Success is about having. Excellence is about being.

Imagine following someone—someone you love—and being ready to devote your life to them at any moment, prepared to give anything to that one person. Now, imagine that someone is really your pure objective, a set goal. A goal so meaningful that everything else becomes obsolete when put in the context around it.

Looking back, have you ever been in a situation where you felt a dedication so strong that it created a tunnel vision around this one thing you chased, making everything else meaningless? And realistically speaking... how many of us can even apply this mentality nowadays, when there's just so much "noise" ripping our attention apart from these goals?

Two key concepts that will frame this discussion are: success and excellence.
Success often refers to achieving specific goals, accumulating wealth, or gaining recognition. It's typically measured by external factors and tangible outcomes.
Excellence, is about consistently performing at a high level, embodying admirable qualities, and striving for personal growth. It's more about the journey and who you become along the way.

Chasing the next big thing—the hallmark of success—can leave us feeling empty. We get that promotion, but then what? There's always a bigger goal. The motive behind this endless pursuit? "More is always better." On the flip side, focusing on "growing"—the path to excellence—gives us a sense of fulfillment that doesn't vanish once that goal is reached.

Instead of "I want to make $100k," try "I want to become invaluable in my field." The motive? "Quality of character outlasts quantity of possessions." This shift in perspective aligns more closely with the pursuit of excellence rather than mere success.

From a professional aspect, this pursuit of excellence means you create value within yourself that leverages as an asset to anyone interested in your expertise and skills. Growing that value makes you more competitive and desirable in others' eyes. But how does this play out in real life?

Let's put this in a metaphor... Suppose you're given a chance to spend time at dinner with Kim Kardashian or Grace Kelly. Which one do you choose? Will this choice echo your own understanding of what is success and what is excellence?

How can one even compare these two personalities who are so different in their looks and the period of time they come from? Simply... Kim is everything that defines the word "success": being popular & wealthy, selling out brands through her name, social accounts with big followings... etc. She's still an idol to many growing girls who desire to become the same role model as her. A real definition of success.

Now let's take a person whose name has proven to be timeless for a reason, a person whose significance has defined what is "Excellence", a person that has not only defined style and fashion at its peak in the most glamorous decade of history but showed the world what really made this ultimate form of expression.

Grace Kelly is everything that defines the word "Excellence." Her acting skills were awarded with an Oscar at a relatively young age. She influenced fashion and popular culture with her refined presence. She transitioned from actress to princess of Monaco, adapting to new roles with poise. But most of all, she was known for her timeless style and graceful demeanor, values that often go unnoticed nowadays primarily because they are so rare in popular media. The combination of all these aspects made her bigger than life. Underlying it all was the chase for excellence that underpinned every part of her character, which eventually became so influential and timeless, resonating with every person, brand, service... everyone that wanted to be just slightly and ever bit closer to that unattainable "Excellence" that she imprinted in history.

This comparison illustrates a crucial point: You get consumed by what you chase... and for some, it really is excellence at the end. But it's not excellence as a definition that's being chased; it's the logical reasoning of making all the right moves to get closer to obtaining these aspects from which you derive and create your characteristics. Characteristics that people want to be around, be influenced by, consumed by, devoured by.

At the end of the day, your character and personal growth are what truly define you. So while it's fine to enjoy success, it's the investment in your own self that outshines all of that in the long term. After all, you can't take your stuff with you, but you'll always have yourself to show who you really are in this decade of ever-growing weak characters and sellouts.