THE POWER OF BEST-EFFORT EXCELLENCE AT INDIAN ROCKS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Why it matters—and how to live it out

 

Growing up, I had a typical neighborhood childhood—riding bikes, playing outside, and hanging out with friends. One of the older kids, Kenny, didn’t quite fit in. Socially awkward and a few years older, he often got teased. But a few years later, something changed my view of him entirely.

We both ended up working at Burger King—and there, Kenny was a legend. Fast, efficient, detail-oriented, and tireless. He wasn’t just clocking in; he was thriving. Everyone respected him. He gave his best effort every single day, and it showed.

At Indian Rocks Christian School, our core values inform our portrait of a graduate:

1. Our core value of being biblically based is how we develop sound minds

2. The core value of building community is undergirded by servants’ hearts

3. Our core value of best effort produces skilled hands

If I had to choose whether my kids worked at their first job like me or Kenny, I’d choose Kenny—every time. Why? Because Kenny modeled best-effort excellence. He worked hard, was fully engaged, and produced at a high level.

Work hard. Be fully engaged. Produce at a high level.

That is best-effort excellence.

Best-effort excellence matters because we want our students to leave here not just with knowledge, but with skill. And skill only comes when we give our best.

Is excellence Biblical? Absolutely. The first time we see it modeled is in Genesis 1:31—“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” The word “good” here means excellent—valuable, better, complete. We pursue excellence because we’re made in the image of a God who models it.

Three Ways to Pursue Best-Effort Excellence:

1. Work Hard

Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:10, puts it better: “By the grace of God, I am what I am… I worked harder than all of them.” God’s grace fuels our work—but we’re called to respond with effort.

2. Be Fully Engaged

7x national champion coach, Nick Saban said: “If you want to be good, you don’t have a lot of options. it takes what it takes.” Focus is the price of excellence. Nehemiah said, “I am doing great work and I cannot come down” (Nehemiah 6:3). Stay locked in. Block distractions. Give your whole self to the task.

3. Produce at a High Level

God created us to produce (Genesis 2:15), and to do so with excellence (Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:10). Three simple ways to level up your output:

-Do a little more than expected

-Stick with it a little longer

-Sweat the small stuff—it matters

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” That’s what this is all about. Best-effort excellence brings God glory.

At Indian Rocks Christian School, want to ignite the potential God has placed in every student. And the spark? It’s faculty, staff, coaches, and parents living out best-effort excellence every day.

What a gift it is to pursue best-effort excellence—for His glory—at Indian Rocks Christian School!