Is Mediocrity a Choice?
I worked for a Command Master Chief who liked to console his leaders before they were to set out to accomplish something he needed them for.
He would say something to the effect of, "That's okay. We can't all be A students. The world needs C students. If you aren't promoted because your efforts weren't as strong, that's okay, too. People have perfectly good average lives."
What this did to all the people in the room was fire them up. No one, at that level anyway, was going to settle for average. He got his best work from all involved.
I watched a TEDx recently that was particularly disturbing to me. The highly qualified speaker was asking us to embrace mediocrity.
I listened very carefully. I wanted to be sure I understood exactly what he was saying. I didn't want to make the mistake of jumping to a conclusion that wasn't at all what he meant.
He made a very good argument for embracing mediocrity. I had to sit and think about where my values aligned with this.
Here's what I came up with.
My belief is that everyone has greatness inside them. But it's like a Nintendo game where you practice many levels to get to the top. You may find yourself stuck at a particular level, at which point you decide to move on or keep trying. I believe greatness lies in continuing to try.
How can we even know who these people will be? They are made and broken through the trials of the many levels they pursue. They don't even know themselves. Not for sure. Except they have a passion.
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Is it right to encourage others to let it go? What about all the insights that are picked up along the way? Those accidental "Aha!" moments no one could have predicted. What about the growth of the person experiencing these changes.
No, maybe it would be best to sit it out. Your chances of succeeding are a long shot by anyone's measure. You can live more comfortably with half the effort.
What do we tell the children about their hopes and aspirations? They're no more real than Santa Claus?
Santa Claus.
Mediocrity is not a lifestyle choice. It's the alternative to greatness. Not necessarily a failure, but, it's what happens when your arrow doesn't quite make it to the moon.