A few days ago I received an email from one of my readers who asked a question which got me thinking. Paraphrasing she asked “How did you change your mindset/path in life so quickly. I’ve been trying to change my mindset for a while now and have been having some trouble in doing so”. This email had me pondering for a couple of days and prompted me to ask the question what path are you heading towards greatness or mediocrity?
Difference Between Greatness & Mediocrity
The difference in perception that separates greatness from mediocrity can affect the way a person views their mistakes and outlook. This differs from a person who strives for greatness that realizes that making a mistake is foreseeable, and are more concerned with correcting said mistake rather than harping on it. Another difference is a person who settles for mediocrity makes excuses for everything in their life that doesn’t go to plan. They will make excuses like “It’s too hard, I don’t have enough time, I don’t have the resources, and I need more time”. These examples paint a picture why some many of us prevent our chances of reaching greatness. Often times we impede our own greatness by thinking and believing negative thoughts that inevitable makes us settle for mediocrity. In the past I have struggled with these same concerns that I have to settle for mediocrity. Until I realized that I can to be great and if I put my mind, energy and effort I can to be considered great.
Truth About Greatness
An underlying myth about greatness is it is something that is complex, esoteric or a God-like feature that only the special humans can ever reach. This declaration often discourages people who have dreams, aspirations or just want to be great in life. The truth is greatness truly does exist in all of us the difference is if you tap into your greatness or settle for mediocrity. For example, people ask me question constantly like “how did you become a writer when you don’t have professional training in writing, how did you get people to actual read what you wrote, how did you know that you could be a writer when you had never written anything outside of school”? I answer all these questions with a very simple answer I worked relentless on my craft day and night. When everyone else is sleeping, eating or relaxing I will be working trying improve my craft. I also changed my thinking from “I don’t know or I can’t to “I can, I will and nothing is going to stop me”. Even though I wouldn’t consider myself great by any stretch of the imagination I’m working every day to make that a reality.
Truth About Mediocrity
Truth about mediocrity is that it is truly a choice, decision or result of our own actions. Choosing to be mediocre usually is the easier, less stress and convenient route. Deciding to be mediocre can cause a lot regret, pain and anguish later on in life. We have all met people that say “I wish I could go back and do things differently, I just want one more chance to follow my passion”. Being mediocre is usually a choice made out fear of the unknown. Not knowing is a fear that many of us have and struggle with so making a bold chose to be great in a mediocre society can be quite never-racking.
Final Thoughts
In my experience and research our mindset is about 90% responsible for our success and that just 10% depends on the way the cookie crumbles. In all likely-hood you’ll likely be successful if you truly put in the work and have a positive mindset through the process. The road to being great is certainly a process. If you blame your problems and failures whether major, minor, personal or professional, on other people, circumstances beyond your control, or just plain bad luck, you may be destined to fail. How much of your success would you say is up to you—your choices, your actions, your behaviors—versus outside conditions? Comment below & if you liked this post please share!
Copyright ©2016 Jay Colby All Rights Reserved.
Jay Colby 
Wow. The post was brilliantly written!
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You explained this topic in such simple words.
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Thank you!
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This is eye opening and really helpful! Thanks for such insightful and enjoyable reads! 🙂
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I’m glad it resonated with you. Thank you for reading!
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your chosen title, and that picture…I like how you choose a picture very much cross shaped. – i like the enthusiasm of ” all those late nights when you’re asleep i’m up improving my craft/… – maybe you wont understand the sadness i see in this not a bad path to personal success – oh no never ever has it been the blueprint of success itself… but the sadness is the fortunes of success are at heart still independant of effort alone- just as grace saves withoutworks… the paradox is the effort to believe through action when technically action alone isn’t the only factor. or the sadness for me is people believing they’re earned fame- that it isn’t also fickle when it comes and goes. a success one moment and tested for grace the next perhaps or the grand kids will fight to divi up the spoils…or success stays. I wonder if you know the sadness of seeming success running away despite every every every efffort made to court it to stay- hard work, belief, etc and wondering then and only then upon measuring accolades that it is for naught as perhaps our pile hasn’t the heighth of treasure gleaming as it should have. or in short that success isn’t a choice afterall…or at least ours wholly to make. . this changes little to nothing, people will still find there are golden paths for us all and an echoing of the power of god shown great and small. but also less pain should i work to a goal of only adulations. i can be great and then again you can choose not to agree. this changes nothing and both of us can rejoice in our chosen truths… Heck i see the hard work and other stuff even said and a fine measure of success- I just warn it’s dangerous to feel entitled to what may leave without warning or effort on our part.
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Thanks for reading & sharing!
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Pingback: What Path Are You On: Greatness or Mediocrity? — Jay Colby – B.Haven Blog
That’s a good read, brother. Shared with my readers as well in hopes that it impacts someone for the better!
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Thank you I really appreciate that.
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My sentiments exactly Jay, we have greatness within us all, we are responsible for however our future unfolds by how we think act and do in the present moment, which includes our mindset; you can cut a log in half with a dull edge it just takes a little longer, some of choose to use an ax with a dull edge and if we persist we will still cut the log in half. Persistence, to keep chipping away.
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I agree we all have greatness inside us. Thanks for reading!
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Pingback: What Path Are You On: Greatness or Mediocrity? – ZOESTYLE
I love how you make me think
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Thank you!
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Pingback: The Cost of Success | Jay Colby
You are totally correct, greatness is totally due to one’s mindset, persistence, and getting into action. Your content is definitely similar to my website. http://www.begreatwithin.com/
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It’s all about the process. What are we willing to do to become great, or get what we want? Are we going to let that naysayer in our mind determine our destiny? We have to be willing to sacrifice things to become what we want to be. For me, that would be giving up fast food, bread, sweets, and sugary drinks! We can’t let our mind say what we cannot do. We have to speak to the mountains and make them move. This was an awesome post. God bless!
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Succinct! It begins with me. If its to be, its left to me.
Thanks Jay
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So true with what you said about being great is certainly a process – its takes determination, a positive mindset, action and patience to achieve greatness. The outcome isn’t seen in a day or two, it takes time too. When we change our mindset and choose to see things differently, there is a possibility of a solution to our immediate problems. It is always good to be reminded once in a while that our success is up to us. Thanks for sharing with us this wonderful piece.
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