This Super Bowl weekend sets two formidable teams against each other, each banking on their talent to outshine their opponent. Each team has a General Manager and staff, all looking to put the best team on the field.  Who has the best quarterback, receiver, running back, offensive, or defensive line? Who has the best punter or field goal kicker?

You might have a great coach, but without the talented players on the field, you won’t win, no matter how good your strategy is. Thus, I pose this question: Are you the “pinnacle of excellence” in your role within your company? Could someone else outshine you with better efficiency, speed, communication, creativity, or initiative? Are you replaceable at your position by someone else who can do a better job?

Being the best at what you do isn't just about talent; it's a result of dedication, persistence, and continuous improvement. It's a mindset that drives you to push your limits, constantly seek growth, and strive for excellence in every aspect of your work. You might not be the most talented, but never let it be said you were outworked.

I love the quote from Bruce Lee who once said, “ I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” This quote highlights the importance of mastery through repetition and focused practice. Consistent practice and hard work are non-negotiable components of becoming the best. Whether it's honing your craft, refining your techniques, or expanding your knowledge base, putting in the hours is essential.

What drives me, scares me, motivates me is the simple fact that, If I don't work harder than my competition, they will win. Or put a little differently by the great Kobe Bryant: “I want to practice more than my competition, so when we meet, I can win." A point I have made countless times in my speaking engagements is:

Your only true security in life

is your ability to perform.

The problem I see with most adults is they quit “actively” seeking knowledge; once they get out of school, most of them quit studying. Let me give you a simple example of what I am talking about. There are over one million words in the English language. A child of four knows about 5,000 words. A child of eight knows about 10,000 words. An average adult knows about 20,000 words. But here is the scary statistic; a person over the age of thirty learns about 5 new words per year. Let’s see now … on average, a four-year-old learns over 1,000 words per year and a thirty-year-old learns 5 words. Not Good!

It is actually pretty simple to improve yourself, but many adults don’t do a single thing to do so after they get out of school. If you just read thirty minutes per day, you will read the equivalent of 24 books per year. That’s more than most people read in two decades. Human character expert, Earl Nightingale stated: “If you spend 30 minutes – every day – learning about one specific subject, you’ll become a legitimate expert in six months.” Some people might dispute the title of “expert” in just 6 months … but I will tell you this … you will know more than 95% of the people in the world if you follow this practice; now that’s impressive!

Being the best at what you do is a journey, not a destination. So, the million-dollar question for you today is – What are you doing daily to improve your talent, skills, and knowledge? What are you doing daily to make people want you on their team? What are you doing to be the best at what you do?