Why Being Mediocre is Not a Bad Thing
Hey Heroes!
You've probably heard the saying that "average is ordinary, and extraordinary is what we should strive for". But what does that mean? And is it really such a bad thing to be ordinary? Let's explore the concept of being mediocre and why it's not always a bad thing. We'll also discuss the benefits of being comfortable with who you are and what you do. So if you're feeling down about being just average, don't worry - you're in good company!
Why is mediocre not a bad word
Most people view the word "mediocre" as a bad thing. They feel like they are not good enough if they are not extraordinary. But what if being ordinary is not a bad thing? What if being in the majority is comfortable and normal?
When you look at it from a statistical standpoint, being mediocre only means that you are in the majority, close to the mean. Approximately 70% of the population falls into this category. So if you feel that you are ordinary, then there's nothing wrong with that. This means that you are in good company.
Being an outlier is seen as being better than the ordinary, but this is not always the case. Most of the time, outliers are just that – outliers. They are the exception to the rule and do not represent the majority. And because they are different, they often experience a lot of stress and pressure. The movie "The Incredibles" sums this concept up pretty well: "If everyone is a super - then no one will be". The meaning behind that phrase is that when everyone does what is considered "extraordinary", it becomes ordinary because everyone else can do it. Let me give you a clear example: when cellphones first started being produced, having a cellphone was a symbol of status, wealth, and means. Nowadays as it is common, it is a commodity rather than a luxury - meaning it is now not an exclusive item that changes the perception of people about you.
There are behaviors that are expected in certain situations and places, they become the "norm". That norm is followed by "normal" (aka ordinary, mediocre) people. Yet the norm is nothing bad. If it works, it works. Groups should always strive to better themselves and follow the rules that guarantee the continuation of the group.
But have you wondered who usually dictates those rules that improve the dynamic of the group?
The outliers. Outliers are the ones that go outside of the norm, that behave in ways unexpected to the rest of the group. Those behaviors, like any good normal distribution, can be positive or negative - meaning that there can be outliers on both sides of the coin, those who are bringing betterment to the group, and those who are bringing negative impacts.
Being an outlier that brings positive impact means that you would be in the top 15% of that group population. It can mean a lot of effort, a lot of improvement and it cannot be achieved overnight. It means sacrifice and willpower. This outlier can be a leader that brings the best of the group they act in. This leader could be you.
But there is absolutely nothing wrong with prioritizing other areas of your life that make you happier and distributing your efforts to follow the norm in a group environment, as long as you don't fall into the negative impact half. But then how do you improve without assigning more effort?
It is important to understand that the group dynamics make it so that the group is in constant evolution: once a new behavior created by an outlier has been assimilated by the group, it becomes "the norm", meaning it becomes a behavior of the mediocre. This means the leader makes the group it leads better, and the group becomes better because of its leader.
It is most important to note as well, that taking about outliers and norms is relative to the group population. What can be considered the norm in a group setting, can be considered an outlier in others. An easy example would be: a kid with a second-grade reading level amongst kindergartners would be considered extraordinary when measuring reading levels, but the same kid amongst second graders would be considered within the norm.
In summary: Being mediocre does not have to be an insult if you are comfortable being and doing what you do, putting the level of effort that you do because you are comfortable prioritizing other areas of your life. To improve with minimal effort, choose your leader wisely, choose your group with care and avoid group dynamics that favor negative impacts rather than positive ones. That way, even if you are in the middle, you will still be an outlier in groups that have yet to develop to your level of yours.
Remember: Feel good. Do good. Be good.
