Made for more

If you hold yourself to high expectations, you already know that a bare-minimum mentality is your enemy. Doing just enough is your rival. Merely complying with requests is your nemesis.

High expectations demand that you do more, reach higher and go farther. All of which requires effort. And that’s where the challenge lies: Many people are simply unwilling to make the sacrifices required to reach the next level. The late nights. The early mornings. The missed milestones.

You will never see a high performer who doesn’t have high personal expectations. And they are willing to sacrifice a lot to uphold them. It’s easy to romanticize the success displayed in public without realizing how much sacrifice occurs in private.

More always requires more. More success requires more sacrifice, more time, more effort.

When I was a hotel concierge, if a guest asked for a dinner recommendation, I did not stop after suggesting a restaurant—I went further:

• I Printed menus
• Shared personal food recommendations
• Made the reservation
• Arranged transportation, when needed
• Notified the restaurant of guests’ preferences or special occasions
• Asked the maître d’ to greet the guests personally
• Shared a message with the restaurant staff to wish the guests a pleasant meal

Always more, always high expectations

I know a spa attendant who loves motivational quotes. When guests check out, she hands them a small card with an inspiring message—helping to curate a memorable farewell experience.

As a keynote speaker, I study my client’s vision, mission, values and company culture. I learn key jargon and staff members’ names. My follow-up process is even more detailed. Yes, I could just show up, speak and leave—but that would be the bare minimum. That is the opposite of high expectations.

When done consistently, high expectations become your reputation. You establish standards, and you refuse to negotiate on them.

So, what are YOUR high expectations? What won’t you tolerate in yourself? What do you refuse to compromise on?

Everything you do, every room you enter, every relationship you build should be better because you are part of it. Your high expectations of yourself demand your best—consistently.

Why? Because professionals do what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do it, whether or not they feel like it.

High expectations push you to be consistent. To elevate, to create something better. You were made for more. Success in public is built on sacrifice in private. You appreciate what is but imagine what can be.

You were made for more.

Dr. Bryan K Williams is a keynote speaker, consultant and author, who is a noted authority on service excellence and leadership effectiveness. His passion is to serve so that they may serve the world.

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