Be Excellent Today, Not Someday

In a recent interview, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was asked if he always knew he'd lead one of the world's largest companies. His answer was insightful and simple: when he started as an engineer at Microsoft, he focused solely on excelling at his work. Everything else followed naturally.

This insight is a learning moment for our instant-gratification culture. While we all want shortcuts to success, and some do get lucky breaks - the practice of excellence, regardless of your current position, remains the most reliable path to long-term achievement.

We've all encountered that pesky coworker, who spends more energy planning their climb on the ladder than mastering their craft. They indulge in office gossip, stay on cruise mode, complain about never getting promoted, and their manager’s unfairness towards them. There could be some truth to that situation, but indulging in these activities is a sure shot way of stalling their growth.

Here's the reality: every organization has a structure with fewer leadership positions at each level and they are designed that way for a reason. This means disappointment is inevitable for a high number of people at the end of each year when promotions are announced. However, those who commit to excellence in their current role create a different growth path entirely.

Excellence isn't just about doing good work, it's about developing the discipline and standards that distinguish you when opportunities arise. This practice begins exactly where you are today, not in some future version, after you’ve got your dream role.

Develop deep subject matter expertise in your domain. I once worked with an engineer who could navigate every technical aspect of our systems while understanding their business impact. His expertise made him indispensable and leadership regularly sought his input on strategic decisions. When you become the person others turn to for answers, you naturally gain influence beyond your title.

I believe in skill stacking as a strategy for growth. Think of skills as building blocks that compound over time. Each capability you develop adds to your unique professional profile. Some of the most successful leaders out there have stacked many skills. At the time it may not seem relevant or even important. But, you never know which ones shape your future. My own journey has woven together data analytics, product development, team leadership, client management, and coaching - skills that make me unique at what I do and offer.

Consider Steve Jobs' famous example: a calligraphy course he took in college directly influenced the typography design of the first Macintosh computer, giving Apple a crucial advantage. That public speaking course you're considering might be exactly what helps you shine in future leadership meetings. The marketing fundamentals you're learning could transform how you collaborate with your future go-to-market teams.

The more you lean into what you’re naturally great at, the easier it feels moving towards your goal. I’ve previously written about what means to be in your Zone of Genius and doing an energy audit to identify your Zone of Genius.

When you’re starting out, you take what comes your way to gain experience. But as you progress, actively seek work that aligns with your natural abilities - whether that's creating, building, executing, or leading teams.

Working against your natural grain creates unnecessary friction and can lead to burnout. Excellence requires energy, and you'll have more of it when you're doing work that genuinely engages you.

As Jim Rohn famously said, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Surrounding yourself with high-performers naturally elevates your own standards. Excellence becomes your baseline when it's modeled around you. So choose your company wisely.

If you are not surrounded by excellence in your current environment, don’t underestimate the power of mentorship at every career stage. Look for someone who's navigated similar challenges or possesses wisdom you can learn from. This relationship often provides the perspective and guidance that accelerates your growth.

Your moment for success may take a while, it may come next year or in the next five years. When I started out as a data analyst, I knew I wanted to be on the path of leadership eventually. But I couldn’t have predicted the path that would lead me through various leadership roles to head of product with C-suite influence. The key was maintaining excellence at each step, which created the foundation for each subsequent opportunity.

The true measure of your commitment to excellence comes in the quiet moments, when you're working alone, with no audience to applaud your efforts. These moments reveal whether you're genuinely committed to craft or simply performing for recognition.

Excellence is a daily practice of skill-sharpening and standard-setting. It's in these accumulated moments that you build the capabilities and reputation that distinguish you when opportunities arise.

Your excellence today creates the foundation for tomorrow's success. The discipline you develop now, the expertise you build, and the standards you set become the platform from which you'll launch into whatever comes next.

The path may require patience, but the destination of becoming someone others recognize as truly excellent, is worth the journey.

"The way you do one thing is the way you do everything" - Martha Beck

Hi, I’m Dipti and I work with ambitious professionals navigating growth and change. Each week, I share practical insights, personal stories on leadership and intentional living.

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