---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status…"
description: "\"“Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status quo discarded”. Look ahead and don’t see the little things you do now as the final products to ever stand out..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d3/israelmore-ayivor-79_average_don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-q_1178710.jpg"
---

#  Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status quo discarded”…

![“Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status quo discarded”. Look ahead and don’t see the little things you do now as the final products to ever stand out of your personal actions!” quote by Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d3/israelmore-ayivor-79_average_don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-q_1178710.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d3/israelmore-ayivor-79_average_don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-q_1178710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d3/israelmore-ayivor-79_average_don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-q_1178710.jpg)

> ““Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status quo discarded”. Look ahead and don’t see the little things you do now as the final products to ever stand out of your personal actions!””

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Excellence requires abandoning complacency and focusing on future impact rather than immediate results.

**In simple terms:** Aim beyond current tasks for lasting excellence.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize long‑term vision over short‑term fixes.

Themes

excellence future focus growth mindset

Mood

determined inspired

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- personal development
- leadership decisions

Key Concepts

psychology achievement theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance big‑picture thinking with necessary details?
- What habits help you stay future‑oriented?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting details can undermine quality of final outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Do-it-better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-it-better/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Food for thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-for-thought/) [Israelmore-ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israelmore-ayivor/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Stand out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-out/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/)

## Related quotes

> [“I write because I love it, not because I excel at it.  But because I write, I shall slowly excel at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-write-because-i-love-it-not-because-i-excel-at-it-but-because-i/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [“Power is defined as an ability to do qualitative work with a quantitative passion, backed by a compelling conviction, directed by a propelling purpose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/power-is-defined-as-an-ability-to-do-qualitative-work-with-a/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Power as a beneficial tool for aspiring achievers is primarily made up into four folds; 1. Power to control emotions, 2. Power to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/power-as-a-beneficial-tool-for-aspiring-achievers-is-primarily-made/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Let your vision be ahead of your sight! Dream beyond what you see and never let your environment determine the size of what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/let-your-vision-be-ahead-of-your-sight-dream-beyond-what-you-see-and/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“When all your efforts are channeled through a common canal for progress, no condition can alter a single sentence of your success story! Dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-all-your-efforts-are-channeled-through-a-common-canal-for/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“YOU are YOU! Know YOU can! YOU must not be afraid because God has a prosperous future plan for YOU! YOU got to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-are-you-know-you-can-you-must-not-be-afraid-because-god-has-a/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Never be complacent about the current steps; don't agree and follow the status quo. Be determined that you are making an indelible impact with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/never-be-complacent-about-the-current-steps-don-t-agree-and-follow/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Excellence is making a rubber shoe initially; later making a leather shoe; then later making a leather shoe with gold medal on top and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/excellence-is-making-a-rubber-shoe-initially-later-making-a-leather/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Excellence is a habit acquired by continuous improvement on the little things you do with a firm belief that it's going to be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/excellence-is-a-habit-acquired-by-continuous-improvement-on-the/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“The simple rule to abide by and become excellent is that “Don’t see what you have achieved yesterday with the same pleasure eyes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-simple-rule-to-abide-by-and-become-excellent-is-that-don-t-see/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“It's excellence in leadership when everyone wants to manufacture a black shoe and you manufacture a designer black shoe with gold medal on top.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-s-excellence-in-leadership-when-everyone-wants-to-manufacture-a/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“You’ll miss your next opportunity if you’re too focused on your last mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-burgunder/you-ll-miss-your-next-opportunity-if-you-re-too-focused-on-your-last/)

[Brittany Burgunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-burgunder/)

> [“Come on, man. You can’t always be looking over your shoulder, you know? At the good stuff or the bad stuff. You got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-reisz/come-on-man-you-can-t-always-be-looking-over-your-shoulder-you-know/)

[Kristopher Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-reisz/)

> [“If you want to drive ahead, look through the windscreen and drive, not through the rear-view mirror!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajuda/if-you-want-to-drive-ahead-look-through-the-windscreen-and-drive-not/)

[rajuda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajuda/)

## More by Israelmore Ayivor

> [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Every game has rules. Life’s a game that has its respective rules; obey the rules, win the game!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/every-game-has-rules-life-s-a-game-that-has-its-respective-rules-obey/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you high. People who are gentle, humble and able always have a great ending no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/humble-yourself-before-the-lord-and-he-will-lift-you-high-people-who/)

[israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“The leader’s commandment is made up of pledges to solve local and global problems, and not to create more problems to add to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-leader-s-commandment-is-made-up-of-pledges-to-solve-local-and/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“You carry greatness disguised in tiny potentials.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-carry-greatness-disguised-in-tiny-potentials/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Don't keep looking for "something" in the bag of "nothing". You will see the same thing again and again no matter how many times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-keep-looking-for-something-in-the-bag-of-nothing-you-will-see/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Your flour is your dream and your bread is your fulfillment. The environment in which your flour is baked can influence the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/your-flour-is-your-dream-and-your-bread-is-your-fulfillment-the/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“The vision of life is not a "discovery"; it's a "work" and whatever position you occupy demands work. Your life may not be built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-vision-of-life-is-not-a-discovery-it-s-a-work-and-whatever/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“I do not worship a DEAD and buried Christ at Calvary. I worship a ressurected and LIVING Christ in Heaven! Jesus Christ is alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-do-not-worship-a-dead-and-buried-christ-at-calvary-i-worship-a/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Bear in mind that humility is not timidity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/bear-in-mind-that-humility-is-not-timidity/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

[Explore all 1,547 Israelmore Ayivor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

## More Ahead quotes

> [Anybody who thinks that they should lead the country should go ahead and put their hat in the ring. I am not among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-should-lead-the-country-should-go-ahead/)

[Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/)

> [If I have a problem with somebody, I go ahead and say what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/if-i-have-a-problem-with-somebody-i-go-ahead-and-say-what-s-on-my-mind/)

[Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/)

> [I once invested in a risky business. Quite a few people warned me not to do so, but I still went ahead and invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/i-once-invested-in-a-risky-business-quite-a-few-people-warned-me-not/)

[Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/)

> [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/)

[Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/)

> [In Life, We May Never Get The Same Opportunity Again, But There's Always Something Better Ahead...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/in-life-we-may-never-get-the-same-opportunity-again-but-there-s/)

Pacifiersucker

> [Makeup is only fun if it's occasional and capricious - just like it's a treat to have an empty day ahead, but it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/makeup-is-only-fun-if-it-s-occasional-and-capricious-just-like-it-s-a/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm the kind of guy who comes home and checks scores for everything. I'm a sports fan in general, so I pretty much keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-the-kind-of-guy-who-comes-home-and-checks-scores-for-everything-i/)

[Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/)

> [People are flying you places in business class. Everyone wants to take pictures of you and find out information about you. It's a freak-out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/people-are-flying-you-places-in-business-class-everyone-wants-to-take/)

[Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/)

> [I wasn't putting my all into it and I was still managing to score goals, and that gave me something to dream about, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/i-wasn-t-putting-my-all-into-it-and-i-was-still-managing-to-score/)

[Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/)

> [There's no limit to what you can accomplish, but there's always someone one step ahead of you, so it's a constant uphill battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/there-s-no-limit-to-what-you-can-accomplish-but-there-s-always/)

[Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/)

> [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/)

[Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/)

> [I don't want to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/i-don-t-want-to-look-too-far-ahead/)

[Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/)

> [“one who takes the first step always remains one step ahead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabi-shaheen/one-who-takes-the-first-step-always-remains-one-step-ahead/)

Rabi Shaheen

> [I am not interested to sing in Bollywood. I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-am-not-interested-to-sing-in-bollywood-i-sing-for-only-those-actors/)

[Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/)

Browse all 1,773 Ahead quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status quo discarded”. Look ahead and don’t see the little things you do now as the final products to ever stand out of your personal actions!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Israelmore Ayivor"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-quo-discarded-look-ahead-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ahead"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-quo-discarded-look-ahead-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d3/israelmore-ayivor-79_average_don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-q_1178710.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d3/israelmore-ayivor-79_average_don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-q_1178710.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d3/israelmore-ayivor-79_average_don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-q_1178710.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status quo discarded”. Look ahead and don’t see the little things you do…” — Israelmore Ayivor",
                "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": "Israelmore Ayivor",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Don’t be retarded; excellence is “status...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-quo-discarded-look-ahead-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-retarded-excellence-is-status-quo-discarded-look-ahead-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
