At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.

Education: 8/10

The maths trial results this week were a tangible example of the simple truth that if you concentrate on something and work hard, you will win.

The All Blacks: 6/10

They did better than the critics seem to suggest. Rugby has changed but the attitude on expectation and winning hasn’t. This isn't 1986.

Regional councils: 8/10

Bold call, good call. We will be better off for the call.

Ginny Andersen and steak: 6/10

Who had her down as a surreptitious food stealer?

Rachel Reeves: 2/10

Have a look at her work on taxes and ask yourself how far-removed Barbara Edmonds is - or isn't.

Surrender by Thursday: 4/10

Wasn't that yet another harebrained thought bubble by a bloke who looks increasingly unhinged, or tired, or old, or mad. Or possibly all of those things.

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 28th of November, Judith Collins speaks on the public inquiry to be held into the disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children.

Could we grow more coffee in New Zealand? And who knew we grew any sort of decent coffee here in the first place?

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk about the installation of Mike’s new TV and the legacy and impact of Simon Dallow as they Wrap the Week.

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It’s the simple question with seemingly no simple answer: why aren't more people excellent?

Naylor Love reported this week they are cracking the $1 billion revenue mark. They are an old company that has never cracked a billion.

Naylor Love are in construction. Construction is apparently having, or has had, a hell of a time of it.

So how is it a business in a tough sector can be so outstandingly successful?

They put it down to being good at complex projects. They do those well, the reputation grows, the word-of-mouth spreads and so it goes.

The other day I discovered a coffee roaster made by a company called Kaffelogic. Their machine is made in New Zealand.

The sadness is they are one of a handful left that produce appliances of any sort in New Zealand. The thing is their machine is world class because the bulk of professionals who enter roasting competitions use that machine.

So what that means is we can produce appliances, but don’t. Mostly that will be price related but like wine, or kiwifruit, or salmon, it seems there is nothing stopping us producing in small numbers if it is at the top end.

The same way there is nothing stopping Naylor Love booming in an industry that isn't booming.

The same way I can name you any number of restaurants and cafes that are doing very nicely, thank you, in a sector that is, according to press releases, in a world of trouble.

The same way, as we heard just this week, that despite all the job market downturns and tough times, at no time did it get any easier to find great talent.

No shortage of people. Just a shortage of excellence.

There seems to be a pattern here.

It seems a truism that no matter what you are surrounded by, no matter what the circumstances are, excellence will always shine and do well.

That if you are good, or dare we suggest excellent, at what you do, there is always a place for you not just to participate, but to succeed and even excel, while those around you flounder and complain and blame their lot.

Excellence is your ticket to wherever it is you want to go.

Don’t tell anyone. Heaven forbid it catches on.

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