Becoming the best.
This past week I started reading a book I downloaded on my phone on John Paul Jones. I figured since I was going to Boston for a few days, I could get a history lesson. John Paul Jones is a fascinating character and the father of the American Navy.
One of the interesting facts I read was that Jones wanted to pattern everything the Navy did, down to the uniform colors, after the British Royal Navy. He met with great resistance from the Founding Fathers and was shot down. It didn’t stop Jones from wearing what he wanted to however, and running his ships as he saw fit! Congress wanted to distance themselves from their enemy. Jones on the other hand had a quite different reason for using the British as a model. You see, in those days, the British were the finest Navy in the world. They were the pinnacle of excellence. Jones wanted the same thing for his fledgling Navy. He wanted to learn from the best.
Becoming the best in your business requires learning from the best. The people who came and did what you want to do. While in Boston, I was honored to hang out with my professional community for a couple of days. These people are world class consultants and make up the “best of the best.” I want to continue to learn and be part of that group to not only advance my career, but more effectively help my clients improve their condition.
Who is the best in your world? There is always someone to learn from. I challenge you to enhance your career, regardless of how long you’ve been in it, by seeking out those who can guide, mentor, and model for you.
This week’s quote –“If fear is cultivated it will become stronger, if faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery.”
– John Paul Jones
