Unleashing Inherent Excellence!

by Mandhyan

Excellence is not a rigidly defined entity across space and time. It is not a measured standard or a set of capabilities in an individual or an organization. It is regarded as outstanding or very good. It is, in fact, a heady state of mind; an unyielding passion; an attitude; and a definitive choice people make to be as good as they can be, or even better. It is a stretch, a constant strive for perfection. Aristotle claimed it thus, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.

The yearning to be outstanding and to do our best is inherent in all of us, just as excellence is a definitive choice, an attitude, and a state of mind.   Why inherent? It is inherent because the yearning is as natural as that of a bud opening to become a flower, an acorn stretching to become an oak tree, and the sun rising to shine at daybreak. We are born, we are alive, we have intelligence, and it is natural for us to want to grow, to improve, and to excel. Because we can think about, wish for, and dream of excelling, we can also achieve that state and that destiny.  We can conceptualize excellence, and the resources and strategies lay waiting within our systems to manifest that dream. The challenge is in releasing those hidden, conscious and unconscious resources and abilities within us and in deploying those strategies towards our dreams and chosen destinies.

Over time and space, there have been numerous technologies that have been designed and effectively developed to unleash excellence across organizations and in individuals. My recommendations are simple and have delivered successful results.

•           The process begins with not just working at but with deep, burning probing to obtain clarity about what it is we want exactly, and why.  From sheer reflex, most people respond with catch phrases like success, happiness, money, efficiency, increased market share, etc.  All of these responses are fine, but thoughtful precision and purified clarity are required. Over time, our wants and desires turn blurry and our ability to maintain clarity becomes dulled.  This is where external support with coaching and coaxing is needed.  A series of meetings in conversation with a qualified coach or consultant will help sharpen that ability and crystallize your dreams.

•           After obtaining clarity, a well-thought-out design and an action plan will be created. This fail-proof design must be doable and flexible in the face of constantly changing circumstances and market conditions.  In individuals, a code of discipline and personal commitment must be embedded in the design. In an organizational setting, the dream and the plan of action must have an alignment of values and a buy-in from all the players and stakeholders.

•           The final step for unleashing inherent excellence is to take deliberate, massive, and conscientious action every day and every moment. In a world that is in a constant state of flux, people tend to withdraw into their comfort zones and seek safety in a familiar but unmoving state. This generates lethargy leading to atrophy and thus, failure in achieving dreams of growth and excellence.  Unless we execute our plans and take action, no dreams or designs of success can come to fruition.  This step takes up the most energy and effort.  It is also the only area where ideas can be validated, measured, and improved to gain success and eventually, to move toward excellence and realize our destinies.

The desire to excel lurks within us and so does the power and capacity to achieve that state of excellence.  It is up to us to choose and begin to Unleash Excellence Inherent in us.
Let any doubt you may have in your inherent excellence evaporate in the clouds where this persistent seagull practiced and smashed through limits.

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.”                              From the book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach.

100 Table Topics by Loy Machedo (August 2013) Edition

Please feel free to use these topics for your Club Contest or Club Meetings.
Copy, Paste, Share – its all yours.
Also – if you want me to create any particular based Table Topics (any category) let me know.
Loy Machedo

  1. A Smart man gets married. A smarter man stays married. But the Smartest Man chooses to remain single.
  2. Action Based Video Games – Do you think they have a positive or negative impact on Children’s Mentality?
  3. A-Grade Students work under C-Grade Students – Why?
  4. Apple or Windows – Which one do you use and why?
  5. Are Models Intelligent people or are they just obsessed about physical beauty?
  6. Are you Hard to Read or Easy to Read? Tell us why.
  7. Beauty is not only Skin Deep. It is deeper. Comment.
  8. Behind every successful man there is a woman. Behind every Intelligent man there is who?
  9. Being a Parent is the most bitter pill everyone desires to swallow.
  10. Can we create our own destiny or are we actors on a play called life?
  11. Chicken or Egg. And why Did the Chicken Cross the Road. Why do you think it is always a Chicken and no other animal?
  12. Children are born Intelligent. When they grow up what makes them not-so-intelligent?
  13. Coke or Pepsi – Which one do you prefer and why?
  14. Do gain peace, sometimes we  need to go to war. Please comment.
  15. Even with so many books on Management, we haven’t seen any improvement in Management Policies. Why?
  16. Excess Advertising – Is it a waste of money or is it a good use of money for the Brand?
  17. Give us 5 ways over how you can improve your Intelligence
  18. Give us a brief history of your time.
  19. Give us one example where you have used your Head instead of your Heart.
  20. Give us one example where you have used your Heart instead of your Head.
  21. Give us one instance where you have failed to use your brain.
  22. Give us your views on Tattoos & Piercings.
  23. Given the rate of Technological progress – Do you think Writing with Paper and Pen is soon going to die out permanently?
  24. Hot Water Shower or Cold Water Shower – Which one would you recommend and why?
  25. How important is a Personal Brand? Share your thoughts with us.
  26. If you could bring one famous person in the world back to life – who would it be and why?
  27. If you could invent any thing – what would you invent or create?
  28. If you could study the mind of any famous person – who would it be and why?
  29. If your life could be summarized into a book with a title, tell us what would it be and what would the content and the main message be?
  30. Intelligence is over-rated
  31. Intelligence without Creativity or Creativity without Intelligence – which one would you prefer and why?
  32. International Speech, Humor, Evaluation or Table Topics – If you could get rid of one speech category – which you must, which one would you get rid of and why?
  33. International Speech, Humor, Evaluation or Table Topics – which among the lot is most important category for you and why?
  34. International Speech, Humor, Evaluation or Table Topics – which is the most difficult among the lot for you and why?
  35. Is it good or not good to ask someone else’s advice on your life?
  36. Is it possible to live in a world without politics?
  37. Ketchup or Mustard – which one do you prefer and why?
  38. Man is a creature of circumstance. Why do you think so?
  39. Money or Power – which one would you prefer and why?
  40. Our academic system values only one kind of intelligence – Agree / Disagree
  41. People have 2 ears to hear and one mouth to talk – But they seldom follow that strategy. Why?
  42. People in every generation talk about the ‘Good Old Day’s. Talk to us about it.
  43. Playing Video Games – Does it Improve your Brain Capacity or Destroy your Brain Capacity
  44. Scientists endorse the theory of Evolution and state man originated from a Monkey. What is your view on it?
  45. Should Tattoos and Piercings be allowed in the Corporate World?
  46. Steve Jobs or Bill Gates – Who do you admire more and why?
  47. Talk to us about a life changing episode in your life.
  48. Talk to us about an episode in your life where you have broken the rules and gotten away with it.
  49. Talk to us about one goal which you have had and achieved
  50. Talk to us about the most embarrassing song that you have on your MP3 Player which you wish no one would catch you listen to publicly
  51. Talk to us about the most happiest moment in your life.
  52. Talk to us about your biggest failure in life
  53. Talk to us about your favorite hang out joint.
  54. Talk to us about your favorite perfume and tell us something more about it
  55. Talk to us about your Value System.
  56. Talk to us when you were most depressed and how did you get out of depression.
  57. Tea or Coffee – Which one and why?
  58. Tell us about a dream of yours.
  59. Tell us about a Failed Funny Diet plan you have tried in your life time.
  60. Tell us about a Great Escape you just had
  61. Tell us about the worst movie you have ever watched
  62. Tell us one trait about you that we haven’t noticed but you would like to share.
  63. Tell us something about your weakness?
  64. Tell us the most intelligent decision you have made to date.
  65. Tell us what are your strengths?
  66. Tell us what did you do in these last 24 hours.
  67. The Mind can be your Friend or your Foe – Please comment.
  68. The sweetest voice ever heard – is our own. Please comment.
  69. We all hate Politics but we love involving ourselves in it – Please comment.
  70. We all need to keep fit. But we seldom keep fit. Why?
  71. What diet do you recommend to lose weight and why?
  72. What is favorite binge item?
  73. What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you over come it?
  74. What is the biggest problem we are facing on this planet. Tell us more about it
  75. What is the most embarrassing incident you have experienced this year?
  76. What is your stance on Cloning?
  77. What should be the permitted age for acquiring a drivers license?
  78. What should you do to become the smartest person in the world?
  79. When do you feel you are most intelligent – Morning, Afternoon or Evening?
  80. Which has been your favorite movie to date?
  81. Which is the Greatest Movie of all time. Why do you think so?
  82. Which organ of the Human body do you think is the most important to us Humans and why?
  83. Who is the Greatest Actor of all time? Why do you think so?
  84. Who is the Greatest Actress of all time? Why do you think so?
  85. Who is the one person who has contributed most to your life? Talk to us about that person.
  86. Who is your favorite actor and why?
  87. Who is your favorite actress and why?
  88. Why do the smartest people sometimes make the stupidest mistakes?
  89. Why do you believe Technology is a Boom to Mankind?
  90. Why do you believe Technology is a Curse to Mankind?
  91. Wrestling was removed as an Olympic sport this year. Do you think it should or shouldn’t be included as an Olympic Sport?
  92. You are 70 years old. Talk to us about how you spent your life.
  93. You are the Director of a Billion Dollar Movie. Tell us what this movie is about?
  94. You are the Director of the Traffic Rules Department. Give us some new rules that would enforce safe driving.
  95. You are the HR Director of a Multinational Company. Would you employ a Senior Manager who has tattoos on his body?
  96. You are walking on a dark street. Suddenly a guy takes a gun and stick it up on your face. Tell us what happens next?
  97. You can exchange your Brain for the Brain of any great legend in the world – Whose brain would you exchange your for?
  98. You have been asked by a Billionaire to choose any one single car in the world – all maintained and fully taken care off by him as his gift to you. Tell us which car would you choose and why?
  99. You have been awarded the most intelligent speaker award. Tell us why?
  100. You have to rush to the airport to catch your flight for an International Conference which you are the Main Personality to receive an award from the President of the Country. But suddenly you see on the road a man who is injured and needs to be taken to the hospital asap. What do you do?