Forgiving mediocrity
This is part 5 of a 14 part series describing my professional philosophy. Part 4 can be found here.
Can you remember a time when you were just ‘done’?
It’s a feeling you get after working at peak level for an extensive period of time to complete a task or stay on point for a specific need? Do you remember that feeling of exhaustion and that dealing with minor, everyday tasks seemed impossible or trivial?
Now keep that in your mind for a second and see if you can re-feel it at a physical level.
I can.
And now, I want you to remember a time that someone interacted with you while you were in that state. It’s almost like finishing a marathon and then someone comes along and tells you the last six miles sucked, and you need to re-run the last half.
It’s hyperbole and hypothetical, but when you are in that exhaustive state, you aren’t feeling up to dealing with other people — literally no one. You need a break, a rest, or time to recuperate to get back to your normal.
You didn’t like it when it happened to you — so, be aware that you may do it to others as well.
The fourth point of my 12-point philosophy is a quote that I’ve originally attributed to English Playwright W. Somerset Maugham, but lately have concluded that it is from French novelist and essayist Jean Giraudoux.
“Only the mediocre are always at their best.”
This was one of those quotes that burned itself into the darkest recesses of my brain never to be forgotten. The weight of this concept is perception-altering to say the least.
Think about it — to be on top of your game, hitting such a high level, you are in deep focus and productivity, but it can’t last. We can only do it in spurts.
It’s how Tim Farriss is able to sell books about 4-hour work weeks — because it’s true!
We are only in ‘high-performer’ mode for a bit, like a cheetah chasing its prey across the Serengeti at top speed. It’s the fastest animal in the world, but only for a few minutes.
So remember that you aren’t always working at the top of your game ALL THE TIME and no one else is. If we did, we’d die from burnout or exhaustion. We push progress in spurts because that’s 80/20. You will get 80% of what needs to be done by only 20% of the work. And in most cases, that 80% is all anyone asked for or truly needs.
Stay alert for when you are not at your best and when others around you are not at their best. Be kind to those that may be struggling to get back into that high-performer mode and maybe others will reciprocate that compassion for when you aren’t at your best.