They are always crossing off assignments in their ever-present Franklin Covey Time Planner. They never work late but seem to always be prepared. Their PowerPoint presentations leap off the screen with color and timed, spinning artwork. And, their suggestions in team meetings are accepted by senior managers before they have finished speaking.

This is tough to admit: there are normal people in your work environment who are just excellent at whatever they do. And, their excellence makes the rest of us look like professional duds.

So what do you do?

Physical violence (including permanently damaging limbs) has been a reoccurring thought, but reason keeps these images at bay. No, we need another approach providing all of us a sense of satisfaction and "pay-back."

So, here are four choices.

First, you can demean the family lineage of the excellent person. You know, start hacking away at the family tree. Statements like, "Well, if you had parents like hers, you would know she would grow up to be a workaholic." Or, "Come on, his father was a rocket scientist...he cannot help but be stinking smart."

Second, the, "...she really isn’t that good; she just knows how to suck up to the right people around here."

Nice try, but this approach does not work either. "Sucking up" is as old as dirt and is not a new explanation for excellence. We all "suck up" (accommodate to people with power) so what is the big deal!

Third, you could try, "Well, he is excellent at what he does but that comes at a cost...he has no life, and I would rather be mediocre and enjoy evenings and weekends with people who really matter in my life."

The fissures in this defense of your mediocrity is when the excellent person starts showing pictures of her latest archeological dig in Ephesus, Turkey or scenes from last year’s family reunion on a sun-drenched beach in Grand Cayman.

What really irritates us about excellent people is they often are excellent at living too.

Your final choice is to learn as much as you can from the excellent person.

I meet accomplished, fulfilled, excellent people all the time. My first statement always is, "Tell me the process you went through to become this proficient."

Specifically, I want to learn, and then mirror these four components of this person’s excellence.

The first lesson I want to learn is what was the source of this person’s inner drive. Yes, some people are born with attributes and great genes. But, brains and the right family album are not enough. These people are normally "driven" to excel and I want to hear about his/her fountainhead of fortitude. I am convinced having the "will" is often more important than the I.Q.

Secondly, I am looking for where these excellent people went to "school."

By "school" I mean, "At whose feet have you sat?" I am looking for a description of "mentors." By asking this question I am beginning to rummage around in my world for people who can influence me with worthy words.

Third, it is time for the difficult question, "What did your excellence cost you?" Because, you know, there always is a cost.

Was it hours of study, endless months of travel, days away from family, lots of money, no hobbies, late nights, children become strangers...and the painful list will go on. Pain and excellence normally are shackled together. I want to know the amount on the price tag of excellence and then judge whether or not I can afford the ride.

Finally, I want to know the plan of the excellent person.

Excellence is not an accident. It is my observation when someone excels it is by design. Questions like, "What was your goal?" "Did you have a written timeline of what you wanted to accomplish and by when?" or "When you missed one of your deadlines, did you change your original plan?"

Yes, I could malign and minimize the person who excels because, frankly, I may be intimidated by highly successful, determined people. Or, I could learn from this person. And, the second choice may be my ticket to excellence.