Excel – with Lady Justice

Justice is an interesting concept. It demands fairness and equity. It calls for granting a fair playing ground for everyone. It confronts lack of fairness in the sharing of space and resources. Where law is set aside, and when fairness and equity are not respected, the human soul bursts out with violence. Why? Because “Nothing rankles more in the human heart than a brooding sense of injustice. Illness we can put up with. But injustice makes us want to pull things down…’ Justice William Joseph Brennan Jr. (April 25, 1906 – July 24, 1997) Associate Justice, USA Supreme Court (October 15, 1956 – July 20, 1990)

This is the essence of leadership. A person skilled in leadership will work and remove impediments that give others advantages over them or that create disadvantages for them when others are shielded from those disadvantages. In personal leadership, we reach out for the best so we are not left behind. In group leadership, we engineer for our community, the ability for everyone to reach their potential.

The doctrines of ‘rule of law’ and ‘access to justice’ are not about keeping people in line. They make available to everyone, the ability to reach their potential without hurting the next person. They promote excellence, because anyone can stretch to higher heights within the scope of rules, if a level playing field is given to all. And those who stretch, help others up. They are designed to ensure fairness and equity in every arena of human function, so that when people excel, it is because they turned that key called ‘leadership’, not ‘corruption’ or ‘perversion’ or ‘oppression’.

So when you need to move forward in your ambition, never forget the rules. Outside of the rules, you are creating strands of destruction for yourself and everyone, not chords of excellence. Rules, laws, justice are needed for a safe today, a stable tomorrow and a secure future. Please think about this in your journey to being the best. Here are some quotes on excellence that might help as you think of the place of rules in life ….

“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential, these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” Confucius

“Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” Ralph Marston

“Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.” Anonymous

“Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” John Gardner

And this is my own – ‘Excellence never breaks the rules. It works to the highest standards within the rules’. JustTrudy