A Cut Above the RestSample

Exceptionally Excellent

Daniel and his friends were taken as captives by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. They were between 15 and 18 years of age – an age when most young people today choose to rebel, resist the conventional and display their uniqueness by what the popular culture of their times demand.

But, at the end of the training, Daniel and his three friends were found to be different in the display of their exceptional wisdom, deep insight and remarkable character. In every matter of wisdom and understanding, they were ten times better than the rest of their contemporaries. 

Every team wants a top player in their team. Every business covets that extraordinary executive. Every country seeks a transformational leader to lead them. In every sphere of life, it’s the extraordinary ones who are celebrated and sought after.

Malcolm Gladwell, the noted NY Times writer, researched and theorised a principle known as the 10,000 hours rule. He observed that one has to invest a minimum of 10,000 hours of deliberate practice in order to become a world-class genius in any field. Peak performance is not achieved by superficial engagement. One has to dive deep into one’s field of pursuit, be willing to burn the midnight oil, make hard sacrifices, step out of one’s comfort zone, stretch the limits, build expertise and continually work on improvement. Do all that is demanded of you to make this life count!

I remember my early days using PowerPoint for weekly project presentations. I made a choice of deliberately avoiding the available templates that the software offered and created my own, picking up images and abstract schemes that communicated the core message of the presentation. It became a subtle theme running through the presentation. This came to be widely recognised for its originality.

Originality, creativity and freshness are always welcomed. It sets you apart from the rest who imitate, duplicate and deliver mediocre stuff. Make it a habit to steer away from mediocrity and embrace excellence in every endeavour. You will definitely stand out!

Dear Lord, help me to draw people towards You by excelling in my character, behaviour and actions.