--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are going to achieve excellence in…" description: "\"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/colin-powell-691_achieve_if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-i_2776161.jpg" --- # If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you… ![“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/colin-powell-691_achieve_if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-i_2776161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/colin-powell-691_achieve_if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-i_2776161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/colin-powell-691_achieve_if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-i_2776161.jpg) > “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence comes from consistently handling small tasks well, forming a habit that scales to larger achievements. **In simple terms:** Small habits build big excellence. Key Takeaway Cultivate good habits in everyday tasks. Themes discipline excellence habits mindset Mood determined inspirational Type motivational practical When to use this quote - workplace - personal projects - learning new skills - leadership Key Concepts habit formation incremental improvement attitude Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a minor task into a habit? - What small habit could improve your performance? A Different Perspective Habits alone may not overcome systemic obstacles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-excellence-282634/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Big things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) [Develop Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/develop-habit-910553/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Excellence Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-big-556296/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Matters Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-excellence-3276867/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-in-big-things-you-develop-the/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Coach Saban and his staff are the best in the business at leading and inspiring players to reach a level of excellence in big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/coach-saban-and-his-staff-are-the-best-in-the-business-at-leading-and/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [My natural tendency is to complicate everything--and then to spray words and ideas onto everything afterwards. I've had to develop the habit of keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/my-natural-tendency-is-to-complicate-everything-and-then-to-spray/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“If one has failed to develop curiosity and interest in the early years, it is a good idea to acquire them now, before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/if-one-has-failed-to-develop-curiosity-and-interest-in-the-early/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Whatever you do repeatedly eventually becomes a new habit." In its simplest terms, this means that you can develop any habit of thought or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-you-do-repeatedly-eventually-becomes-a-new-habit-in-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to see the negative, but every person has something great about them. Develop a habit of looking for the good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/it-s-easy-to-see-the-negative-but-every-person-has-something-great/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [It takes 21 days to develop a habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/it-takes-21-days-to-develop-a-habit/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [You become highly skilled at whatever you do over again and over again. Every moment offers the opportunity to develop a habit of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-48/you-become-highly-skilled-at-whatever-you-do-over-again-and-over/) [George 48](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-48/) > [“I am selfish by habit, but sacrificial by nature. Therefore, I’d be wise to develop the habit of following my nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-am-selfish-by-habit-but-sacrificial-by-nature-therefore-i-d-be-wise/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [My dad taught me that to be a writer is a decision and a habit. It's not anything lofty, and it doesn't have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/my-dad-taught-me-that-to-be-a-writer-is-a-decision-and-a-habit-it-s/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [If you want to develop courage, then simply act courageously when it's called for. If you do something over and over again, you develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-want-to-develop-courage-then-simply-act-courageously-when-it-s/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [My father really taught me that you really develop the habit of writing and you sit down at the same time every day, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/my-father-really-taught-me-that-you-really-develop-the-habit-of/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“develop the habit of employing one of several “consider the opposite” strategies. We can learn to ask ourselves, for example, “Suppose the exact opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gilovich/develop-the-habit-of-employing-one-of-several-consider-the-opposite/) [Thomas Gilovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gilovich/) > [The way to develop the habit of savoring is to pause when something is beautiful and good and catches our attention - the sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/the-way-to-develop-the-habit-of-savoring-is-to-pause-when-something/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [One of the keys to longevity and good health is to develop a habit of gratitude and let go of past hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/one-of-the-keys-to-longevity-and-good-health-is-to-develop-a-habit-of/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) [Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colin Powell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-in-big-things-you-develop-the-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achieve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-in-big-things-you-develop-the-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/colin-powell-691_achieve_if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-i_2776161.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/colin-powell-691_achieve_if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-i_2776161.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/colin-powell-691_achieve_if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-i_2776161.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is…” — Colin Powell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Colin Powell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you are going to achieve...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-in-big-things-you-develop-the-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/if-you-are-going-to-achieve-excellence-in-big-things-you-develop-the-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```