Excellence is in the “small stuff”

“Janet Dugan, a health care architect, took inspiration from her recent experience having an MRI scan. While she was lying still and waiting, she noticed a small mirror that had been placed below the head support piece. It was angled so that she could see through the barrel to the radiology technician and make eye contact with him. ‘What a small thing,  and yet what a difference it made. I felt less alone. I was connected to another person at the very moment I needed support…  I firmly believe in the power of design to contribute to the healing process – that architecture can shape events and transform lives. But that day, in that experience, the thing that really gave me comfort was a tiny mirror about as big as a Band-Aid.”  – Tim Leberecht, The Business Romantic, via Tom Peter’s opening in his new book, The Excellence Dividend.

I am a huge Tom Peters fan. And to me, he is the single greatest leadership expert of our time. He is 75 now and smarter than ever. His new book is an instant classic and we will all be better for it.

Today, as you think through your work week, I hope you will remember this story which is literally the first few words of the book. I hope it sinks in and that you look inward to your life, home, workplace and community and see what “details” or “small stuff” you could impact that makes the difference between “OK,” and “EXCELLENCE,” or even better, pure delight.

I am “delighted” when the local farm, Campo Lindo, (whose eggs I get at Whole Foods when the farmer’s market isn’t in season), has a little note in the carton telling me what is going on at the farm. Probably my favorite example is from my mother in law, who cared for the boys when they were young while we were working. Every single morning she would give them a typed up menu including a list of their favorite breakfast options, a la “Grandma’s Kitchen,” for them to circle their choice for the day. How cool is that? I am sure that they will never forget that extra attention to detail. I know I won’t. Excellence, details, and “small stuff” make all the difference.

Dive in to that idea today!