Two parallel wires that can never meet

The more you pursue a dream, the better you become. No one pursues the fulfillment of a dream and remains a mediocre. Dreams have a way of relocating you from familiar territories to unfamiliar territories. Also, a dream has a way of relocating you from the ‘valley of Hebron,’ setting your feet on the way to ‘Egypt.’ Your dream will never leave you as you are. It will stretch and change you. When you respond accordingly to a dream, you are going to bid a life of mediocrity goodbye.

Why do people settle for average? They settle for average because they are uninspired to dream. The day the one who dreams and pursues his or her dreams meet the one who does not dream at all, the gap between them will be wide as the gap between the heavens and earth. It is dodgy not to become dream-driven. It is dangerous to remain in the ‘valley of Hebron’ without having a dream. Those who sit back in the ‘valley of Hebron’ without dreams do not end up becoming anything significant in the days to come.

When a people settle for a life of mediocrity, they tend to blame it on others, families, on their circumstances and on the nation as a whole, but the truth is that—mediocrity is always a personal choice. You can become the best in a 3rd world country! Kindly do not forget this truth as long as you breathe.

Hear what D. Bruce Lockerbie said on the issue I am trying to let you see today: “Mediocrity isn’t at root a national problem or a corporate or institutional problem; not a departmental problem; mediocrity is a personal problem. American education isn’t a monolith; American education is made of millions of students being taught by millions of teachers, assisted by millions of supporting staff, equipped by millions of manufacturers and editors and suppliers—all paid for by billions of dollars. Each of these facets of American education is peopled by individuals. Therefore, American education isn’t mediocre; but those of us who make decisions and appropriate funding for education may have been slipshod in our commitment to our work. Schools aren’t mediocre; but some of us who are administrators or teachers, and our students, have been half-hearted about our management, our teaching, their learning. You see, mediocrity is first, a personal trait, a personal concession to less than our best, an individual lethargic resignation that says, ‘I guess good enough is good enough.’ Soon mediocrity metastasizes throughout the body politics, causing the nation to be at risk; but always remember, mediocrity begins with me!”

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For the umpteenth time, mediocrity is a personal thing, so also excellence.  About 25 years ago, I made up my mind to be all out for excellence in all I do. And it has helped me a great deal. I detest mediocrity and everything that looks like it. Remember, you are not living an average life because you are living in a 3rd world country as Nigeria, but you are living an average life—because you have chosen to embrace a life of mediocrity.

Each time you embrace anything less than the best for your life and business, you are unwittingly embracing the ugly lady of mediocrity. This will negatively impact on your life, leadership and business.  About two decades ago, a man gave a job to a printer to help put to bed the baby of a beautiful diary. And he was instructed to put “proudly Nigerian” on the back-cover of each diary, but instead of proudly Nigerian, he wrongly put “proudly Nigeria” on it. As an effect of the man’s hatred for mediocrity and love for excellence, he instructed the printer to go burn those diaries and do them again! This is the price we pay for excellence. Buddy, if you are going to become extremely successful in the days to come, you must hate mediocrity with passion and love excellence with every strength that is on the inside of you.

Whatever projects you are working on right now, always ask yourself this question: am I doing the best that I can do for now? If you are doing less than your best, you are knocking on the door of mediocrity. If you are giving less than your best, you are like a great ship made for the mighty ocean but trying to navigate in a millpond. You have no far port to reach, no lifting horizon, no precious cargo to carry. Your hours will become absorbed in routine and petty tyrannies. Remember, one of life’s greatest tragedies is a person with a 10-by-12 capacity and a two-by-four soul. Always give your best shot!

Success requires you to stretch—go beyond average. An average is an enemy, not a friend. The reason many people are living a life of mediocrity is because they are not reaching for big dreams. You can never reach for a big dream and remain safely mediocre at the same time. The two are incomparable. You want to bid—goodbye to mediocre life? Then start pursuing a dream that is bigger than you. This will always stretch you beyond average.

Greatness and mediocre are as two parallel wires—they can never meet.  To become great in life, you have to kick mediocrity out of your life. Remember, you live in a country where mediocrity is seen as excellence. And those who are living mediocre life are usually seen as great leaders. Don’t allow this warped way of seeing mediocre life and leadership become your own reality. Do not forget that excellence begins with you, not with your fellow-citizens. You have to decide to live always live an excellence-driven life.

See you where successful leaders are found!