Forming the Exceptional
Success July 9th, 2009
What is it that comes to mind for you when you think of exceptional? Can you define it or is it subjective to one’s experience? If it is subjective what has contributed to what you believe to be exceptional? Does what you believe to be exceptional change anything in your life or the expectations you set for yourself and others for what it takes to excel? All these things I ponder as I see great differences in the aspirations of others in my life.
Exceptional Perspectives
Everyone of course has different perspectives in life and it is based largely on their experiences and understanding of things. People are taught different in their upbringing, develop very different habits and work ethics and build their own unique beliefs around how things ought to be for themselves in life. So of course there is no exact way to describe what is exceptional.
Comparing to the Exceptional
I think the only way to describe something as exceptional is to describe it in relative terms and quite likely, that is how you define exceptional as well. Something that is exceptional is something that is much better than most similar things. The same goes for a person if they are exception in one skill area. They are comparatively better at that skill than most other people. It’s that comparison that makes them exceptional. The perspective comes into play again here though as the people or things you have to compare to are always subjective. To one person, an exceptional athlete could be very different than to another if they have never seen anyone close in comparison in skill level. So one might say they are exceptional and another person could meekly say they are average. This is exactly what draws me to think more on this label of exceptional.
Making Exceptional Personal
Exceptional is therefore a perspective you can share with someone else but since you may have totally different levels of comparison it loses its value, at least with individuals who have a different basis. However, it definitely has meaning to you as an individual based on your comparisons and personal experiences. Making it personal allows you to see and recognize the best from your point of view. After all of this, there is still no way to define what is exceptional but there are ways that individuals look at it and use it for comparisons in their life. Then whether you use those exceptional ideals as an aspiration for future goals and achievements or by you recognizing your own exceptional abilities to be confident in or share with others, you are left with little way to portray it to others.
Exceptional Stories
Perhaps you don’t need to share the definition of exceptional though and instead the value comes from the experience and stories that set the beliefs of what exceptional things are all about. So, asking for the stories from others of exceptional times in their life or career are an excellent way to see and learn what exceptional really is for those people and it shapes your own perspective of what it means as well. One can draw on those stories and share their own for the benefit of others to learn from as well. Ask others to describe their own image of what they consider to be exceptional and encourage them to look for and use stories as the basis for that.
Stories have always been great learning tools and everyone can think of times where a story has inspired them to change or fed them new ideas and hopes for the future. Stories are often remembered and shared because they add to your experiences and to the mind they are remembered as how something happened, even if you were not there directly and so they shift your beliefs and understanding. Because of this ability of stories, they allow one to form the ideas of what exceptional is all about and then models are created based on the most exceptional stories that are heard and shared.
Living to be Exceptional
So finally, my directional with all of this is in looking at how you can live to be exceptional and to experience exceptional things. What if you actually plan to create your own exceptional stories and to do exceptional things? Setting your own goals, standards and life plans around building exceptional things ensures you are striving to be the best you can be. The way it is always your own comparison so you need not answer to the expectation of others. You can build your own stories, set your own ever rising standards and continue to seek out and learn from what you consider to be exceptional.
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Mike King
July 9th, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Hi Mike, I really like the progression of this article. You walked us through the comparison side of exceptional, and then brought us around to heart of the matter (for me anyway). The last subheading, “Living to be Exceptional” was in fact, exceptional. Thanks for this.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Indeed, reminds me of quality, everyone knows a quality item when they see it, but it’s hard to define, personally defined from outstanding or exceptional characteristics. We all define things from an individual perspective based on life experiences and knowledge, but to live to be exceptional is based on some desire, and those decisions should be chosen with care and concern to the effects of relationships with our niches. In our rush to be overly and exceptionally competitive many have and continue to destroy environments and peoples lives outside of their normal conscious awareness, which is why we should use care and be compassionate and empathetic when striving for any exceptional desire. We’ve all heard the saying what comes around goes around, and it has an effect of coming back and biting us when we least expect it. Thanks for sharing Mike, good motivation to achieve exceptional results.
July 9th, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I like the part in the last paragraph that says “You can build your own stories”, as there is no reason why this is not the case. The exceptional doesn’t come from those who don’t feel that they can create their own story. They instead get caught up in technicalities that keep them from coming close to exceptional.
July 9th, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Hi Mike,
This article takes me back to this phase I heard in a movie and it has stayed with me.
“You should always be the leading lady of your life”. Yes, it was a chick flick but it applies to men, also.
In order to achieve exceptional goals you need faith, passion and determination.
I was raised in a home where 3 generations lived and worked together. My heritage is Mexican and my great grandparent were very poor and uneducated when they came to New York.Hard work and determination changed that and future generations have continued to strive and prosper because of this.No one ever lost faith even in the hard times.
My brother and I were the oldest of the grandchildren.
We had the benefits of learning by example at an early age. It was a loving and nurturing atmosphere and self- discipline was taught young. It may be called having manors but very early we learned to interact with adults.
The importance of education and hard work was instilled.
I would even go as far as saying the way I spend money, I am not a materialistic person.
My grandmother saved $10 from the money she made on the side taking in laundry and ironing it for months in order to buy a shower curtain. When she went to the store she was shocked to find out the price for the most expensive one was only $3.00.She purchased a shower curtain for $1.50.After buying it she told me she had no idea what to do with the rest of the money until she walked by a bookstore then she purchased an English dictionary. She used the dictionary as a tool to teach herself and her children. She made a game out of it, whenever there was free time, they would learn the meaning of a new word and the spelling of it.
This this is exceptional to me.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Thank you Jonathan and Armen for your thoughts on this, I’m so happy to know I’ve sparked a chord with you on what it takes to live in an exceptional way.
@Bunny. Wow, bunny! That is a great story! I am always amazed at how adversity and determination to get through it can create such exceptional stories. I agree completely, that is exceptional! Thanks for sharing that story.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:24 PM
@Dan, thanks for these great points on how much ought to be considered when choosing our path of actions. Exceptional living since it is perspective based is one that needs that careful consideration as you pointed, so as not to hurt others in the process. Thanks for adding!
July 10th, 2009 at 1:07 AM
Hi Mike, I am agree with your thought. When we say something is exceptional, it means we compare it to something mediocre. Striving is something that makes the difference.
Thanks for sharing this article, Mike.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Living to be excetional sounds like a real challenge, until you realize that all you have is this very breath and the moment it was taken in. Breaking things down into breaths really makes it easy to maximize each and every conscious moment.