For others, the goal was relief and tranquillity after the tough performance.
"The payments to executives are being made because some very tough performance hurdles have been met and exceeded".
They provide leadership and direction, have full financial and managerial responsibility, plus tough performance targets to meet.
The festival also offered a number of tough performance pieces and a weekend of installation and performance works organized around the theme of betting.
The University of the West of England, which rose from 8th to third position, puts that down to a new strategy with tough performance indicators.
It made most of Ms Bartz's share options subject to tough performance triggers and negotiated a relatively stingy termination agreement.
Mr. Dick, argues that in the scramble to meet tough performance targets across the entire Europe airspace, the rights of controllers and their unions are being brushed aside.
We have put in place tough performance targets in key areas like childhood obesity and the success of interventions is monitored closely.
Ms. West added that British Airways would like to have regulation of BAA's London airports be strengthened by the airport owner's being treated like a utility, subject to tough performance criteria and sanctions if it failed to meet them.
As we talk in the midday sunshine, McAvoy is still processing another tough performance: his Olivier Award-nominated, 88-show portrayal of Macbeth at London's Trafalgar Studios, which closed three days previously.
