I came across a term last week that I just can’t get out of my head.  Magnifying your excellence is just one of those expressions that sticks.  In fact, I’d love to pass along credit, but for the life of me I can’t remember where I heard it.  But I keep hearing it over and over in my head.

Consider your business.  If I asked you whether you magnified your excellence, some of you would shout a resounding yes, while others might bow your heads and if truth be told, would say “I’m not sure we are excellent at anything.”   You must admit, it’s tough building long term business value if you are not excellent at anything.

Magnifying your excellence maps to a story told by Marcus Buckingham.  In his public lectures, sometimes Marcus will ask the audience, “if your son brings home a report card with two A’s, 2 B’s and a D, where do you place most of your focus?”  Well if you’re like me, that D really stands out and it’s very hard not to let that dominate the conversation.  Never mind that your son might be the next Stephen Hawking,  your going to make sure “no son of yours” gets a D in Language Arts!

Buckingham argues that you must find your strengths and spend your precious time maximizing them.

So now the challenge is to find your strengths and maximize your excellence.