Never engage any task with the intent of mediocrity. In doing so, you are betraying your overall goal of pursuing excellence in everything that you do. This is an important thing to consider before you begin any task in your daily routine.

This sounds like an easy concept when the task you are engaging in is one where the pursuit of greatness comes naturally. If you are going to the gym, it’s only natural to try to lift more or run faster than the last time you went. If you’re going into a business negotiation, you are naturally inclined to strive to come out on top. But what about when you’re going to the grocery store? Or when you’re just taking out the garbage? There’s really no way to strive for greatness in these activities, is there?

The simple answer is yes. In the continual pursuit of becoming the best man or woman that you can be, there is room for improvement in all things we do. Take the grocery run for example. Should you really be picking up those frozen pizzas? Sure, they’re quick and hassle free, but are they the best choice for your physical and mental wellbeing?

Take a moment before you begin any task during your day. Ask yourself, is there a way that I can be bettering myself as a whole human being by doing this? If you truly apply yourself to this concept, there will be opportunity in everything that you do. Maybe you start doing curls with the garbage bags as you take them out to the trash.

Maybe when playing with your kids, you take an extra few moments to teach them how to spell some of the words they are using. Or maybe you just take the extra few seconds to tell them how proud of them you are, and how much you love them. It is only through the continued pursuit of bettering oneself that one can ever truly achieve their whole potential, and it is in this that true greatness resides.

pic courtesy of Nike