As Atlanta was host to 2011’s Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference and Expo, I had both the honor and pleasure of sitting in on ‘A Conversation With’  Earl Graves, Sr., and Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr.  Mr. Earl Graves, Sr. spoke of his time as administrative assistant to the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy – from 1965 to 1968.  Mr. Graves – after Kennedy’s assassination, formed his own management consulting firm that advised corporations on urban affairs and economic development.   Mr. Graves has received nearly 70 honorary degrees from colleges and universities, and is indeed a living legend.

The whole conversation was fascinating.  The father and son team spoke of the challenges and successes of the business; as well as painted a clear picture of its future. The father and son duo told the funny story about coming up in the Graves household.  Butch Graves received once received a “C” for a grade…and that would be the only “C” he’d ever bring home.  Earl Graves’ standard for his family, was absolutely above average.  Thus was his high standard upheld for business and everything else in his life.  And now that Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., is the President and CEO of Black Enterprise, it is clear to see that Earl Graves, Sr. has perpetuated excellence.

As a people, we should likewise always seek to be well above the average, and not accepting of what is normal, or standard  -  in anything. We should seek to operate in excellence in everything we do.   We often talk about operating in the spirit of excellence but forget that the root of ‘Excellence’ is excel.  And in order to excel, we must take action.  Webster’s definition of the word is:  to surpass others or be superior in some respect or area; do extremely well; to outdo.

We must learn not to accept the ‘norm’, or the ability to do the norm.  What we should accept, is that we have the ability to normalize excellence and make it the new normal.  By all means, we should not be deemed excellent by the things that we have.  Excellence is the mindset that feeds lifestyle and produces mental wealth.  Earl Graves, Sr., is a respected man with a standard of excellence from 1970 until now.  I am honored to have been in his presence and see excellence in him, his marriage, his family and his business.  Likewise, we need to make a conscious effort to outdo what has been done.   Be superior.  Break former records and set new ones.

Community and corporate goals mean nothing if we are individually defeated.  It takes a group of individuals to make a community.  So, in the spirit of community, let us begin to not only teach, but consistently drill into our children and our people, that we are NOT average.  Teach by repetition. Speak excellence and do it.  Do excellence and continue to speak it. Then perhaps we can begin to excel mentally, modify our behavior and eventually perform better and excel – with family, in business, and throughout our communities.

‘Each One Reach One’ is a very catchy phrase and sounds cute.  But some of us are in a position to reach a whole lot more than one person.  Some of us as individuals can speak to a whole generation through various media.  As I cannot challenge you to be in a place where I may not be, I hereby hold myself fully accountable for my position of excellence (or lack thereof) – in thought, in performance and in habit; and I challenge you to do the same.   If we can just change the way we think, then we can think change into action and excel  – which will cause others to do likewise.

If each one can reach one, I know that someone can reach many.

Now, tweet that!