What is Distinction? Where is your Watermark?

Distinction is the ability to instantly be recognized for your
achievements, training, background, expertise, or perseverance. For instance a Five Star General is recognized as a leader of the military that has risen to the top of their command through training and top notch performance.  In the Hospitality world there is a standard that each location strives for and is graded upon based on 5 stars.  

Those that go above and beyond stretch further then their competitors to provide the very best in all they do. 


Additionally, some resorts have raised the stakes and now grade it on a 5 diamond scale where things have to be perfect and precise. And then there is the Burj Al Arab of Dubai that built a manmade island to house the only seven diamond resort setting the world standard by creating the world’s only 7 diamond experience!  

Every view must be exquisite; every room must have the finest furnishings, every meal prepared by a renowned chef, and every employee focused on delivering anything you request! 

This is true distinction. Not just everyday do they strive to do their best in all they do, they emphasize that every minute has to be distinctive for their guests. Can you imagine?  That means that they are pushing for excellence nearly 3000 times for each guest on the average stay at this resort.  Once one experiences this type of service and keen awareness for attention to the
details, they never forget it.  

More importantly, everything that they experience for the rest of their life is measured to that degree of precision and excellence.  What are you and each part of your business doing to be Distinctive and the World’s best at what you do? How are you going to contribute and inspire to greater success? What systems are you using to become world class?

Watermarks
If you look at any water source, whether it be the ocean, a lake, river, stream or even a dried up water source, you will be able to notice that there are several watermarks along the banks showing the lows and highs of history.  The first is the current mark where the water is.  And as you examine the high and low tides, as well as the past years of deposits, you will find the clues to the height that water retained at much greater levels that reveals what history has done.  So it is with the human race.  We can use these high tides of history to propel us past records and leave the watermark higher for all to see.

The beauty of this type of watermark is also that it leaves a path upward for all to follow and see where and how they can leave their crest on society. I once climbed and toured the Na'Pali Coast in Kauai and realized the magnificent beauty of the beaches where the tide marks gave way to the rugged cliff line and noticed that there were marks where the typhoons and tsunamis had left a trail hundreds of feet higher to follow. As I climbed that trail looking for what was left I found this was like
the journey in life and the higher we climbed the harder it became, but the abundance of beautiful gifts were up where the trails ended and the dreams began.

The same is true with any record worth holding. It takes attention to the details, training, effort, and the ability to rise above others and the current situation to stretch and grow to a new generation of records. Often times you need to blaze new trails, find new methods for operating, and a desire to inspire all of those around you to see above the mark!

If you want to find out more about how the DISTINCTIVE WATERMARK PRINCIPLES can help you or your organization be more productive and pursue excellence than give Dr. Brandon Kelly at call!

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