The problem with taking offense is that it's really hard to figure out what to do with it after you're done using it. Better to just leave it on the table and walk away. Umbrage untaken quietly disappears.
Seth GodinRead
Excellence isn’t about meeting the spec, it’s about setting the spec. It defines what the consumer sees as quality right this minute, and tomorrow, if you’re good, you’ll reset that expectation again
Interpretation
What this quote means
Excellence is not just about meeting current standards but about raising them to create a higher expectation of quality.
This quote by Seth Godin emphasizes that true excellence goes beyond simply fulfilling existing specifications or standards. It is about establishing new benchmarks for quality that consumers not only recognize today but also come to expect in the future. By continually setting and resetting these expectations, one can redefine excellence in their field, pushing the boundaries of what is considered high quality.
Themes
ExcellenceQualityExpectationStandardsSuccess
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about striving for excellence in business.
More from Seth Godin
All quotes →Not adding value is the same as taking it away.
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Living with doubt ... is almost always more profitable than living with certainty. _x000D_ People don't like doubt, so they pay money and give up opportunities to avoid it. _x000D_ Entrepreneurshi p is largely about living with doubt. If you need reassurance, you're giving up quite a bit to get it. On the other hand, if you can get in the habit of seeking out uncertainty, you'll have developed a great instinct.
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The danger of the Web is that you can go from idea to public announcement in under ten minutes.
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Art isn't only a painting. Art is anything that is creative, passionate and personal. Art is the unique work of a human being created to touch another. Art is created to have an impact, to change someone else.
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I made a decision to write for my readers, not to try to find more readers for my writing.
Seth GodinRead
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