How You Can Reinforce Excellence at Home
May 05, 2025Hi, I’m Sensei Malcolm — and today, I want to talk about one of the most important values we teach in the Path Keepers Program.
That value is Excellence.
Now, when some people hear the word "excellence," they think it means perfection — but that's not what we mean at all.
In Path Keepers, we teach children that excellence simply means trying your best in everything you do.
When kids try their best, they get better.
And when they get better at something, they start to enjoy it more.
And when they enjoy it more, they want to keep improving.
It’s a powerful loop — one that leads to more confidence, more focus, and more self-belief.
That’s what we call the Upward Spiral.
And there’s a phrase we love to teach our students:
“The way you do anything is the way you do everything.”
If a child learns to take care with small things — like tying their belt properly or practicing a move just one more time — they begin to form habits that carry over into everything else.
School, friendships, responsibility — it all improves when they take pride in their effort.
We also help kids understand the power of small improvements.
Even just getting a little better each day really adds up.
There’s a great way to think about this:
If you get just one percent better every day, by the end of the year, you’ll be 37 times better than when you started.
That’s the power of effort, repetition, and doing your best — even when no one’s watching.
So how can we, as parents, help our children build a habit of excellence?
Well, first — celebrate the effort, not just the outcome.
Let them know you're proud of how hard they tried, not just the result.
Second — encourage them to do small things properly.
Whether it’s brushing their teeth, making their bed, or doing their martial arts practice — every task is a chance to build the habit of excellence.
Third — be a role model.
When they see you doing things properly, they learn by example.
And finally — reflect on their progress.
Say things like, “Remember how tricky this was before? Look how much better you are now!”
That helps them connect effort with improvement, and improvement with enjoyment.
Excellence isn’t about being the best.
It’s about giving your best, and doing it consistently.
It’s a value that builds character, confidence, and personal pride — and it can shape a child’s future in the most powerful way.
So let’s remind our children every day:
“You don’t have to be the best. Just give your best.”
That’s what excellence is all about.
Thanks for watching — and as always, I’m here to help you on your Path Keepers journey.
Let’s raise strong, focused, confident kids — one small step at a time.
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