If you have read my blog posts over the years, you know that several people have greatly influenced my life by the way they lived theirs. I have written about my dad, Coach John Wooden and Coach Vince Lombardi. All three of them helped me see the importance of never being content and always striving to learn and become the best lawyer I was capable of becoming.
In 2013, I wrote: Who Has Had the Greatest Influence on Your Life? If you have a couple of minutes go back and read that one again.
A few years ago, I watched the HBO documentary about Vince Lombardi. I urge you to take the 90 minutes and watch it. As you will see when you watch it, Coach Lombardi inspired and influenced his players. He loved them and they loved him. Near the end of the documentary, the announcer says Vince Lombardi inspired many who never played for him. I was one of those many who he inspired.
You can watch a short preview here:
In the documentary, quarterback Bart Starr remembers Lombardi telling the team shortly after he became head coach:
Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence.
Starr said after he heard that he about jumped out of his seat. He was ready to go out and chase perfection.
One of the important words in the quote is “relentlessly.” My hope for you in 2015 is that you will “relentlessly” chase perfection. Your joy will come from the pursuit and the feeling you are catching excellence in your career and life.