The noted Greek philosopher Aristotle has famously said,  “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”. One should always strive to excel in personal and professional lives. Long ago, I published an article on this website. The article contained a seven-step guideline for pursuing excellence. Please see https://www.boloji.com/blog/1072/pursuit-of-excellence.

This article presents six simple steps for achieving excellence. The overall approach remains the same. However, the involved steps are presented in an easy-to-remember manner. The method is called the 6R Approach. The six steps are described below.

1.       REPEAT: Keep on repeating whatever you are doing well.

2.       RECTIFY: Apply corrections wherever needed

3.       REJECT: Get rid of the activities that are not needed or are redundant.

4.       REFINE: Introduce improvements wherever possible.

The four foregoing steps are to be followed on a day-to-day basis.  With the passage of time, one will become more knowledgeable. Secondly, the acquired experience will make one wiser. These two factors will enable one to take quantum jumps periodically. To this end, one is advised to follow the two additional steps below.

5.       REVIEW: This step involves comprehensive assessment or introspection. This is done periodically. The reviews are carried out keeping in mind Effectiveness and Efficiency.

6.       RAISE THE BAR: Here, one will attempt to improve and achieve greater success, and possibly, pathbreaking findings. This is the outcome of the review of the previous step.

People are recommended to consciously stick to the foregoing. After some time, it will become a habit or second nature. According to Aristotle, Excellence is a habit. At the same time, by adhering to this habit, one can really excel.

To end this article, a quick recap of the six R’s. 

REPEAT- RECTIFY-REJECT-REFINE-REVIEW-RAISE THE BAR