Ty Murray is the "King of the Cowboys", and one of the best to ever do it in the sport of rodeo.

He stared down 1,500 pound bulls and made it look easy, when it was "scary and dangerous."

How did he deal with being thrown into the fire? He dedicated himself to the basics and building the proper foundation first.

Murray mastered the arts of bull riding, bareback riding and saddle bronc riding, earning 7 world all around titles plus multiple bull riding world titles in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) league.

Moment of Excellence from Ty Murray:

"What has to happen first is you have to have an understanding and develop an Excellence in the basics. I feel every endeavor in life has basics that you've got to be able to do. If you get thrown into the fire, you're not learning basics. You're just trying to stay alive. And if you can learn the basics really well first, and get where it's automatic and you don't think about it and your body just knows how to react in those ways, then when the fire does come, you're ready for it."

This is a must listen episode for stories from on and off the dirt and how he also helped build the PBR into one of the world's largest sports leagues.

Guest Jennifer Lynne Williams has been breaking barriers and glass ceilings her whole life. Now, as the Chief Development Officer of the USA Basketball Foundation, she continues to make a difference.

Williams is a former captain of the North Carolina basketball team and also a former athletic director at Alabama State University, and has been recognized with many accolades.

"To be Excellent, you have to be able to stay focused," Williams says during the episode. "For me, I think it goes back to when I was in high school and I was taught to be an independent thinker. When you know who you are and what you stand for, it's easy to be Excellent. And also to exude Excellence because you're comfortable in your own skin. Also, knowing your core values is key."

Overcoming fear and challenges has also been part of her story, especially when she possibly didn't "look the part" when she was truly qualified.

"I think at the end of the day, you have to know what you're doing it for and it's bigger than you," Williams says. "I was able to break a barrier in situations where you didn't see African-American women fundraising at the division one level. And by showing up every day and being prepared, it has inspired another generation."

For more Excellence, visit www.xlete.com

For about the USA Basketball Foundation, visit USABfoundation.org.

Linda Hartough is a fine artist who followed her beliefs to establish a new genre of golf art.

Since 1984, she has captured some of the world's most beautiful golf courses through stunningly realistic paintings including Augusta National, Carnoustie, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews.

But her story also includes a deep dive into her business acumen and how that prevented her from being a "starving artist."

Hartough on Excellence:

"I think of Excellence as an individual's pursuit of developing their talent. I think everyone has a talent, but some people never realize it, Usually, if a person has passion and they know that's their purpose, then they are going to develop that to Excellence. It's just a natural progression."

Visit xlete.com for more Excellence.

Hartough is credited as a trailblazer within the golf fine art industry and information about her work is available at Hartough.com.

Along the way, Hartough was a founding trustee of The Academy of Golf Art, which brings Excellence to the genre of golf art by attracting world-class artists, who offer their vision of the game to the fine art medium.