A cardinal principle of Total Quality escapes too many managers: you cannot continuously improve interdependent systems and processes until you progressively perfect interdependent, interpersonal relationships – Stephen Covey

I have always believed in continuous improvement, even before I knew of the technical origins of the concept. Appropriate stress in the form of a stretch for the improvement of the mind, reaching for goals and working hard is what keeps us going. And it makes life and work interesting, because our work is an extension of ourselves.  Do I really want to reach a point where I’ve gone about as far as I can go in terms of learning, working and improving? Frederic Wheelock quotes Roman satirist Juvenal as suggesting “the highest good in life is, mens sana in corpora sand – “a healthy mind in a healthy body.” ASICS company, maker of my favorite running shoe (used while struggling through a few marathons) adopted this phrase which comprises an acronym, and uses this as a guiding principal in its mission, translating to “concept…ideas…and innovation…to create the best product.”  I personally want to be continuous taking a healthy stretch, reaching for a challenge, and will this always find its context in moving beyond ourselves and where we are in our present state. More Wheelock’s can be found here, see ASICS mission here.