your only limitation. The system is not out to get you, to block your ascendance! In fact, if anything this system is ripe for the pursuit of achievement. The only limitation is found within yourself. Work on yourself. Self actualization. Self care. Strategy. poise. all such paths lead to your inevitable success.