It’s a Baldrige message: Greatness is about the fundamentals. As Jon Gordon, author of Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else (Wiley, 2009), said, “the companies that focus on the basics are the ones that survive when times get tough.”

Small Business Digest recently ran a story about the book that included Gordon’s tips for getting back to the basics:

• Be willing to outwork everyone else. As Gordon said, “Talent matters, but perseverance matters more.” He also advises companies to stay the course “long enough to become the best at what they do.” That’s the Baldrige process in a nutshell.

• Get the little things right. According to Gordon, “The best take action every day and do the common tasks…with uncommon focus, dedication, and a commitment to excellence.”

• Don’t lower your standards when no one’s looking. “Being the best is all about forming good habits,” said Gordon.

• Don’t focus on outcomes. Gordon, who has worked with two NFL teams as well as businesses, a hospital, and the FBI, believes organizations should focus on purpose and process to fuel their growth and “stay in the moment.”

• Whatever you do, don’t rest on proverbial laurels. The solution, Gordon said, “is to stay humble and hungry.”

In a world of quick fixes and programs du jour, the endless journey to excellence of Baldrige organizations stands out for their commitment to getting the fundamentals, which are laid out in the Baldrige Criteria, right.

The results they achieve by staying the course validate the wisdom of their journey.

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