The High Cost (and Reward) of Being the Best

For most things that are bought and sold, the price of the item (or service) is relative to its value. But once you are dealing with unique highly valued items, the price no longer reflects the inherent value of the item. Think of 1st class airline seats, Mercedees luxury vehicles, Rolex watches, or Herman Miller Chairs (list price $1,199).

Why is the price of a first class ticket 10 or 20 times that of a coach class? Is it really 20 times the value of a regular seat? Can a 2 hour flight sitting in a drop wider seat while breathing the same air as everyone else be such a valued experience that it’s worth $2,000 or more?

The lesson here is that there is a high price to pay for excellence. If all you want is average, you can get good value for your money. But if you are looking for the ultimate – the cost curve is steep.

If you want to perform just as average – if you don’t set high goals for yourself and just want to get through the bare essentials, then you’ll be rewarded what you are worth. But you don’t have to settle for average. You can strive to be excellent, and reap the rewards that come along with it. Don’t just get the job done, get it done in the best possible fashion.

How does one become excellent? It certainly doesn’t happen overnight. Only with constant and steady improvement can you become from the top 2% in your field. Why settle for average when the reward for being the best is worth so much more?

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Filed Under: Inspiration

Tags: exceptional • herman miller • rolex • specialty