Mediocrity is one of the biggest threats to your success in this life, both as a profitable investor and as a thoroughly satisfied human being.
Mediocrity is also one of the stealthiest adversaries you face on a daily basis, because it surrounds you almost everywhere you go, implicitly tempting you to surrender your long-term ideals in favor of near-term comfort.
Almost everyone you know is doing this all the time – replacing their pursuits of stunningly beautiful dreams (both financial and otherwise) with more commonplace aspirations.
They trade their ideals for that which is merely “attainable”.
They trade possible greatness for guaranteed “goodness”.
In other words, they capitulate (ie. “settle”).
And, like the insecure sellouts that they are, they want you to join their capitulation.
But this world already has enough sellouts. And there is likewise no shortage of weak-kneed cowards.
So fight the urge to settle for “good enough”. Fight it like you’re fighting for your very life – because you are. And take heart in the assurance that you can win this war. You can be great. Your business can be great. Your family can be great. Your entire life can be great…
…That is, if you want greatness badly enough.
To wit, here’s a helpful reminder from Jaret Grossman – a wildly successful bodybuilder and thought-leader within the fitness industry – which speaks directly to the heart of greatness and describes what it is like to fight against mediocrity every single day.
Jaret’s message hits right at the core of greatness…
…and here is a full transcription of today’s inspiring video.
So you want to be successful, huh? Well, there's one thing in this world that has the ability to change our whole life in an instant. You know what it is? It's action.
First step. You just need to make a decision. Ask yourself this: A year from now, five years from now, what are you going to wish you did today? The secret to getting ahead in this world, is first getting started.
You can't let fear stand in the way of your dreams. You cannot think, "Oh, what if this doesn't work." If you believe enough in the process and the end result, success is going to come to come to you. It will. You just got to be willing to see it through to the end.
First, you've got to jump in the deep end, man. Once something goes into motion, it stays in motion. The process itself feeds a fire. You can't be trapped by fear. Limits like fears, they're illusions. Disregard them. If you're passionate about it and you go full throttle, there's no doubt, you're going to be good at it.
Because what makes someone good at something? It's dedication, hard work, and it's doing it with the proper direction and methodology. If you plug away, you're going to be good.
What makes someone a professional at something?
It's the concept of taking that little idea, that little decision you make and executing to take it as far as your imagination holds. Dedicating every breath in your body to that single cause. Seeing the grand picture at the end of the road to be the absolute best and not settling for any reason.
It's not talent. It's not innate ability. It simply comes down to how hungry you are. How hungry are you to improve? How big is your appetite for success? What are you willing to do to reach your dreams?
The professionals, the best at their craft, they don't care about the naysayers. They don't care about the fun they're foregoing. They don't take days off. They are 100% set in their ways in perfecting their craft, because it's all for a much a larger purpose than any semblance of happiness that immediate gratification provides.
Reaching your goal? Well, that's just pure bliss. The higher the expectations, the larger the goal? Well, the feeling just magnifies.
What's the difference between you and them? The professionals, they're the ones who are willing to knock on the doors of complete exhaustion every single day.
Now, let me define exhaustion for you. Exhaustion is at that very point where it's just so damn painful that you just can't push anymore, that it hurts so bad, that you can't even think straight. It's in reaching that point when deep down you know that you did absolutely everything in your power, that there wasn't one more thing you could have done.
What's the difference between them and you? What are you doing at this present moment in time? Ask yourself this: Are you moving closer towards your goals or are you moving further away from them? Are you knocking on those doors of exhaustion or are you just uncomfortable?
Being uncomfortable is not exhaustion. Being uncomfortable is your mind quitting before your body. Being uncomfortable is just saying "no" to trying again. Achieving greatness happens when you're willing to do something that will kill you just to make you better.
It's easier to buy the ticket to see the game than it is to be the one to prepare for it.
It's easier to hang out with your friends than it is to hang with the stairs for an hour.
It's easier to sleep in than it is to wake up, do 100 sprints.
It's easier to go to a party than it is to go ass to the grass in squats.
It's easier to watch athletes from the couch than it is to be the one hoisting the trophy.
It's also a lot easier to look back on your life and know you gave it all than it is to live with regrets. Not living up to your potential? Well, that weighs on your shoulders for a lifetime. No one ever said that being successful was going to be easy, but I'll tell you one thing, it sure as hell is worth it.
You are your own maker in this world and there is no such thing as failure. You've just got to tell it, "No, not this time. Not with me. I'm going to try again and again and again. I'm going to look failure straight in the face and I'm going to tell it that I'm willing to go through all the struggles to reach my dreams."
Because without struggle, there's never going to be any progress. It's all in how bad you want it. How big is your appetite for success? Do you just want a bite or are you starving out there for it?
Stay empty. Stay driven. Stay hungry.
Make A Decision – Ask yourself this question: “In five years, what am I going to wish I did today?”
Act – Take an intentional first step towards the ideal future you envision for yourself. (The secret to getting ahead in this world is getting started.)
Persevere – Once you start moving towards greatness, DON’T STOP! (Never, ever, EVER settle for mediocrity.)