 |
Quality is So Easy, Why Settle For Less?
Author: Don Dewsnap  | Posted: 20-03-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 10 | Rating: (53)  (?) 
One of the easiest ways to improve your life is to increase quality in all you do.
When you do something better, you are increasing quality. When you make something better, you are increasing its quality. It doesn't matter how much better. Even a little tiny bit better is still an improvement. Then a little bit more than that next time, and a tiny bit more after that, and the effects add up rapidly.
Why do people settle for less? Usually, because they are taught to, by their bosses, their co-workers, by television and movies, and by their own experience. Very often it appears that extra effort is wasted, and sometimes even ridiculed. The "Why Bother?" syndrome is very widespread. This explains a lot about the mediocrity so common in society. To the thinking person, though, it also presents a huge opportunity.
The actual principles of quality, what it is and how to achieve it, are largely unknown. Most of the common sayings about quality -- "If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right," or "Close enough for government work" -- are merely applications of these unknown principles, and many, like these two, are completely false. But when the truth isn't known, untruth will have free rein.
Here is the truth, and the first major principle of quality: Quality is an Attitude.
Quality doesn't just happen, it is created. How is it created? By somebody wanting to do something better. Better than what? Doesn't matter. The attitude is what matters. Maybe he wants to do something better than his neighbor. Maybe he wants to do something better than he did it before. Whatever the reason, he has the attitude that creates quality.
Higher quality, by definition, just means better. Not best, not as good as possible, just better. How can anything be easier? Something put away instead of being left out. A plant watered before it starts to wilt. A light turned out when leaving the room. A paper clip picked up off the floor. A file drawer closed. Little actions which are better to be done than not done.
Getting this quality attitude, building it into your life, is also very easy. Do you think that better is preferable to the same or worse? If so, and if you can remember that every day, you have and you can strengthen a quality attitude. Strangely enough, the stronger it gets, the easier it gets.
Then you run into the second major principle: Quality Leads to Opposition. Life and people do tend to put obstacles in the way of improvement. Some people dislike change, others are afraid they will do worse if you do better. Opinions often differ as to what is better, or how you should use your time. So this part of quality may not be so easy. Without applying the first principle of quality, and keeping your quality attitude, this second principle can stop you in your tracks. Knowing about it, you can deal with it, by holding on to the first principle, and ignoring anyone who puts you down or gets in your way.
The third major principle of quality is that Quality Takes Time. Yes, it does take three extra seconds to put the staple in the wastebasket instead of brushing it onto the floor. What you will learn fairly quickly, though, is that if quality takes time, it also gives it back, many times over. Take the extra half hour to set up a form a little better, and it will save you many hours down the road. Take the extra hour to trim the edge of the lawn -- you will save time mowing and trimming once that lawn takes final shape. Time spent on making or doing things a little better is almost never time wasted -- and even when it is, it isn't, because you learn from the experience, and will know not to "waste" that time again.
Above are the three major principles of quality. Use them, and make your life better. There are more, and specific actions, but these principles underlie all the rest. They are easy. They work. Use them.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/quality-is-so-easy-why-settle-for-less-365216.html
About the Author:Don Dewsnap has spent years studying quality and its principles and applications. Now he has put his knowledge into a readable, useable book: Anyone Can Improve His or Her Life: The Principles of Quality. Read about the book at http://www.principles-of-quality.com or at any major online bookseller.
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the psychology professor at Virginia ...
By: C. L. Hamilton | 19-08-2008
Who was the psychology professor at Virginia Intermont College during the 1996-1997 term? This professor had a private practice in Abingdon, VA.
Moody
By: blanche | 19-08-2008
i madly fall in love with a man but after 6 months i feel that i dont anymore, it causes me pain because i dont know why, at the begining i feel his the right person but after a while i want to be alone again, and its not easy to tell him that after being madly showing him love whats my problem?
Weight obsession
By: scalewatcher88 | 19-08-2008
weight obsession: for as long as i can remember i have not gone through a day without thinking about my weight...i crave food and whenever i do the slightest thing i wonder if it means i can eat something, well fattening. whenever i do eat tho, and at the moment its even with healthy foods, i immediately wonder about the calories and how big its going to make me. The first diet i remember was when i was nine and i'm now almost 20 so its a long term thing that get worse depending on how active i am able to be. I've now just had surgery so have to take it easy and its just awful. I'm not what you'd call tiny,i'm a size 12 5ft8 10st 12. i wouldn't call that overweight either tho, there is a rational part of me that knows this. But when i was younger i was 11st7 by the time i was 12 so felt (and was) massive. also being tall and bigger boned than my friends did not help. my mum and my sister are both obsessed with dieting which i guess doesn't help. Sorry for the rant and have no idea if this is something you could help with but i need some ideas of how to get my thoughts away from this as it affects any relationships that i have, and how i am with people ie if i'm feeling like i've eaten alot then i'm moody. I am sick of feeling like this. there must be more to life than how much you weigh! -scalewatcher88
By: lilerma | 19-08-2008
Doctors given ELECTRO CONVULSIVE THERAPY(4 ...
By: atchutarao | 19-08-2008
doctors given ELECTRO CONVULSIVE THERAPY(4 sittings) treatment to one of my friends(employee - age 35 years) who diagnized the his ilness as schizophrenia/ disorganized behaviour and advised medication for atlest one year - kindly advise me
Please tell me i'm not crazy
By: sandyrae | 19-08-2008
i was told my daughter at a young age had night terrors. well, shes 4 now and from the min she wakes up shes zooming with energy, her mood swings are horrible. shes mean and nasty when shes not hypers and cries off and on through the night. its making it very hard to handle her. we have a hard time sleeping and no ones every happy anymore. i dont know what is wrong, and i dont know what to do. she cried tonight when i asked her why she got so mean and she cried and said i dont know. i need advice. i'm pretty sure this is it, but i might think its a medication issues. she starts preschool next month and i dont want this happeneing there. any input?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Self Improvement Articles
The Truth Why so Many People Fail With Self-help Programs
By: Barry Share | 11/10/2008
There are thousands of self-help or life improvement programs for sale everyday world wide, so why is it that of those that are sold, 99% of the purchasers will not achieve their hopes and dreams.
Life Balance and How to Get Yours
By: Kym Robinson | 11/10/2008
If your life has gotten to the point where it seems there are endless demands on you, you will feel stressed out, frazzled, and fatigued. You need to de-stress by balancing out your life.
The Most Important Discipline of Employee Motivation
By: Bob Urichuck | 11/10/2008
Employee motivation can be an easy task especially when the team leader demonstrates the appropriate disciplines. The simple disciplines encourage employee motivation to happen naturally. The wonders of "monkey see, monkey do" approach. Find out how you can have the most important discipline of employee motivation
Death by (electronic) Chocolate
By: Denise Ryan | 11/10/2008
This article gives tips on how to feel less overwhelmed and stressed out by our increasingly demanding lives.
How to Make Time for Self Meditation
By: Lee Boniface | 11/10/2008
One of the areas of meditation that seems to come up again and again is do I really have the time to meditate? In this article I look at by turning around your way of thinking by illustrating the value of meditation, can make it seem as though the time is suddenly there.
It is All in the Plan!
By: Ursula Knecht | 10/10/2008
Have you ever wondered why the things you want the most in life take so long to achieve. Then because it's takes so long to achieve it, you just give up and start on something new.
Getting More Out Of Life With Life Coaching
By: Koz Huseyin | 10/10/2008
Are you a goal setter? Are you a self starter? Do you feel geared for success? In life we find that coaches are present wherever there is high performance. From business men and woman to actors and actresses, and even athletes, they all rely on coaching. As you read this article, you will discover how life coaching can transform your life for the better.
Expect the Unexpected When You Learn to Meditate
By: Donald Mitchell | 09/10/2008
In this article, I describe how learning to meditate led me into unexpected learning.
More from Don Dewsnap
Quality Is An Attitude
By: Don Dewsnap | 06/10/2008 | Motivational
A logical appeal to adopt an attitude of quality in order to make one's life better, as well as the world as a whole.
Quality Versus Quantity in Promotional Materials
By: Don Dewsnap | 30/09/2008 | Advertising
What is the best way to increase response to your promotion: to increase quality or to increase quantity? The answer is based on logic.
Increase Success In Life By Increasing Quality
By: Don Dewsnap | 29/08/2008 | Motivational
The easiest way to do better in life is to do better overall. Small, simple actions can increase the quality of whatever you do. Doing things better generally increases success.
Promote Your Business With Quality
By: Don Dewsnap | 12/08/2008 | Management
This article describes the link between the principles of quality and success in business, with specific steps that can be taken by any businessperson to use that link.
Make Your Website Stand Out From the Rest
By: Don Dewsnap | 06/08/2008 | Web Design
What do almost all websites have in common? Errors. Every error creates a negative impression. The quality of website content reflects the quality standards of the person or business it serves. This article drives the point home, and provides a practical approach to correction. You, too, can have an error-free site!
Improving Relationship Quality in Two Simple Steps
By: Don Dewsnap | 06/08/2008 | Dating
Relationships, whether just beginning or long-standing, can always be improved. Even troubled relationships can become sturdy and, if not serene, at least stable and satisfying. It doesn't take psychology, or self-sacrifice, or silly strategies. All it takes to improve a relationship is knowledge and the decision to do so. This article provides two key pieces of the knowledge. The decision is up to you.
The Third Major Principle of Quality for Parents
By: Don Dewsnap | 12/07/2008 | Parenting
Description: Deciding how much time to spend with your child, and how to spend it, comes with the territory of parenthood. This article is about the underlying principle that can help you solve this problem.
The Third Major Principle of quality depends on the first two Major Principles of quality; by...
So, You Want to Be a Better Teacher
By: Don Dewsnap | 12/07/2008 | Education
Better than what? Better than Sally down the hall? Better than the principal thinks you are? Better than you are now? That last choice is easy to accomplish, so I hope it's what you mean.
The principles of quality apply to teaching as much as they do to anything else. To...
|
|
Self Improvement 
