Written By Frank Sonnenberg
Nobody wants to be called mediocre. It’s like the screeching sound of someone’s nails on a blackboard. Yet, unfortunately, we’re surrounded by mediocrity. The bad news is that it’s contagious; the good news is that there’s a cure.
Mediocrity isn’t something that’s forced upon us; we bring it on ourselves. The fact is, negative habits produce negative results. Mediocrity doesn’t happen to us; it’s created by us.
15 Common Habits of Mediocre People
Mediocrity rears its ugly head when people have a poor attitude, misguided philosophy, or bad habits. Know the warning signs and take appropriate action to counter them.
Lack of accountability.
You always have a clever excuse or someone to blame so that you can dodge responsibility.
Complacency.
You made it to the top and think you can rest on your laurels and live off your past accomplishments.
Victim mentality.
You convince yourself that everyone’s against you and that success is beyond your control — so you stop trying to affect the outcome.
Lack of candid feedback.
You rarely receive, nor do you want, feedback, so it’s hard for you to know where improvement is needed. As a result, you never learn from mistakes.
Low expectations.
You set the bar so low for yourself that you’re pleased with mediocre performance.
Poor reward system.
You’ve stopped trying because there’s no distinction in your organization between exceptional and poor performance.
Bad influence.
You surround yourself with low achievers. Unfortunately, their behavior is contagious.
Lack of competition.
You’re the only game in town, so folks have no option but to do business with you.
No conscience.
Politics takes precedence over doing what’s right, and appearances become more important than outcome.
Get something for nothing.
You’re rewarded based on tenure rather than merit, so there’s no incentive to keep up with the times or to go the extra mile.
Poor leadership.
You easily achieve results because the bar was set artificially low. The truth is, when you tolerate mediocrity, you get more of it.
Lack of commitment.
You dip your toe in the water because you’re afraid to go all in. The result is that a superficial effort leads to superficial results.
Crave acceptance.
You lower your personal standards to win social acceptance and become a member of the in-crowd.
Think you’re a know-it-all.
You put learning on the back burner and become obsolete over time.
Apathy.
You’ve been underperforming for so long you don’t even recognize excellence anymore.
Are You in Danger of Becoming Mediocre?
If you think mediocre behavior is acceptable, I have news for you. Just as exercise conditions your body and makes you stronger and more resilient, the same holds true for your mindset. When there are no consequences for mediocre behavior, you can easily be lulled into a false sense of security — believing that mediocrity doesn’t matter.
The problem is, when you think you’re fooling the world, you’re only kidding yourself.
One day, when it’s important for you to put your best foot forward, you’ll learn that your skills have atrophied and you’ve lost your edge. You’ll come to realize that you’ve been coasting for so long that mediocrity isn’t just a bad habit — it’s who you are. Please don’t let that happen!
Have you ever had a parent, coach, teacher, or boss who pushed you to your limits?
The odds are that you resented them, and you may even have mumbled under your breath. The truth is, they gave you the gift of a lifetime. They helped mold you into a strong, confident, and productive person. They also taught you to demand a lot of yourself because you have the potential to achieve anything you desire — as long as you work hard and put your mind to it. The fact is, their gift will remain with you for life. It’s in your DNA. They taught you to make yourself proud and never to succumb to mediocrity. Mediocre behavior is a choice. I hope you choose to say “NO!”
This is an excerpt from Soul Food: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
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