Podcast: Are You Perfect, Excellent or Just Good?

Episode 136

There is a series entitled “A Football Life” on the NFL network on cable television.

One of the programs in the series includes a two-part episode about the legendary football coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960’s, Vice Lombardi.

In part one, in an episode entitled “Lombardi Saves the Franchise” there is an interview with the late NFL Hall of Fame Packer quarterback Bart Starr.

Mr. Starr indicated that in of the very first meetings after Vince Lombardi took over as head coach of the Packers, Coach Lombardi walked into the meeting and said:

“Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase ‘perfection.’ Knowing full well we won’t catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to ‘relentlessly’ chase it, because in the process we will catch, ‘excellence.’ I am not remotely interested in being just, ‘good.’ ”
Vince Lombardi as recalled by Bart Starr.

However, is this hierarchy and philosophy outdated, a relic of the 1960’s, or is it still relevant today?

What is your edge of chasing perfection?
Stephen Lesavich, PhD

What do you think of Coach Lombardi’s philosophy about chasing perfection and his hierarchy? It is realistic for your professional life? Is it realistic for your personal life?