Choosing Mediocrity: Four Key Questions to Breaking the Cycle
By Susan Young, President, Susan Young Media Relations, Inc.

When did you decide to be mediocre?

Did you wake up one morning, bored with your drab routine and life and tell yourself in that noisy soundtrack that plays brain clutter 24/7 in your head that today's the day. Today is the day that you will stop being hopeful and start being one of those horrible draining "naysayers" that surround us. When did you choose to be average? And when will you choose to get control of your life and break away from the pack? When will you decide that being second rate is for someone else? When will you give yourself a break and come to understand that we were put here to succeed and not suffer. When will you find the treasures and gifts that lie within?

It's all about answers. It's all about choices.

When we were innocent toddlers, we played wildly and used our imaginations with little regard for possible failure or other people's judgments. We learned to walk, we fell down, we laughed and we got right back up and began running again. If we cried, it was only for a minute. We quickly forgot. We didn't know the word mediocre.

Children laugh an average of 400 times a day. Adults laugh an average of 15 times a day. Where did our joy go?

It's time to recapture our excellence. It's time to get up and decide to run again. It's time to laugh more and decry mediocrity. It's time for you to decide to move to the front of the buffet line. It's your turn.

Philosophers say the hardest part is getting started. What's holding you back? Think about your goal of losing weight, registering for a class, asking for a raise, or getting out of a negative relationship. You either have results or reasons. Another word for reasons is excuses. Now ask yourself these four key questions. Be brutally honest.

1. Why? (Why should I get started?)
2. Why not? (Why shouldn't I get started?)
3. Why not me? (Why shouldn't I take the turn that I am entitled to?)
4. Why not now? (What's holding me back from beginning right now?)

Most people don't want to go the extra mile. My suggestion is to go the extra mile. The road's not crowded at all. It's the extra mile that is packed with life's many rewards.

Your choice. Your decision. Go back to Question #4. Why not now?

###

About the Author:

Susan Young works with businesses who want to increase their publicity, credibility and revenues with public relations. She’s a news and communications expert, and President of Get in Front Communications, Inc. Susan also works with professionals and college students who want to improve their communication, leadership and self-confidence. She can be reached at www.getinfrontcommunications.com or call (210) 375-6422.