The Devil of Mediocrity

Is Failure the best Teacher?  Perhaps.

Is a Fear of Failure motivating?  I certainly think so.

But for me, the devil is in mediocrity.

Mediocrity is what wakes me up at night.  It’s what stirs the emotion of regret.  It’s what makes my blood boil so often when I look in the mirror.

When I look back on my now 50 years, it’s clearer by the day that I have long traded in mediocrity.

This is not to say that I am not grateful for my life.  I have an incredible family, great friends and beautiful children that I would lay down my life for.   I have a degree of financial security, and a career that affords me the opportunity to lift others up…and by that nature, feel a sense of purpose.

No, this regret or melancholy or anger… is about my potential.  As a man.

To be the best I can be.  To create the most abundance for my family.  To live long and healthy for them.  To contribute.  To give.  To make an impact that sustains and survives long after my life is over.

I’m not always certain why, but this thought haunts me.

It’s taken me a long time to recognize the devil of mediocrity.  And it’s taken me a long time to wrestle with how these thoughts can make me seem dissatisfied, and how that can send the wrong message to those I love most.

But I’ve turned the corner.

I’ve learned that I can separate my gratitude for this life, with an anger and a FEAR of leaving all that I have to give… “on the table”.

I’ve learned that I can simultaneously recognize the joy that is in my life, with the fact that statistically, 64.1% of my life is over.  (And that’s not taking quality of life into account.)

I think of this phrase, over and over:

What will the man I become, think of the man I could have been.

DAMN.

I have a good life folks.  But I am awake…and I am aware… of my own mediocrity.  And I hate it.

These thoughts woke me up this morning.  And I wanted to invite you all…to see this perspective.

Why?

Because I wonder how many of you can relate with the thoughts I just shared.

Because I know most of you well…and I know that you have goals and dreams and mountains you want to climb.

But most of all I know this about you, just as assuredly as I know it about myself…  There is NO ONE keeping you from your dreams, other than YOU.

And perhaps the devil of mediocrity.

Whatever your goals, you CAN achieve them.

Whatever you feel is left ‘undone’, you CAN do it.

Whatever you know you have yet to give, you CAN give it.

But you’ve got to get after it.  Even on a Friday. 🙂

And I pray that you understand how motivated I am, to help you…if I’m able.

Because it is also part of my journey.

And for me, it is part of my fight…with that devil of mediocrity.

I plan on winning that fight.

You?

[ ⇒  Please consider joining my mailing list. ]