The Case for Mediocrity

How success is better built by accepting mediocrity rather than aiming for the stars.

If you read this, the most likely you are an average human with average skills and ability. Or if I had a big ego, I would claim that you are most likely really smart because only really smart people read my Medium stories 😉

You didn’t fall for my shameless flattery? Ah well… I tried.

from the Latin word mediocris, meaning “of medium size, moderate, middling, commonplace” — Mediocrity, Merriam-Webster

Here is the problem: As a culture we celebrate exceptional achievement and talent. We all want to be more brilliant and work harder than everybody else. Or that is my impression. I am not actually that driven myself. Although I wish I was. I can only daydream about being an Elon Musk clone.

The hard reality is that statistically speaking most of us must be of average skill and ability. Mediocre in other words. But if the majority of us are convinced we can reach the stars by just applying ourselves and working hard then statistics will eventually punch you in the face and remind most of you that you cannot beat average. Because if you did, then the average would have been something else.