Mediocrity
These days it seems that the desire for work-life balance for many people supersedes their desire for assuring or pursuing excellence. Where’d that come from?
I understand the need to enjoy life… to spend time with family… But we live in a competitive world – one where job growth is next to zero, manufacturing in the United States in on the decline, even customer service is outsourced to developing countries, and many say that the era of American exceptionalism is OVER! So what gives us the right to take it easy?
Does mediocrity get you out of the office an hour earlier than excellence? Does mediocrity mean sagging jeans over your boxers versus the excellence of a blazer and a Windsor knot? Does mediocrity mean C+’s in school when your intellect and 30 minutes of study will deliver A’s?
Is there more joy in mediocrity than in being exemplary or extraordinary? I can’t imagine that.
Is mediocrity easier than excellence? Maybe, but at what cost? I contend that mediocrity is overrated!
Popular culture doesn’t seem to agree.
Where’s the skill, creativity, civility or excellence in any of that? It would appear that mediocrity is what we aspire to.
Please don’t misunderstand… I’m down for a good party every now and then, and there’s nothing I like better than misbehaving with friends. (Believe it!) But that’s the exception rather than the rule. You see, I’m running from mediocrity; so I’ve got research to complete and analysis to do, a report to write, a community to serve, a student to coach, a book to read, a child to parent, a family to protect and/or a protégé to mentor.
Call me a nerd. I’ll call it focused. I’ll call it driven to make a difference. That way, when I do take some time to relax or play, I think that I’ve earned it!
Maybe being mediocre is easier, but these people make our communities a lot better and our country a lot stronger. These people are heroes because they recognize their gifts or calling, they are committed, they insist on excellence and they strive to be extraordinary.
Said more simply, excellence rarely happens between 9 and 5. It takes a lot more work for our heroes to make it look so easy. Let’s commit to being exceptional. Let’s celebrate the outstanding. Mediocrity is overrated! So #DBTE and get on with being Extraordinary! At what do you desire to be much better than mediocre? Do you know someone whom you consider to be Extraordinary? Tell me who and why?
I understand the need to enjoy life… to spend time with family… But we live in a competitive world – one where job growth is next to zero, manufacturing in the United States in on the decline, even customer service is outsourced to developing countries, and many say that the era of American exceptionalism is OVER! So what gives us the right to take it easy?
Whatever happened to a competitive spirit that compels us to beat our competitors fairly and soundly? What of the notion of pursuing the terminal degree in your field, or of doing your job so well that no one before or after you can say that they did it any better? What about the rush you get from feeling a sense of accomplishment? What of the aching to provide the best for our families; or the fight to assure that our children’s lives are better than our own? Where is the impatience with the status quo or the hunger for improvement?
Does mediocrity get you out of the office an hour earlier than excellence? Does mediocrity mean sagging jeans over your boxers versus the excellence of a blazer and a Windsor knot? Does mediocrity mean C+’s in school when your intellect and 30 minutes of study will deliver A’s?
Is there more joy in mediocrity than in being exemplary or extraordinary? I can’t imagine that.
Is mediocrity easier than excellence? Maybe, but at what cost? I contend that mediocrity is overrated!
Popular culture doesn’t seem to agree.
- Rappers go to jail and DJ’s hype their coming home party;
- Politicians behave belligerently and commentators praise the commitment to their ideals;
- A Kardashian makes a video tape and a few years, several boyfriends and a TV show later, her wedding is front page news;
- The Basketball Wives aren’t even married, but we tune in just to watch the preposterous unfold.
Where’s the skill, creativity, civility or excellence in any of that? It would appear that mediocrity is what we aspire to.
Please don’t misunderstand… I’m down for a good party every now and then, and there’s nothing I like better than misbehaving with friends. (Believe it!) But that’s the exception rather than the rule. You see, I’m running from mediocrity; so I’ve got research to complete and analysis to do, a report to write, a community to serve, a student to coach, a book to read, a child to parent, a family to protect and/or a protégé to mentor.
Call me a nerd. I’ll call it focused. I’ll call it driven to make a difference. That way, when I do take some time to relax or play, I think that I’ve earned it!
But that’s just me. So let me ask you this: Are any of your heroes mediocre? Think about that for a minute…
None of mine are. I admire smart people; well dressed people; ambitious people; people who have accomplished something and those who are determined to accomplish something. I admire people who expect the best from themselves and those who give of themselves to help others. That man or woman in your neighborhood who took an interest in you as a kid could have found an easy chair after a long day at work but chose to spend time with you.
- That teacher who taught you to read spent lots of her own money to have the tools needed to do the job.
- That minister who preaches so eloquently and teaches so cogently doesn’t get a lot of sleep on Saturday nights.
- That CEO whose job you want leaves home before the kids get up in the morning and is still in the office when you are at happy hour.
- That athlete who always seems to make the big play spends more time watching film and in the weight room than you do.
- That artist whose work you admire studies the techniques of the masters for fun.
Maybe being mediocre is easier, but these people make our communities a lot better and our country a lot stronger. These people are heroes because they recognize their gifts or calling, they are committed, they insist on excellence and they strive to be extraordinary.
Said more simply, excellence rarely happens between 9 and 5. It takes a lot more work for our heroes to make it look so easy. Let’s commit to being exceptional. Let’s celebrate the outstanding. Mediocrity is overrated! So #DBTE and get on with being Extraordinary! At what do you desire to be much better than mediocre? Do you know someone whom you consider to be Extraordinary? Tell me who and why?