I've been thinking lately about what it takes to be a good journalist, newspaper editor and manager. It seems easy to spout off the usual like a passion for writing and a natural curiosity. Of course, the same can be said of any ambitious kindergartner first learning the alphabet and given a box of crayons.

I think there are some elements that set a good newspaper man (or woman) apart.

First, I think it takes a commitment to excellence. One of my favorite quotes, which is stuck to the front of my computer monitor at work, says, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit."

I find these words from Aristotle encouraging. Excellence doesn't necessarily mean winning first place in a competition or finally winning the approval of a critical reader. Rather, it means a committed way of living, striving day by day to do one's best.

Of course that commitment includes important character traits like honesty, integrity and above all an ability to be objective and fair.

Another thing that Aristotle's quote implies is that there will be some days we just don't reach the mark. It's because of this that I've learned a very important part of being in the newspaper businesses is developing thick skin! No matter how hard you try, everyone will never be completely happy. Because the size of the newspaper is governed by the amount of ads sold each week, there are always weeks where there is more to go in the paper than space to contain it. Then it comes down to the tough decision of whose picture or article to hold until the next week. Sometimes people are very vocal about their displeasure when their article or photo is the one selected for delayed publication.

And for goodness sake don't spell Johnny's great-grandma's name wrong!

Obviously, thick skin is a requirement, but it must be worn side by side with humility. When I do spell Johnny's grandma's name wrong (and I will sometimes because no one's perfect), I've learned to humbly say "I'm sorry."

I remember my first week at the newspaper a woman came in searching for her grandson's letter to Santa in the previous edition, which was the Christmas paper. Brand new, I had no idea if the letter had been printed or not. We spent over an hour pouring over the pages, only to find that his letter had not made it into the paper. The grandmother's lip started to quiver, and as her eyes filled with tears she told me this was to be his first letter to Santa. As grandma started to cry, so did the letter's author. And guess who cried next? Yes, you're right. My lip started quivering too as I all but offered to hand deliver the letter to the North Pole myself.

I may not cry as easily today, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for people, which leads me to the most important characteristic of all. In my opinion, the thing that sets a journalist above all the rest is compassion. Sometimes that means missing out on the big paper sales because you don't have the bloody wreck picture on the front page. Other times it means getting that great feature story because you took the time to listen for the real story.

Everyone has a story you know. I feel privileged to write just a few of those stories and bring you, the reader, along for the journey.