The Height Requirement for Excellence

A few weeks ago, TEC Canada Chair Whitney Shaw, CEC shared a simple observation that immediately caught my attention. She pointed out the height requirements posted at amusement park rides and how they relate to business and life. The metaphor was impossible to ignore.

Anyone who has ever stood in line for one of those rides knows how the process works. Before boarding, there’s a simple test: Are you tall enough? The standard is clear. If you meet it, you ride. If you don’t, you wait until you’ve grown enough to qualify. No amount of enthusiasm, good intentions, or negotiation changes the outcome.

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to capture what excellence requires. Click here for the complete article, which happens to be my 250th for CEOWORLD magazine: https://ceoworld.biz/2026/07/02/the-height-requirement-for-excellence/