nine out of ten anne jackson friends would agree: i am both competitive and a perfectionist. those characteristics can be strengths when used correctly. used irresponsibly, however, and they can beat me up faster than chuck norris on red bull.
it’s always been easy for me to confuse perfectionism and excellence. one lie many of us believe is for something to be excellent, it has to be perfect. no mistakes. after all – perfection isn’t subjective. when something is completely flawless, everyone agrees.
excellence is subjective. but generally speaking, i think we’ve been taking the idea of excellence and bending it far out of shape.
let me give an example. i was recently asked by someone to speak for a general session at a conference. i talked to a couple of friends about it, who all encouraged me to do it. i prayed about it.
i emailed the conference organizer to talk to him a little more about the opportunity. i wanted all of our expectations to be clear. he shared with me his thoughts, and then shared some of what his audience expects.
in short, based on feedback he had received through the years, his crowd expects perfection. if someone is “almost excellent,” they let him know very clearly that the person should not have been a general session speaker. i appreciated his honesty in communicating what his audience expects.
i actually kind of felt ashamed for being that audience at one time. being the one writing those notes.
although i doubt any of us are perfect at anything we do, i know for a fact i am not your typical conference speaker. i’m pretty much just me, but up on stage. a little quiet. really laid back. deliberate. not charismatic. simple. my nerves show through just a bit. (if you’ve heard me speak before, please feel free to confirm or deny my observation).
when i speak, am i pursuing excellence? yes. i try and pursue it in all i do. i pray, i prepare, i study, i practice & rehearse. however, if i were to speak at this conference, based on history, would this audience think i’m excellent? probably not.
in our church world, it’s easy for us to see something that isn’t perfect, and deem it as not being excellent.
one of the best definitions i’ve heard of excellence is doing the best you can with what you have. it is totally between you and what god does through you.
i am beginning to think that excellence has nothing to do with what other people think. or does it?
your thoughts?
edit: i put this in the comments but wanted to make sure it was clarified for those who might not read them…I have nothing but THE utmost respect for this person and the conference. I have enjoyed being an attendee before. I am totally honored they even thought of me! I was thankful we were able to clarify where he is coming from, where I was coming from and decided it wasn?t the best fit. And that is a-okay by me!
I am speaking from more of an audience standpoint. Because I have sat there and thought, ?this guy does not need to be talking!? Does he? Who am I to judge??
Comments
21 responses to “redefining excellence”
I agree with your quote “excellence is doing the best you can with what you have”. However it’s also easy for me to think that perfection is excellence and when it is thought of like that, excellence is near impossible for me.
I agree with this thought “one of the best definitions i’ve heard of excellence is doing the best you can with what you have. it is totally between you and what god does through you.”
The worship pastor at our campus this weekend did the 90 and the close. (That’s LifeChurch.tv talk for the opening before the satellite message and the closing which includes the invitation and announcements.) He did great. Tremendously great. His authenticity showed right through. The people were engaged. However, he was quiet, a little subdued and far from charismatic.
And I loved it. I wish I could be there to hear you. I would probably love it, too. You’ll do wonderful. Be you, Anne Jackson. I happen to think (via written correspondence only) that you are rather amazing.
first, i am not even sure how to react to an organizer saying that an audience expects perfection…almost makes me a bit unsettled on your behalf…:)
second…i suspect if you and Chris feel convicted that this is an opportunity for the Lord to use you and you steward that opportunity well (genuinely well), He will be honored…does the applause of anyone else matter? (i say that for my own edification, too :))
for what it is worth, the way you described this conference initially gave me an “off” feeling…how has it “landed” with you (if you set aside the excellence piece)?
finally, kudos for even being asked! doesn’t surprise me a bit!
Oh, let me clarify. I have nothing but THE utmost respect for this person and the conference. I have enjoyed being an attendee before. I am totally honored they even thought of me! I was thankful we were able to clarify where he is coming from, where I was coming from and decided it wasn’t the best fit. And that is a-okay by me!
I am speaking from more of an audience standpoint. Because I have sat there and thought, “this guy does not need to be talking!” Does he? Who am I to judge??
I guess I think of excellence more in the vein of effort. How much effort was put into a job. I’m hard on myself—I KNOW I can always do better, but I’ve learned to be satisfied with my efforts–when I know I’ve tried my best. I’m disappointed when I know a person just didn’t put out any effort toward excellence, especially when it effects the lives and hearts of others. It’s an attitude.
Be you—it will steal their hearts!
“Beat me up faster than Chuck Norris on Redbull” There is NOTHING funnier than this. Funniest quote 2007.
Thanks Anne!!
Emphatically no. Excellence has nothing to do with what others think, as that is too subjective. Especially using your conference analogy. If the goal is mere entertainment, then OK – you like the speaker or you didn’t. Yet if the goal is application and life transformation, does it overly matter the vessel chosen to deliver the message? I know there is a balance, but I think its dangerous to sort it. I have heard great speakers who communicated excellent, yet didn’t change my life in the least. I had a 10 minute meeting with a shoe shiner last year in Dallas who changed by life dramatically.
I believe that excellence is a personal vaule… something that comes from within. Who’s to judge if something was done with excellence but the person doing it… ??
Perfectionism comes when what we produce is less than what others expect (like you said)
I believe excellence has more to do with what goes on between you and God. The other can be thrown out the window because then you’re just performing for approval that doesn’t matter.
I think we as Christian audiences are often just as quick to critique as secular audiences, which isn’t always a good thing.
I would agree that excellence and perfection aren’t the same thing, and excellence can be subjective. However, I think excellence does shine through to some extent, if we as listeners/readers/viewers/etc. are willing to let go of some of our own preconceptions and prejudices in order to see it.
“you gotta play the cards you’re dealt”
is right.
thank you
for a lot of things
The definition of excellence is right on.
I’m a perfectionist, but I hate to admit it, because that must mean I’m not perfect….
first im excited that this is my first post on the new and improved flowerdust.net ..i like it…i can relate with the perfectionism thing and excellence deal…im actually seeing a lot more value these days in not getting hung up on that stuff…also realizing what needs to be perfect and what doesnt…its important to know the difference…
as far as the speaking stuff goes, ive stopped feeling like ive always have to “hit it out of the park” and just have worked really hard at being HONEST, TRANSPARENT, and MYSELF. and in some wonderful way that connects alot more with an audience than me being perfect or excellent…mike.
I loved this post. It came at the right time for me since I am preparing to speak to my first big group ever. In general I am more of a small group kind of girl. I am seeking excellence with this message with your definition of it!
Thanks! I am basically reminding myself constantly that I am not doing it to gain others approval.
Guilty.
Anne, you won’t have a problem with “excellence” — you are already inspirational, teambuilder, enlightening, upbeat, dynamic, fun interative, real, motivational, peak performer, an author of a book that we in full-time ministry have been waiting a decade because the book will be extraordinary…..so that puts you way up there in the excellence category!!!! Amen and Amen!!! I love the way you share your heart!
When I have the opportunity to teach, I always pray for God’s anointing. In the end, that matters far more than a person’s communication ability. In the same way, I try to ask for “Spirit ears” when I am the one in the audience. In the end, that is what will enable me to do away with a critical spirit and receive the message the Father intended.
Most of the greatest impacting speeches I have been present for were done by less than excellent speakers. Their personal stories, organized thoughts, motives and candor were the transportation to the destination of memorable listening adventures.
You are burrito-packed with the right transportation to speak!
I’ll be praying that you will (again) be used for His glory!
I used to think that being a perfectionist was a good quality. Then, I thought maybe it had some good and some bad points. Now, I believe it is a weakness — a flat out weakness that must be overcome.
This is a refreshing post…I used to try my best to be a very polished speaker, and have recently found my self “backsliding” a bit…it seems that God has words he wants to speak that don’t always fit into an outline…
Last time I spoke I actually had to stop mid-sentence and completely shift directions because I realized I was going down a path contrary to where God wanted to take them.
Definitely far from perfection! Felt so lame after it was done…And yet, there were bits in it that each person took away…what?! Yay for learning to stumble a bit!
I think sometimes we’re just too hard on ourselves and even harder on other people. We expect so much out of what we do, that it carries over to the people who are around us. I know I try way to hard sometimes to be perfect, thinking that in some way that is more attractive to other people. Sometimes it’s hard to just be me. I even complicate these simple little posts, checking them multiple times for mistakes, in fear that others who read them might think I’m not perfect. I feel excellence for me is when I stop worrying about what others think and just appreciate that God loves me for who I am.
Kyle – interestingly enough, I had originally spelled “charismatic” incorrectly on this post!!