A short motivational talk by Russ Lowry urging listeners to adopt a personal standard of excellence regardless of society's low expectations. He insists people give their best in all tasks (work, relationships, personal development), shares a brief business-success anecdote to illustrate persistence, and offers practical admonitions (avoid behaviors that undermine performance).
Today, let's talk about how low the bar is set in society and why that doesn't matter to you. First off, I expect excellence. I expect every one of you guys to do your very best. No matter what you're doing. You're mopping a floor at work, you're working on an air conditioner, you're coaching, you're working on a patient. Whatever you do, do your best. Sometimes it's going to be tough, but the bar is set so low in society today and everyone says, oh, it's okay, you tried, you know, it's hard. You don't have to work that hard. You're not paid what you probably should. Well, that's not how we do it in our family. I expect you to do everything you do to the best of your ability. It just helps with your self confidence. It makes you a shining light to those around you. You bring up the rest of the people. So anything you do, work related, personal reading, going to church, relationships, make your relationships stand out for other people. The bar is set so low today and everyone has an excuse. And that's why we're in the situation we're often in. Nobody wants to try their best or to do their best. Not even try. You don't try. Just do your best. Give it 110% no matter what you're doing and let the chips fall where they may. Sometimes you might fail, other times you're going to be so successful, it'll be, it'll be crazy. Like when I started my business, we did so well out of the gate, leading the state, being ranked, being nationally in the top 10, 15 agencies in sales, as some goofy redneck from Oklahoma because I put my nose down, I didn't listen to everyone else and they said, you can't sell insurance in November and December. No one's buying, you can't sell. Then this is back to school. I didn't listen to those guys. I just did my very best. Every day I went out there and did my job and guess what? You succeed. You know, other times it's tough and you're doing your very best and it doesn't seem like you're getting very far. But always do your very best. Be that shining light, be that example. Don't be the exception to people. And you all have those people. I've listened to you guys talk at dinner and at lunches when we go out talking about guys you work with or girls you work with or you're in school with, you're like, I just can't believe this person. I don't know why they do that. Well, maybe no one's giving them the kick in the ass like I am. You saying I expect excellence from you, and that's the issue. But always look back and think anytime you don't want to do a job or you're. You're struggling, think, my family expects excellent. They expect me to give my best no matter what. And hey, don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Don't go out drinking at night, on a work night, and then wonder why your performance suffers the next day. Cut that shit out. Anything that takes away from stuff like that, cut that out. Be smart. We'll talk about that later too, about planning your day. But I expect excellence from you guys. Always give that. And then the world will be your oyster. It'll take you amazing places.
