What are you thankful for? I am thankful for the opportunity to share my musings with a community committed to growing as leaders. Today I want to explore what it means to be outstanding. So, what is the genesis of outstanding performance? This is a common topic of discussion during many executive coaching sessions. Leaders often look for ways to promote outstanding performance in those they lead. This usually involves leaders trying to understand what distinguishes truly outstanding work from the rest. It also usually involves a desire to understand the spark that leads to outstanding performance. Several weeks ago, I had the honor to be the keynote speaker at the Virginia Jaycees Outstanding Young Virginians Dinner. This event is modeled after the U.S. Jaycees Outstanding Young Americans Award, and both have a long history of celebrating the accomplishments of extraordinary young people.