Independent Excellence

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” – Proverbs 22:29

Do you strive for excellence? The word excellence means outstanding, of exceptional quality. It begins when we know that being “good enough” just won’t do. It is the stand one takes that allows for performance that surpasses what was previously possible, defies previously established limits and maps out new territories. So I ask again, do you strive for excellence?

At one time or another I am sure you have had moments when you succeeded at something seemingly without effort. Times when you performed superbly and gracefully, you hit the mark on your very first attempt. Unfortunately, you’re never quite sure how it all came together, how it happened, or if a repeat performance is even possible. This my friend, is what excellence tastes like. A taste once acquired…

…nothing else will satisfy.

Can anyone obtain excellence? Absolutely. However, only the one who truly values excellence for what it is will be willing to pay the price necessary in order to attain it. You see, excellence does not reveal itself to you willingly. It hides from individuals that assume it is so easily discovered and readily obtained. It will hide from you and force you to work hard to develop disciplines and habits that must be mastered. Only then will it present itself and will ever be noticeable in your life.

It is always more costly in the beginning to set high standards, but in the end a windfall will await you and shower you with its rewards.

• Excellence opens doors
• Excellence commands respect
• Excellence rewards those willing to sacrifice now in order to obtain it
• Excellence sets your standards above the competition
• Excellence knows no competition
• Excellence will bring you before kings

The pursuit and the drive to excel beyond one’s normal comfort range can create great possibilities. When it came to my comic The Miscellaneous Adventures of STYKMAN™ I sought out to produce the highest quality comic I could. And that pursuit paid off as reviewer after reader would comment on its overall quality leading to more reviewers, readers and rewards. Now please understand, by “quality” I am in no way implying I am a better storyteller or artist than any other; each are subjective and based upon the opinions of the reader. What I am referring to is the overall production quality of the printed book; from page layout to color separation to the quality of paper the book was printed on, and yes, storytelling and art. No detail was overlooked.

The time necessary to learn every facet of comic book creation was taken well before I began to bring America’s favorite Bumbling Buffoon of a Branch to the printed page. I was committed to create a comic that could hold its own in the company of mainstream publishers like Marvel Comics, DC and Image. This delayed the immediate gratification I would have received had I rushed its production, however the payoff far exceeded my expectations.

I found myself attending events and conventions as a guest, hosting convention panels, invited to signings across the country and sitting at dinner with industry elite like Roy Thomas, Dennis O’Neil, Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Mark Sylvestri, Mike Kunkel and many, many others.

My success is not unique. It is however an uncommon tale for an Independent creator. However, it is readily available to all, such as yourself, if you are willing to work for it.

You see, excellence does not come without a price. In fact, it can be very costly. Why? Because the pursuit of excellence is a journey one must embark upon alone. It is a pursuit that requires commitment, discipline and the resolve to master. It is a pursuit most are unwilling to undertake. You can never take it for granted; if you do it will slip easily away from you and out of your grasp. Only the individual who truly values it for what it is will be the one willing to pay the price needed to attain it and will stand out from the crowd.

Next time you’re in attendance of a comic convention, take a stroll down Artist Alley. Take the time to compare the many different creators one from the other. It will not be hard for you to determine those who strive for excellence and those who live within the realm of “good enough.” A product or service is only as good as the excellence behind it. Your ability to excel will distinguish you from the rest.

Here in lieth the lesson: As I stated earlier, it is always more costly in the beginning to set high standards of excellence. However, when you have paid the price of excellence, there is no longer a price that can lure you away.

Only you can determine if you will pay the price necessary to achieve it. Are you willing?

I’d love to hear what you think.