Excellence is the Standard.
But ELITE is beyond Excellent.

In any pursuit, you can achieve one of five outcomes:

Bad

Average

Good

Excellent

ELITE

In a hypercompetitive landscape, Excellent is average. The only acceptable outcome is ELITE. 

The PursuingElite Story

In the wake of 9/11, a young officer and his highly-trained team of Navy SEALs were deployed in harm’s way. They thrived in the uncertainties of warfare, achieving tremendous success in support of national objectives.

It was from a Senior Chief Petty Officer, part of the Navy’s lifeblood and institutional memory, that the idea of PursuingElite was born.

On one particular operation, every operator, tactic, and process worked in seamless unison – the classified mission was a resounding success. Afterwards, the young officer proclaimed to the Senior Chief Petty Officer that the operation had been “excellent.” In response, the Senior Chief Petty Officer stated

“Sir, we’re not here to be excellent. We’re here to be elite. There is a difference.”

This proclamation stirred in the young officer a new sense of purpose and passion. His life’s diverse experiences – his successes, failures, and regrets – began to make sense. Sharing this discovery with others become a clarion call.

These experiences – and many more – are the foundation for this course. PursuingElite is a process, a self-questioning habit of mind, a type of never-ceasing, hungry, yet humble ambition for something greater.

This is a difficult process. However, we are confident that these unassailable truths, consistently pursued, can improve individual and organizational outcomes.