Hi Mike,

I like your two leading ideas: focus and excellence.  It seems one precedes the other.  I'm currently reading Ruthless Focus by Thomas Hall and Wally Block.  A simple concept, yet also a battle cry of sorts.  As your example points out, all of us, much the same as Stradivarius have multiple areas vying for our attention.  To give one attention does not necessarily imply less focus on another.  I appreciate your mention and elaboration on Steve Keatings' discussion of core values.  Those are what can help determine our focus.  Loss of core values can send us down a path of self-destruction or at minimum, a path of lesser value.
Thank you for the post,
Jen