Learn from the greats, be inspired by the mediocre: Ever look at someone and think "I could do that, but better"?

You may think the Olympics are great because they showcase peak performance and how far the human body can push itself to the limit.

How humans can overcome adversity to be their best selves.

That seeing these athletes is the peak of what humans are capable of achieving.

But you would be wrong.

And if you work in healthcare, you would know why. Because every day at work I see the true achievements of the human body: people who, based on their many chronic diseases, should have died years ago, but continue to live fairly normal lives for the many ailments they suffer from:

Livers surrounded by fat.

Sky high blood pressures.

Blood sugars over 400 and up to 600 after eating 30 (yes, that’s not a typo) popsicles.

Lest you think I am insensitive, while I marvel at the human body’s ability to soldier on in the face of incredible illness, I always try and help my patients actually be healthier. And this different approach to looking at “greatness” had me thinking about my own writing and speaking pursuits, and how it could help you in any endeavor you are trying.

The path less traveled can be a lonely one filled with struggle and frustration. It is important to have a goal in mind, maybe a person to emulate to try and be like in whatever it is you are doing, be it athletics, writing, or any business. It can be easy and awe inspiring to look at the greats in your field. For me, thinking about how popular Tony Robbins is as a speaker, Ryan Holliday is as a writer, and Jerry Seinfeld is as a comedian can inspire me to greatness.

And also push me to the depths of despair because they are so outside of the realm of what I feel I can achieve.

At least for now.

If every book I write is compared to a bestselling author, or joke that lands flat compared to arguably the greatest comedian of all time, I could get real discouraged in a real hurry. This comparison robs my joy and the motivation to keep going when challenges mount.

And this is why comparing yourself to the greats is not a great idea, and even looking to them for inspiration could make your goals feel unattainable.

But there is another side to this comparison game.

Look at the people with some success who are objectively mediocre at best:

Whenever I attend a pharmacy conference, and see the other boring speakers on stage, reading off their slides, losing the audience, and making me want to gouge my eyes out and stuff them in my ears to make the pain stop, I realize that in healthcare, I could not only have success, but? am a better more compelling speaker than most!

Whenever I go to an open mic night, and see how bad the jokes of the comedians actually trying to make it, I realize that I am pretty funny and, in my decade, plus of practicing comedy have come up with material that can land.

Oh, and when I get a book recommendation from an author with a modicum of professional success and can’t get through it, and realize that my writing, while far from perfect, could stand up to what is in front of my in that book, I realize that I can do this too!

What is the lesson?

Don’t be afraid to compare yourself to others to help find inspiration, but make sure you are picking the mediocre talents. It will give you the confidence boost you need to realize you got some real talent, and if the practically talentless can make it, someday you will too!

Just heed this advice:

Comparing to someone who's honed their craft for years can leave you feeling frustrated.

But people with some success and no talent?

If THEY can make it

So can you!

Aim high! Or at least above average.

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