The Pursuit of Excellence: The Uncommon Behaviors of the World's Most Productive Achievers

by Ryan Hawk

I believe in lifelong learning, and I love to learn from others whose lives I admire. I work to hold myself to high standards, and build the world I want to live in. It’s important to me never to think “that’s not my job” or wait for things to change, but to move proactively to improve myself and strive to help others. I consider it critical to take ownership of my thoughts, words, and actions, and take responsibility for the consequences. I believe preparation is the greatest medicine for fear, and it’s a way to show respect for others. Whether I’m conducting an interview, giving a keynote speech, or meeting with a mentee, I can never be too prepared. I believe in giving, to use what I’ve been given and what I’ve worked to earn and share it with others. I believe in building meaningful long-term relationships because love is what life is all about. To build those relationships, I lead with trust. I choose to assume the best in people. I’ve found that when I lead with trust, the people around me will work to keep it. If I get burned, so be it. I believe in spreading positive gossip. Instead of defining myself by what I’m opposed to, I want to be known as someone who is for things. I believe in being generous in my praise of others. I write thank you notes and compliment people behind their back. All of these qualities and actions reflect my core values—and living my core values leads me toward excellence. My values are thoughtfulness, thankfulness, curiosity, and consistency.