At the start of each year, I reflect on the concept of excellence. For many, it might seem tied to podiums, awards, or external validation. But I’ve come to redefine it in a way that feels more aligned, sustainable, and personal.
I remember sitting around a board room table in a vision exercise with my national sport body and being struck that excellence, something they wanted, only existed if it included podiums, accolades, or external recognition. It felt demanding, exhausting and relentless.
After years of training with, being mentored by and interviewing world class athletes, business owners and thought leaders in sport and life, I have claimed a very different definition of excellence that I want for you.
Excellence is being in flow.
Flow is adapting with grace to changing priorities— in sport, health, and life. It is acknowledging stressors, both good and bad, that life inevitably brings.
Excellence is:
- Showing up for yourself, even on the hard days.
- Choosing growth over comfort, and resilience over perfection.
- Honoring your values and making intentional choices that nurture your body, mind, and spirit.
- Celebrating small wins that reflect your effort, not just the outcome.
Excellence isn’t dictated by the expectations of others or society’s standards. It’s deeply personal and unique to you.
Excellence is asking yourself:
- Am I making choices that align with my priorities?
- Am I finding joy or radical gratitude in the process of moving, growing, and learning?
- Am I balancing ambition with kindness toward myself?
Excellence is thriving in imperfection.
It’s the willingness to adapt, to recover, and to find peace with where you are today while striving for what’s possible tomorrow.
Excellence is possible with connection.
It’s not a solo pursuit. It’s built through community, inspiration, and shared journeys. When we uplift each other, celebrate each other’s victories, and offer support during struggles, we all grow stronger.
Excellence includes every part of you.
Your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being are intertwined. To embody excellence, we embrace the full spectrum of what it means to be human—our passions, our challenges, and our triumphs.
As you navigate sport, health, and life in 2025, remember:
Excellence is the way you live, the way you grow, and the way you care for yourself and others.
The question for you is what could you do today and in 2025 to embody excellence as defined here? What are your words for 2025?
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