I've never really cared much for "the" excellent. If you are excellent that is awesome, but I think that it's the desire to be excellent and the attitude that comes with it that is priceless.
Fair point. I've also heard that when folks are among The Excellent they're, perhaps to the author's point, boring because they are so locked into their one thing.
So perhaps the best time to acquaint yourself with them is before and after their peak.
I've never really cared much for "the" excellent. If you are excellent that is awesome, but I think that it's the desire to be excellent and the attitude that comes with it that is priceless.