I Have a Perfect Pair

Drummers know the name Vic Firth. He's a drummer, but most famous for making drumsticks. Working with what was available wasn't good enough for him. He wanted perfectly matched straight sticks and had to manufacture them himself to get them. The industry had the attitude that perfectly straight sticks could not be made and that you could not pair sticks. Vic did not resign himself to this attitude.

He was determined that it could be done and he did it. Now he makes the product that everyone wants, commands about 60% of the market, and wants 95%. Every drummer aspires to own a pair of Vic Firth sticks. I'm not a drummer but I am a cook, so when I found out that he put his drumstick expertise to work on pepper and salt mills, I had to have them... they are spectacular.

Vic's motto is to always be an unsatisfied customer. But the statements from his staff impress me even more. They say "we don't put caps on our standards". "We are constantly modifying." "We are constantly looking for improvements."

And that's the point. That passion to be the best, to daily look for a better way, to have the expertise at a thing and putting your energy at it. Now that's excellence.

If you'll excuse me, I've got some modifications to make.