“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” (Prov. 22:29 NKJV)
My father, Roger French, epitomized the essence of excellence in every job he undertook. No matter where he worked, he consistently stood out as a model of dedication and skill. When he began his career at the Alaska Lumber & Pulp mill in Sitka, Alaska, during the mid-1960s, he started at the lowest rung of the maintenance crew. Yet over four decades, his relentless commitment and hard work propelled him through the ranks, ultimately making him the top leader at the mill.
How he did it
He attributed his remarkable journey to a personal work ethic grounded in seven unwavering principles, which he adhered to religiously. Though he always began at the bottom in any organization, his commitment to these principles led him to rise to the pinnacle of success. These were the guiding rules he lived by:
Arrive at work early and leave late.
Come prepared to work and focus on your tasks.
Read and adhere to the company’s operating manuals.
Anticipate and execute “the next step” without needing direction.
Do everything in your power to contribute to the company’s success and profitability.
Support management wholeheartedly.
Maintain a positive attitude.
Excellence, as he defined it, is not just a goal—it’s a state of being, characterized by superiority, leadership, and the embodiment of exceptional qualities.
My dad was a hard act to follow, but I did my best—and his rules worked for me too! I’ve made it a priority to pass along his “7 Rules” to my children and grandchildren. And as a follower of Christ, I believe striving for excellence is especially important.
Christians must always strive for excellence
What you do represents who you are—and who you belong to. God is your Father. Jesus is your Savior and Lord. Why would you settle for anything less?
Examples of excellence in the Bible:
Daniel’s excellent spirit
“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Dan. 6:3 KJV)Joseph’s excellent work
“You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you. Pharaoh also told Joseph, ‘I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.’” (Gen. 40–41)Mordecai’s excellent behavior
“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.” (Est. 10:3)
Therefore
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil. 1:9–11)
“And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” (1 Thes. 3:12–13)
Quotes
“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” - Vince Lombardi
“The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it's a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free.” - Charles R. Swindoll