ATTAIN EXCELLENCE
On March 25, 1992, in Melbourne, the final match of the Cricket World Cup took place. Pakistan defeated England and won the World Cup. This remarkable achievement was accomplished under the leadership of its captain, Imran Khan. Subsequently, a flood of congratulatory messages poured in for Imran Khan, not only from Pakistan but from around the world. The Times of India (March 26) featured the headline:
Pakistan rule the world with a flawless display.
In this context, newspapers published an interview with India’s famous player Mr. Manoj Prabhakar. It was recorded by the video magazine Sports Channel. Mr. Prabhakar said:
India needed an Imran Khan-like captain to motivate the team. I think there should be some gap like age between the team and its captain. You can see the way Imran is doing his job. He is marvelous. We need that type of captain who can be a good leader. That is what we need. Otherwise, we have the best team. (The Times of India; Hindustan Times, March 26, 1992)
People value excellence. When someone displays excellence, observers can’t help but be impressed. Excellence surpasses support and opposition, earning its own recognition. If you achieve excellence in any field, people will feel compelled to appreciate and acknowledge you, even if you seem like an outsider.
