Why Excellence Isn’t a Goal — It’s a Daily Practice

In Pursuit of Excellence to Win the Battle for Talent. 

I contributed this leadership chapter, published in “The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management for Accountants”, at the request of my good friend @Rory Henry, CFP®, BFA™, last year.

The battle for talent – some call it a war – continues. 

If you want a high-performing firm, start with how you lead every day. 

We love the word “excellence.” It shows up in value statements, strategy decks, and even client pitches.

But let’s be honest—how many firms are actually living it?

I've seen the difference firsthand in my experience coaching CEOs and managing partners.

The best firms don’t aspire to excellence. They practice it every day. They live it and breathe it. Not in slogans, but in decisions. Not in planning sessions, but in how they lead meetings, coach teams, and invest in people.

Excellence isn’t a goal. It’s a mindset.

I learned this truth early, both in my time as a managing partner at a global firm and through years studying martial arts. Mastery isn’t about brilliance—it’s about discipline. Showing up with intention. Focusing on the small things that compound into big results.

In one firm I coached, we started by helping the leadership team adopt this mindset. We identified values, created feedback loops, recognized behaviors, and tackled trust gaps. The result? Lower turnover. Higher morale. And a culture where people owned their role in excellence.

Excellence doesn’t require perfection. It requires consistency.

The world’s best firms practice:

✅ Clear communication

✅   Emotional intelligence

✅   Trust-building

✅  Feedback as a gift, not a threat

✅  Modeling the behavior they expect

They know that people are the brand—and leadership starts with how you lead, not just what you say.

If you’re chasing excellence as an endpoint, you’ll never get there.

But if you commit to showing up with clarity, courage, and intention today—and then again tomorrow—you’re already on the path.

As Tom Peters said,

“Excellence is the next five minutes.”

It’s the actions you take in the present moment. Not next quarter. Not next year. 

Ask yourself this question: What’s the next best thing I can do to move the firm forward and achieve our goals?

Make excellence your daily practice, not just an aspiration.

The complete chapter – In Pursuit of Excellence to Win the Battle for Talent – can be found in “The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management for Accountants” by Rory Henry, CFP®, BFA™.  

Next Steps

If you want to lead a firm where excellence is more than an aspiration, let’s build it together. I work with firm leaders to embed authentic leadership habits that elevate performance and culture.

Grab some time on my calendar here and take the first step toward excellence in action.

 Until Next Time!