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Exceptional
Performance
Copyright © All rights reserved
By Ken Chapman, Ph.D.
Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.
In 1924, English artist William Wolcott came to New
York City to record his impressions of that metropolis. One morning he was
visiting in the office of a colleague when the urge to sketch came over him.
Seeing some paper on his friend’s desk, he asked if he could use it. His
friend pointed out that the paper he wanted to use was not sketching paper; it
was just ordinary wrapping paper, the sort of paper we use to wrap meat or
fish.
Not wanting to lose that spark of inspiration, Wolcott took the wrapping paper
and pointed out to his friend that nothing is ordinary if you know how to use
it. Then, on that ordinary wrapping paper, Wolcott drew two sketches. Later
that year, one of them sold for five hundred dollars and the other for one
thousand dollars, rather large sums in 1924. In fact, in 2004 dollars, those
two sketches sold for more than fifty thousand dollars. Ordinary wrapping
paper in the hands of a great artist became a masterpiece.
Abraham Lincoln said, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” It doesn’t matter
how large or ineffective an organization is, an individual can still make a
difference. You can make a difference. A mediocre employer can hinder
exceptional performance, choose to ignore it, and not adequately recognize or
encourage it. Or an employer can train employees to achieve exceptional
performance and then reward it. Ultimately, though, regardless of the
circumstances, only the employee can choose to do his or her job in an
extraordinary way.
The
bottom line: Nobody can prevent you from choosing to be exceptional.
For more information about Ken
Chapman and Associates’ Leadership Development Programs, contact Ken Chapman
at 205.366.0265 or email Ken at
kchapman@leaderscode.com.
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