Is Mediocrity Acceptable?

Is Mediocrity Acceptable?

Let's start off by asking a few more questions that will help us answer the question found in the title of today's entry...

1. Is mediocrity accepted in our world?

2. Is mediocrity accepted in YOUR world? (your friends and relatives; the people you spend your time with)

3. Is mediocrity acceptable to YOU?

We're going to break each one of these down a little more in a moment, but I want you to understand that, many times, something IS or ISN'T acceptable to you based on the influence of those around you. Think about it and I'm sure you can come up with many examples of your own. Here are just a couple that comes to my mind today:

Example 1: Those that have been raised with religious mindset, have "gone to church" most of their life, spend their time with friends and family of the same mindset will likely a different view of what is acceptable and unacceptable than those that have had no such background. What may be perfectly acceptable to those brought up in a "non-religious home" might be considered unacceptable by those that were. This example could go on and on but I think you get the main idea AND, let me point out, that on EITHER side of this those ideas and thoughts can be changed by changing the people that they spend time with!

Example 2: Those that have been raised in a home that pays a lot of attention to manners (table manners, proper attire for certain occasions, etc.) will very likely have a different idea of what is or isn't acceptable than those that were raised in a much more casual atmosphere. The more casual family may not give a second thought to having their elbows on the table, talking with food in their mouth, laughing and joking at the table, etc. while the "manners family" might find all of this very unacceptable.

Again, you can come up with your own examples, but I wanted to give those so that we can understand that even in the area of mediocrity this can be true! So, let's break down the three questions presented above and see what we come up with, o.k.?

1. Is mediocrity accepted in our world (as a whole)? I suppose it's rather hard for me to speak about the world, so I'll focus my thoughts on the U.S.A. as to what I have observed in this area. My answer for the U.S.A. - YES! I do think that, in many areas and due to the "political correctness poison" that seems to rule so many times that we have allowed mediocrity to be acceptable. I know that many won't agree with me but, in my opinion, when we have activities for our children (ball games, school, etc.) where we don't keep score, we don't give our awards unless EVERYONE gets them and we don't give out grades - all so that they can all feel ACCEPTED - we are accepting and TEACHING mediocrity! Be sure to listen to the podcast for today on a couple of questions I have for you concerning these ideas. I think you'll find that all of this sounds really good until you really see the ultimate outcome of such thinking.

2. Is mediocrity accepted in YOUR world? Again, you can go back to the two examples given above about how things are or are not acceptable greatly in part - many times - because of the influences around us. I really want to you sit up and take notice of this in your own life and see what kind of influences you are allowing in THIS area of your life! Here's a real clue on the acceptance level of those around you --- how often do you hear them make comments or suggestions to you or others in "your world" to just "let it go"? I'm not talking about letting go of anger or worry here. I'm talking about responsibility. Someone might say, "I really need to go back home and finish up on some paperwork that my boss needs done" and the reply might be, "Oh, just let it go. Don't worry about it! You can throw something together at the last minute, right?" -- WARNING SIGN! High school and college is a breeding ground for mediocrity in this way many times, so BEWARE of those that make up "your world"!

3. Is mediocrity acceptable to YOU? You likely will already have your honest answer just by considering the first two questions presented in this article today. You may even be surprised to find out how accepting you have become of mediocrity in your own life. That's right, you may need to make some changes in your life UNLESS you are satisfied with living a mediocre life and settling for less. It's up to you!

Most of us find the thought of mediocrity distasteful! But, just like with many things, given enough time, we can get used to almost anything.

DO NOT FALL INTO THIS TRAP!

From yesterday's title - BEWARE Mediocrity! And, from today - FIGHT the tendency for it to become acceptable in your life.

And, as you do...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike