Professional excellence is a buzz word and the rage around the office, at cocktail time and in every professional and social group you attend.

What is all the hoopla, and is it all that it is cracked up to be? First, it is all that it is cracked up to be, if you know what it is you want and what it means to you. Excellence is not a destination--excellence is a journey that builds upon your strengths and goals without usurping or impinging on the rights of others.

The hoopla is a platform upon which we can make a statement, gather enthusiasm, motivate ourselves and encourage others to join in the journey. The more people who join in the journey the greater and the more enjoyable the experience.

The sad truth is that most people conduct their lives and careers according to other people's expectations. Accordingly, we choose careers that meet criteria established by peers, teachers and parents. On the job, we do everything we think is implicityly or explicitly expected, and usually nothing more. Therfore, work seldom becomes a means of expression or fulfillment--or anything more than a means to money and status.

So what is excellence? Excellence is continually and consistenly striving to do a better job, meeting new challenges, making a difference, and inspiring others. Excellence is the best you could do at the time you did it. Excellence is taking advantage of every situation and experience to learn and grow. Excellence is taking every opportunity to learn something new. Excellence is achieving excellence when the pinnacle has already been reached.

What are the characteristics of the individual who is on a journey for excellence? The list is probably infinite, however, I think there are some key characteristics.

--Setting goals; evaluating and improving performance.
--Presenting oneself in the best light.
--Presenting a positive attitude, seeing things positively--no matter the circumstances.
--Being a problem-solver.
--Staying up to date in professional development (state of the art in your field or technology).
--Helping others learn and develop
--Demanding excellence from others.
--Willingness to sacrifice and go the extra mile to achieve goals.
--Taking responsibility for decisions and mistakes.

People who are high achievers and strive for excellence are a breed apart. They are not smarter or blessed with some kind of gift. They are not extraordinary people, only ordinary people doing extraordinary things. These ordinary people achieve their excellence by taking time to manage their lives--personal and professional. Managing means taking responsibility for the outcome of decisions and the results of actions taken.

The formula is simple:
1. Visualize yourself in a dynamic way achieving what you want.
2. Set goals.
3. Understand other people and respect them.
4. Manage pro-actively and adapt to change, for surely things will change before you get where yu are going.
5. Avoid overcommitment.
6. Take personal responsibility and pride in what you do.
7. Cooperate with others, for they will help you.
8. Network and develop a team at work with peers, and a support group for personal achievement.

Achieving excellence requires understanding what you want, setting the goal, making the commitment and doing what it takes to get there. In the final analysis it is inspiration, combined with hard work, that results in achieving excellence. They is you and your willingness to make it an ongoing, everyday process.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Entrepreneur, personal and professional Life Coach has 25 years experience. She has consulted to Fortune 500 CEO