Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings.
-Proverbs 22:29 (HCSB)

When it comes to the success/career department, we love to make excuses, don’t we? We often try to justify ourselves by piling on the “reasons” we are where we are. I’m no exception, unfortunately.

A common one seems to be, “If I only had this, I could do that.” And what happens when we actually get “this”? Do you gain instant credibility? Do you skyrocket up the corporate totem pole? No, it usually just exposes us to news areas where we feel insecure. The bar is reset, the excuses start rolling again, and the cycle continues.

Simply put, excellence breeds success, not excuses.

I know that idea sounds more like something used to pump up a basketball team, but it really is the essence of this proverb. Solomon’s point: You want to be a success? You want to be proud of what you do? You want to stand in the presence of the best? Then do your job. Do it well, do it right, and do it now.

If you’re a teacher, teach with passion. If you’re a banker, deal with integrity. If you’re a carpenter, work with precision. If you’re a dairy farmer, pump that milk with the best of ’em. If you’re a janitor, mop those floors like nobody’s business.

Whatever you do, master your craft.