--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In her book The Reluctant Entertainer…" description: "\"“In her book The Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin writes, “Excellence is working toward an attainable goal that benefits everyone, while perfectio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/myquillyn-smith-28114_books_in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sa_516567.jpg" --- # In her book The Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin… ![“In her book The Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin writes, “Excellence is working toward an attainable goal that benefits everyone, while perfection comes from a place of great need — usually the need to avoid criticism and gain praise and approval from others.” quote by Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/myquillyn-smith-28114_books_in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sa_516567.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/myquillyn-smith-28114_books_in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sa_516567.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/myquillyn-smith-28114_books_in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sa_516567.jpg) > ““In her book The Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin writes, “Excellence is working toward an attainable goal that benefits everyone, while perfection comes from a place of great need — usually the need to avoid criticism and gain praise and approval from others.”” [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence focuses on realistic, shared benefits; perfection is driven by fear of judgment and desire for approval. **In simple terms:** Excellence helps all; perfection seeks praise. Key Takeaway Aim for realistic, inclusive goals. Themes excellence perfection motivation social dynamics Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team projects - community initiatives - personal development - leadership - creative work Key Concepts goal setting psychology collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance high standards with healthy motivations? - What shared goals can you pursue? A Different Perspective Perfection can lead to burnout and inauthenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ## Related quotes > [“How good a book is should be judged by the man who writes it by the excellence of the material that he eliminates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/how-good-a-book-is-should-be-judged-by-the-man-who-writes-it-by-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [“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/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“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/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) ## More by Myquillyn Smith > [“I’ve finally figured out that almost no one is living in their dream house. And I don’t know anyone whose life has gone exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/i-ve-finally-figured-out-that-almost-no-one-is-living-in-their-dream/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“IN ORDER to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” —Coco Chanel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/in-order-to-be-irreplaceable-one-must-always-be-different-coco-chanel/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“But that day, I realized that when I apologize for my home, I’m declaring to all within earshot that I’m not content. That I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/but-that-day-i-realized-that-when-i-apologize-for-my-home-i-m/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“In our thirteen houses, I have made every mistake. It’s been the best education I could have asked for. If I’d never tried, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/in-our-thirteen-houses-i-have-made-every-mistake-it-s-been-the-best/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“When all think alike, then no one is thinking. —WALTER LIPPMAN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/when-all-think-alike-then-no-one-is-thinking-walter-lippman/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“At times, good enough and done is a smarter choice than perfect, and simply making a choice is often a sign of maturity, balance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/at-times-good-enough-and-done-is-a-smarter-choice-than-perfect-and/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“and realize that as long as we all choose to walk around clothed, the laundry will never really be finished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/and-realize-that-as-long-as-we-all-choose-to-walk-around-clothed-the/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“Don’t apologize for what you have. It makes guests feel uncomfortable, it encourages discontentment, and if you’re married and your husband hears you apologizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/don-t-apologize-for-what-you-have-it-makes-guests-feel-uncomfortable/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“We long to create because we were made by a creator. God is in the business of creating places for his people. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/we-long-to-create-because-we-were-made-by-a-creator-god-is-in-the/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“Instead of seeing imperfections as thorns in my decorating flesh, I want to open my eyes and see them as signs of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/instead-of-seeing-imperfections-as-thorns-in-my-decorating-flesh-i/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“The key to creating a beautiful home isn’t knowing what you are doing; it’s taking a risk even if you don’t know what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/the-key-to-creating-a-beautiful-home-isn-t-knowing-what-you-are-doing/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“Instead of seeing imperfections as thorns in my decorating flesh, I want to open my eyes and see them as signs of life. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/instead-of-seeing-imperfections-as-thorns-in-my-decorating-flesh-i-2/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“But that day, I realized that when I apologize for my home, I’m declaring to all within earshot that I’m not content.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/but-that-day-i-realized-that-when-i-apologize-for-my-home-i-m-2/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“Is your home just another place of unmet expectations, to-do lists, and exhaustion? Or is your home a haven, the safest place on earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/is-your-home-just-another-place-of-unmet-expectations-to-do-lists-and/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) > [“The Art of Risk We don’t risk because it’s easy; we risk because of hope, because we see the promise of something better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/the-art-of-risk-we-don-t-risk-because-it-s-easy-we-risk-because-of/) [Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) [Explore all 19 Myquillyn Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In her book The Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin writes, “Excellence is working toward an attainable goal that benefits everyone, while perfection comes from a place of great need — usually the need to avoid criticism and gain praise and approval from others.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Myquillyn Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sandy-coughlin-writes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sandy-coughlin-writes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/myquillyn-smith-28114_books_in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sa_516567.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/myquillyn-smith-28114_books_in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sa_516567.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/myquillyn-smith-28114_books_in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sa_516567.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In her book The Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin writes, “Excellence is working toward an attainable…” — Myquillyn Smith", "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": "Myquillyn Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In her book The Reluctant Entertainer,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sandy-coughlin-writes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/in-her-book-the-reluctant-entertainer-sandy-coughlin-writes/#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 } } ] } ```