Don't be Destined for Mediocrity......

Mediocre equals ordinary.  Nothing too bad, nothing too special.  Ordinary. Defined, mediocrity means, "the state or quality of being mediocre, of mediocre ability or accomplishment or a mediocre person." So basically, you can be mediocre, your organization can be mediocre or the job you do can be mediocre.  One definition of Mediocre is, "neither good nor bad; merely adequate."  Another is, "moderate to inferior in quality; ordinary."  Some people settle for adequate.  In my opinion, adequate is not an option!

Andrew Carnegie,tells us that, "People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents."  What creates motivation?  That's up to you, as they say, "different strokes for different folks!"   Motivation goes back to extra effort, the commitment to succeed, courage to face failure, learn from it and move forward and to an extent, an inner arrogance!  Probably one of the most arrogant athletes ever, former Heavyweight Champion, the legendary Muhammad Ali once said, "I am the greatest.  I said it before I knew I was.  Don't tell me I can't do something. Don't tell me it's impossible.  Don't tell me I'm not the greatest.  I'm the double greatest"  Nothing ordinary about Ali, is there?

Ordinary.  Is your approach ordinary?  Is your service ordinary?  Are you ordinary?  Or do you have the Ali arrogance to believe you are the "double greatest?"  How does one become the "double greatest?"  Let's discuss service.  In many market places, service is the greatest differentiator.  You have to be the "double greatest," or you are destined to be mired in mediocrity.  You are destined to be ordinary or just like anyone else.  Inferior to the best.

Here's an example. One time in the Houston airport, I was waiting on a significantly delayed flight.  It was the end of the day, tired and hungry, myself and several associates roosted in one of the airport's many  watering holes.  It had been a long day, yet a productive one. One of us wanted nachos.  OK, that's pretty easy, right?  Wrong.  The server's response was, "Sorry, we are out of queso."    Hmmm.  I heard this while reviewing the menu getting ready to place my order.  So, being one who doesn't like to be ordinary and likes to get out of the little 4X4 box, I asked if they had any cheeseburgers.  The answer was, yes.  Hmmm.  So I ask, "queso is cheese, right?"  So, I asked, "Why can't you use the cheese from the cheeseburgers for the nachos?"  Wow, what a novel idea.  It actually worked and then she got to enjoy her nachos (and they were good too!).  About 30 minutes later, our table overheard the patrons next to us order nachos, from the same server.  To be the "double greatest," wouldn't you think this server would go outside of the 4X4 box now knowing that the kitchen could now use the cheeseburger cheese to make nachos?  Not even, his response was, "Sorry, we are out of queso."  He had a chance to beat mediocrity, but fell right back in.  Great customer focus and service, huh? 

Unfortunately, that scenario happens far too often.  It may be a restaurant, or it may be any other business you can think of (yes, even an insurance company).  It can be you too.  Our server in Houston had the opportunity to set himself apart, but couldn't get outside of the box.  He's obviously destined for mediocrity with that attitude or better yet that lack of customer focus. Whether it be your presentation, personal or professional, service, attitude or activity, always strive to make it the "double greatest."  A life of mediocrity means you will never take "it" to the next level.  A life of mediocrity means you will never be as successful as you or your organization want to be.  Einstein's definition of insanity is, "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."  Repeating something that's giving you average and similar results is pure mediocrity.  Always be prepared mentally to challenge yourself to try different and new things and think outside the box.  Allow yourself to be motivated, to give the extra effort and to have the aforementioned Ali type arrogance to say you were not just the "double greatest" at what you do, but maybe even the "triple greatest! " 

That, just like everything else, is entirely up to you!  American Inventor, Charles F. Kettering, says that "Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future."  What if that Houston airport server had any imagination at all?  He obviously did not and that is the difference between greatness or mediocrity. That would have set him apart from being ordinary.  Set yourself apart - don't settle for ordinary!  Don't be merely adequate - to win, that's not an option! 

"Take a chance!  All life is a chance.  The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.  The sure-thing boat never gets far from the shore." - Dale Carnegie

 

Thanks Lee for another great article.