--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Excellence isn’t about working extra hard…" description: "\"Excellence isn’t about working extra hard to do what you’re told. It’s about taking the initiative to do work you decide is worth doing.\" — Seth Godin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/seth-godin-152_excellence_excellence-isn-t-about-working-extra-har_884322.png" --- # Excellence isn’t about working extra hard to do what… ![“Excellence isn’t about working extra hard to do what you’re told. It’s about taking the initiative to do work you decide is worth doing.” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/seth-godin-152_excellence_excellence-isn-t-about-working-extra-har_884322.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/seth-godin-152_excellence_excellence-isn-t-about-working-extra-har_884322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/seth-godin-152_excellence_excellence-isn-t-about-working-extra-har_884322.png) > “Excellence isn’t about working extra hard to do what you’re told. It’s about taking the initiative to do work you decide is worth doing.” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True excellence comes from self‑directed initiative, not merely fulfilling assigned tasks; it requires choosing meaningful work. **In simple terms:** Excellence is about initiative, not extra effort on given tasks. Key Takeaway Choose work that matters to you. Themes motivation leadership productivity Mood inspired determined Type practical philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - entrepreneurship - creative projects - volunteer work Key Concepts self‑determination purpose Questions to Reflect On - What work would you start if you had full freedom? - How do you balance directives with personal initiative? A Different Perspective External pressures can limit autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Taking Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-initiative/) [Taking The Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-the-initiative/) ## Related quotes > [Success comes from taking the initiative and following up or persisting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/success-comes-from-taking-the-initiative-and-following-up-or/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“The Art of Action explores specific action steps you can take for personal and professional transformation. Start by taking the initiative to be kind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-art-of-action-explores-specific-action-steps-you-can-take-for/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Just Show Up. Guess what? Being in the right place at the right time can’t happen without your first showing up. Companies have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/just-show-up-guess-what-being-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Leadership is people taking the initiative, carrying things through, having ideas and the imagination to get something started, and exhibiting particular skills in different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bunch/leadership-is-people-taking-the-initiative-carrying-things-through/) [Charlotte Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bunch/) > [“Imagine how many new friends you would make, how much new business you could create, and how much fun you could have by simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/imagine-how-many-new-friends-you-would-make-how-much-new-business-you/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“All communications are based upon either taking the initiative or reacting in response to the audience, adversaries, or the environment. By taking the initiative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helio-fred-garcia/all-communications-are-based-upon-either-taking-the-initiative-or/) [Helio Fred Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helio-fred-garcia/) > [Success comes from taking the initiative and following up... persisting... eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/success-comes-from-taking-the-initiative-and-following-up-persisting/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“The actor, writer, and director Woody Allen once said, “80% of success is just showing up!” You Can Show Up By . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-actor-writer-and-director-woody-allen-once-said-80-of-success-is/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Your success is your responsibility. Take the initiative, do the work, and persist to the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/your-success-is-your-responsibility-take-the-initiative-do-the-work/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Excellence isn’t about meeting the spec, it’s about setting the spec. It defines what the consumer sees as quality right this minute, and tomorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/excellence-isn-t-about-meeting-the-spec-it-s-about-setting-the-spec/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Excellence isn't about meeting the spec, it's about setting the spec.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/excellence-isn-t-about-meeting-the-spec-it-s-about-setting-the-spec-2/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Listen, you listen to the work and you decide whether you want to support it. But don't ask me why I'm doing it, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frank/listen-you-listen-to-the-work-and-you-decide-whether-you-want-to/) [Joe Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frank/) > [Actors are terrible at overthinking things before they turn up to work, and they decide on a way they're going to do it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/actors-are-terrible-at-overthinking-things-before-they-turn-up-to/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [Your spirit lives on in your work. YOU decide what manner of work that will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iimani-david/your-spirit-lives-on-in-your-work-you-decide-what-manner-of-work-that/) [Iimani David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iimani-david/) > [You're trying to pin me down. I'm not a verbal person. Look at my work and decide for yourself. It's hard to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-weston/you-re-trying-to-pin-me-down-i-m-not-a-verbal-person-look-at-my-work/) [Brett Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-weston/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Excellence quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [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 > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Excellence isn’t about working extra hard to do what you’re told. 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