Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an

The words of Steve Jobs, “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected,” burn with the fire of uncompromising vision. In these words lies a truth that is both demanding and ennobling: that true leadership and true greatness come not from conforming to mediocrity, but from holding oneself and others to a higher standard. A yardstick is a measure, a guide, a standard by which all else is compared. Jobs declares that the individual who insists upon quality becomes such a measure, inspiring others to rise above the ordinary and step into the realm of excellence.

The ancients, too, knew this law. Aristotle spoke of virtue as a habit, cultivated by setting a high standard and pursuing it relentlessly. The Spartans trained their youth with ferocity, forging them to be living yardsticks of courage and endurance. In Rome, the centurion was not chosen for his voice alone, but because he stood as a standard of discipline and valor. To be a yardstick of quality is to live as a visible measure of what others may strive to emulate.

Jobs himself lived by this creed. At Apple, he would not settle for the merely functional; he demanded beauty, precision, and elegance in every product. He believed that excellence must permeate not only what is seen but also what is unseen—even the inside of a computer, though hidden from the user, must be crafted with care. Many found his expectations harsh, even unbearable. Yet it was that relentless devotion to excellence that gave birth to devices which transformed how humans live, work, and dream. Jobs was not content to exist in an environment of mediocrity; he built one where only the best would suffice.

History gives us further witnesses. Consider Michelangelo, who spent years lying on his back painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. When asked why he labored over details no one would ever see from the ground, he replied, “God will see.” He was a yardstick of quality, unwilling to let imperfection stain his work, even if unseen. Centuries later, people still gaze upward in awe, their spirits lifted by his devotion to excellence.

The meaning of Jobs’ words is both heroic and unsettling. Heroic, because they summon us to rise above the common current of “good enough” and demand the best of ourselves. Unsettling, because such a life is not easy. To expect excellence where others are content with mediocrity will make you stand apart; some will resent you, some will fear you, but others will be inspired to grow. The yardstick is not always welcomed—but it is always needed.

The lesson for us is clear: if you desire to leave a mark upon this world, you must not measure yourself by the low standards of those around you. Set your own standard, rooted in excellence. Be the one who raises the bar, who inspires others not by words alone, but by the brilliance of your own craft, the integrity of your character, the devotion in your work. In time, you will find that excellence becomes a force, reshaping the very environment in which you stand.

The practical action is this: in your daily tasks, whether small or great, refuse to cut corners. Build habits of quality—in your speech, in your work, in your service to others. Seek not only to finish, but to finish well. And when others grow weary, remind them by your own example that excellence is not a burden but a calling, a way of life that honors both the giver and the receiver.

Therefore, O listener, engrave upon your soul Jobs’ enduring wisdom: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” Let your life itself be the measure by which others glimpse what greatness looks like. For the world has enough mediocrity—it longs for those who dare to live as the living standard of excellence.