The quote “Excellence isn’t about meeting the spec, it’s about setting the spec” is a profound statement about striving for greatness beyond predefined standards or expectations. In simple terms, ‘meeting the spec’ refers to achieving what is expected or required in any given situation or task. This could be meeting a job description, fulfilling a role in a team, completing an assignment to its minimum requirements and so on.
However, ‘setting the spec’ takes this concept further. It means not just doing what is expected but going above and beyond to create new standards of excellence. It implies innovation, leadership and initiative – defining your own unique path rather than simply following one that has been laid out for you.
In today’s world where competition is fierce and innovation drives progress, this idea holds significant relevance. Businesses can no longer afford to just meet industry standards; they must strive to set new ones in order to stand out from their competitors and attract customers.
For instance, companies like Apple didn’t become successful by merely meeting the specifications of existing technology products; they set new specifications with innovative designs and features that changed how people use technology.
Similarly in personal development context too, striving for excellence shouldn’t be confined within predefined limits or societal norms. For example if you are an artist then it’s not enough just being able to paint well; true excellence would lie in creating your own unique style which sets you apart from others.
This mindset encourages us not only towards continuous improvement but also towards defining our own success criteria rather than being bound by conventional benchmarks set by others. Ultimately this approach leads us towards more creative thinking and innovative problem solving – skills highly valued in today’s rapidly changing world.
