OLATUNJI LADI ADEJUMO II

Excellence is not a destination; it is a

lifelong journey and a prize with a
corresponding price attached to it
which is won on a daily basis. This is
evident in the rise and fall of some
Photo by Rae Grimm who are expected to go all the
way to and remain at the top
A certain young man decided to study law as a
profession and was reminded by his mother that
People like Lord Denning were possessed with
the legal profession was already crowded. His
the spirit of excellence. A person who is filled
reply? The top is never crowded. He went on to
with this spirit has a clear picture of his
become one of the most revered Justices of all
destination in life and wastes little time on
time; Lord Denning as well as a reference point
frivolities and ventures which have no bearing on
for all in the legal profession all over the world,
his pursuit. He amasses knowledge and the
delivering landmark judgements and enunciating
requisite qualifications for his pursuit. The spirit
principles of law still relevant today.
of excellence imbues him with the ability to rise
Lord Denning was relentless in his pursuit of
above his equals and peers, pulling far ahead of
excellence. He knew it was the only way he could
the pack and achieving greatness. The time he
get to the top and remain there. It was the only
spends is of the greatest essence to him because
way by which his name could be written in gold.
he knows that God might call him early but he is
It is a cardinal law of nature that the many will
secure in the knowledge that at any time, he will
always be ruled by the few and this applies to all
be able to give an excellent account of his
fields of endeavour. That is why there will be only
stewardship on earth.
one Managing Director for a bank or enterprise,
No great man lived who wasn't filled in great
why there will be only one President for a
capacity with the spirit of excellence and like
country, why the number of First Class graduates
Lord Denning, any filled with this spirit will have
will always be significantly fewer than the other
his/her name written in gold and his/her
grades and why even amongst them all, the few
endeavours spoken of by generations born long
who will rise to the pinnacle of their respective
after.
professions will not necessarily be those with the