According to dictionary.com, the word mediocre means, “of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate.”  Mediocrity is not a level people strive to meet. It is not something that someone wakes up in the morning and says, “I hope today is mediocre”.  We would not buy a product that was mediocre.  We would not shop or eat in a place with mediocre service.  In a free market society a mediocre establishment will soon fade away.

We do not like mediocrity in other people, but often accept and condone it on our own lives.  Our lazy side will endure mediocrity because:

• Nothing extra is expected of you.
• It is easy to deal with the status quo.
• You do not have to deal with change.

So, how do you get out of your “mediocre security blanket”?

1-    Read something in another field of knowledge other than your own.  We tend to get locked into our little “bubble” world.  We only breathe our air.  We talk to the same people.  We all share the same advice and viewpoint.  Life is easy there, but dying. Expand your realm of knowledge.

2-    Study the success of someone who is succeeding in your field.  This will remind you that growth in your field is definitely possible.  It will awaken the lazy part of you to allow vision to see again.  It will allow you to dream, which will cause you to grow in your realm of your own possibilities.

3-    Start with “baby steps”, not “giant leaps.”  When we see success our wheels begin to turn and our mind starts to plan.  At that point all we are seeing is a “win”.  We only see the end result. We want to get there, and get there now.  But remember, there are four quarters in football, nine innings in baseball, four periods in basketball, and eighteen holes in golf.  Take each day and opportunity as time to grow.  You can’t accomplish everything over night, but you accomplish nothing if you don’t take the first step.

4-    Set a goal with a time limit and accountability.  As you begin in your journey out of mediocrity, there will be plenty of people who will tell you it cannot be done. They do not want you leaving the town of “Mediocrity” because they live there too.  Setting a goal is only half of the equation, completing it is the other half.  Setting a time limit and having accountability is what makes it happen.  Now you know when it should happen, but so does everyone else. That presses you to keep going and not lose sight of the goal.

I hope you will start today with an area of your life, that you feel has become mundane, and celebrate all the opportunities placed in your path.  Mediocrity will kill you.