“The higher the expectations, the higher the results,” says Ron Clark, teacher and founder of the Ron Clark Academy.

You may have seen this video before. You may have also seen Mr. Clark on Oprah.   Ron Clark, a former North Carolina schoolteacher, founded the Ron Clark Academy with money he earned from his book, The Essential 55.  The book details Clark’s 55 golden rules for success, in and out of the classroom.  Clark not only talks the talk, he walks the walk and the children benefit the most.

I know for me, this idea of “expect excellence and you get excellence” is something I’ve believed in and lived by for a long time.  In fact I’ve blogged about it before. It’s really a personal mantra. A family motto, if you will, for me, my husband and my girls.

Sounds so simple, don’t it? It is, but it isn’t. The difficulty comes from expecting too much from someone or being unrealistic.  You risk let down, you risk alienation, you risk failure. BUT, on the other end.  Both you and the other person, whether it be a son, daughter, husband, friend, etc., gain results, strength, belief in self and a pride that no one can take from you.

When people are young, most of what they do, they do for praise.  Children will do just about anything for Mom or Dad’s smile or for their teacher’s approval.  Children want “back pats”. They want lots of “kudos” and ain’t nothing wrong with that! Right?

But one day, as a grown woman or man, they will have to do these things for themselves, with no back pats, no kudos.  And this, this is when that foundation of “higher expectations, equals higher results” will come into play.  This is when self worth, direction, work ethic and determination not only shape their own life, but their community as well. This is when they do what they do and feel 100% genuine pride for doing it. Whatever “it” may be.  This is when us parents, educators and caregivers know we’ve did our job and did it right!