Someone once told me that God uses ordinary people who do things well. I like that statement. It is not so much about being the best. It is more about doing our best. If you are going to do something, then do it well.
Have a growth mindset. Recognize that there is always something you can learn. There is always something that you can improve. Another name for it is having a holy discontent. It is not to be discontent. But it is recognizing that there is always room for growth. That you can always do better. Don’t be satisfied with good enough.
James Clear writes about the British Cycling Team in his book Atomic Habits. The British Cycling Team was marked by mediocrity. Their performance on the national stage was pathetic. But in 2003, they hired a new director.
The new director came with a new philosophy of 1% improvement. They looked for small gains everywhere they could find. And the small gains added up. Five years after the new director was hired, the British Cycling team began to dominate the sport.
We often look for big overreaching changes to make a difference. But striving for excellence is found in the details. It is taking care to do the small things well. Most people will never see your care to detail. But they will notice that there is something different about your work that stands out.
Take the 1% mindset, what is one new thing you could learn and implement today. If you learned and implemented one new thing every day that would be 365 new things over the year. Imagine the difference that would make.
If God has put something on your heart for you to do, then he deserves nothing but your best. God will equip you. He will empower you. He will help you. But be open. Be humble. Be teachable.
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