Introduction

Excellence means delivering the best you can with the resources you have! It means looking for opportunities to improve, then, taking ACTION on those opportunities. Excellence requires us to dig a little deeper. It means not taking “no” for an answer. Persevering until you find the “yes” you need.

Overcoming Obstacles with Creativity

I had just such an experience at the end of 2018. I needed a video of myself speaking. This video would be loaded to my website temporarily until the completion of my professional sizzle reel video. This would allow prospective clients to know what I sound like if they were considering me as a speaker at an upcoming event.

 Finding the Perfect Setting

I was grumbling to a friend about my frustration at not being able to find a spot in my home that could serve as a background in the video. It was important to me that the background look professional and not like I was in my personal space. My office had flimsy Ikea shelving that would surely be a dead giveaway that I was in my own home.

My Best Office Camera Angle

I had already tried various spots in my home, but had been  sabotaged by distracting wall plugs, blinds, back yard furniture, or cars in the distance. I even tried using green fabric, then adding an elegant and professional background via video editing software. It was a FAIL! Apparently, I need to learn more about proper lighting  before I will be able to pull that one off. I had even went so far as to stand up the 8×8 foot banner that had been used for my 40^th Birthday Bash. I turned the banner to the white side. This didn’t work either. The video looked cold and awkward.

 A Friend’s Suggestion

It was during my rant about all of this that my friend suggested I try a model home. I thought it was a good idea and told her I would give it a try. After all, I love model homes! Seriously. It is not uncommon for me to pack up my two daughters on a Saturday afternoon and drive to the newest subdivisions to check out a few. I enjoy seeing interesting floorplans and décor trends. The salespeople in these homes are usually friendly, and I believe in the old saying “nothing beats a failure but a try.” So why not? I’ll ask. All they can do is say no (but they might say YES).

 Securing the Ideal Location

I knew just the model home that I would visit first. It was my current favorite. It had a spacious and  beautiful courtyard right off the front door, and the first floor was wide open and bright with natural sunlight. It also boasted long lines of sight which would be perfect for achieving the blurred background effect.

I stopped in on a Wednesday morning, where I met Betty. I explained to her what I had in mind. She was quick to point out the similarities in the builders principles and the principles that I wanted to share with my audiences. Principles that include being of service to others and Excellence. Betty was optimistic, but explained that she was not the sales counselor responsible for the subdivision, and that she would pass on the information and my business card to the sales counselor, Kathleen Pradia.

Successful Collaboration 

I finished up that morning visiting the 10 other model homes in the subdivision. After several days I decided I liked the Wynnridge model the best. This was the David Weekly home I had first visited. I pulled out the business card that Betty had given me for Kathleen, the sales counselor, and dialed the number. I introduced myself, and was pleasantly surprised at Kathleen’s eagerness to hear from me. I explained what I hoped to do.  I was thrilled when Kathleen agreed. She even offered to open up early if I needed her to!

David Weekly Wynnridge Model – Harvest Green

Conclusion

The bottom line is this. I needed a video. The only thing standing between me and my completed video was a proper location. I could have rented a location (that was actually suggested to me by a sales counselor in the one of the other model homes)and I would have, if I had not been able to secure one for free.

However, excellence requires me to be diligent, to dig deeper, and to use my resources wisely. One of the most underutilized resources we have access to is “the ask”. Ask and it shall be given unto you. As it turns out, my “yes” came easy this time. It may not always come this easy, but I commit myself to always diligently seek it. I hope you will join me in this commitment!

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