“Excellence” is a relative term. What is excellent to one person may be just mediocre to another.
We’re in the middle of college basketball’s March Madness (the NCAA Tournament). This event serves as a great example.
A team that has won multiple championships and boasts a roster full of future professional players may be perceived as excellent. At the same time, a team of outstanding student-athletes who stay in school, and get degrees – but don’t have the same championship pedigree – may be perceived as the model of excellence.
My conclusion: Excellence is a function of what’s important to YOU.