Why High Standards Matter So Much
We Don’t Rise to Our Potential… We Fall to Our Standards
Most days, if we’re honest, are pretty average.
And that’s not me being negative, it’s just reality.In fact, by definition, average describes the typical or most common outcome over time.Not bad. Not amazing. Just… average.
In my experience, those days when you’re absolutely firing on all cylinders - smashing goals, winning life, feeling 10 feet tall - those are rare. Beautiful, but rare.
Most days, we don’t rise to our full potential.We fall to our standards. And that realisation has turned up in my life time and time again over the last few years.
What We Tolerate Becomes Our Normal
The truth is - what we tolerate becomes what we get. If we tolerate lateness, we end up constantly running behind.
If we tolerate messy communication, or unclear expectations, our relationships get messy.
If we tolerate mediocrity from ourselves, we build a life around it.If we allow slackness, excuses, and half assed efforts into our everyday life… guess what? That’s exactly what we’ll get back. Every. Single. Day.
Not because we’re bad people. Not because we don’t care. Simply because standards are what we fall back on when life gets busy or when we’re tired and stressed.
When I feel drained, it’s hard to muster the kaha to aim high. So I don’t just suddenly just discover my best self… as if. Instead? I default to my lowest acceptable standard.
You Become Who You Surround Yourself With
They say “if you show me your friends, I’ll show you your future”. That goes for whānau and colleagues too.
If you surround yourself with people who constantly find the negatives in everything, who are lazy, full of excuses, and who are always finding a reason why things can’t be done rather than being solutions focussed… that’s going to rub off on you.
You can have all the ambition in the world, but if you spend your life hanging out with losers, sooner of later, you’ll become one of them too. You can’t plant a seed in toxic soil and expect it to flourish.
You don’t rise to your dreams.You fall to the environment you’re in and become the people you surround yourself with.
And it’s built by what you tolerate.
Now sure, you can find a rags to ritches story, or a story about someone who, despite everything in their world going against them, they managed to rise above and beat the odds. That’s real, I accept that. But those are exceptions to the rule and if you want to play those odds - sweet as, karawhiua - go for it! But I’d rather stack the odds in my favour. I haven’t won lotto yet.
High Standards Aren’t About Perfection – They’re About Direction
When people hear “high standards” they sometimes think it means never making mistakes, never falling short, never having bad days.
But that’s not it at all.
High standards aren’t about being perfect. They’re about setting a direction for your life. They’re the non-negotiables you come back to when life tries to pull you off course.
None of us are perfect. I have off days. I miss targets. I mess up and get things wrong all the time. In life and in businesses.
But because I’ve spent years working on my standards, even on my worst day, I don’t let myself fall below a certain line. And that’s important to me. High standards are our safety net.
On the days you’re not feeling it.
On the days motivation doesn’t show up.
On the days life is punching you in the face.
You won’t rise to your vision board.
You won’t rise to your dreams.
But you will fall to your standards. So make sure they’re high.
Make sure your environment demands the best from you.Make sure your circle lifts you up, not drags you down.Make sure what you tolerate today is worth living with tomorrow.
Because this is it. One life. One shot. No practice run.
And while potential is a beautiful thing, it’s not something you can rely on daily. But high standards? We can build them up and we can lean on them.
Have high standards.
Ngā mihi
Anton