Aim for Mediocrity
Standing on the cusp of 2021, life can be exhausting.
No matter where we look on social media, we will find people who seem wealthier, luckier, prettier, healthier, more popular, smarter, happier than us.
As highly ambitious people, what are we to do?
A solution to consider👇🏾
1) Aim to be mediocre at most things.
2) Celebrate this mediocrity.
3) Then focus on excellence at a few things.
4) Make sure those few things align with my passions, my strengths, and what the world needs.
contd.👇🏾
6) Find rewards in the act of getting better, not in immediate external feedback.
7) Get clarity on what rewards really matter.
8) Trust that those rewards will come.
9) Tweak my approach as I learn more.
Very few smart & ambitious people recognize this.
This isn’t about giving up or "being a loser".
It’s about recognizing that very few of the things that bring us lifelong anxiety actually matter, when all is said & done.
My answer:
Life principles.
I’ll leave you with some of my life principles below.
They are always work in progress, but the ones below have stayed stable for the past 3-4 years.
I am not saying these should be YOUR life principles or ANYONE’s life principles. Examples are useful for clear writing, so view them as merely an example of what’s worked/working for one person. If something resonates, consider adopting it. If something repels, ignore it
I do want to be the wisest person I personally know. To do this, I want to learn from everyone I come in contact with. Everyone.
I want to continue learning my craft as best as I possibly can.
(in my case, this craft is mainly product management)
(this principle has lasted the longest in my list, approximately the past 15 years)
I accept mediocrity in other aspects of my life.
Sometimes I’ll do better than mediocre (great)
Other times, I’ll do worse (not great, but fine)
Just be good-enough to avoid disaster.
https://t.co/caZwkypKAw
Standing on the cusp of 2021, life can be exhausting.
— Shreyas Doshi (@shreyas) December 28, 2020
No matter where we look on social media, we will find people who seem wealthier, luckier, prettier, healthier, more popular, smarter, happier than us.
As highly ambitious people, what are we to do?
A solution to consider\U0001f447\U0001f3fe
More from Shreyas Doshi
More from Life
1/ Here’s a list of conversational frameworks I’ve picked up that have been helpful.
Please add your own.
2/ The Magic Question: "What would need to be true for you
3/ On evaluating where someone’s head is at regarding a topic they are being wishy-washy about or delaying.
“Gun to the head—what would you decide now?”
“Fast forward 6 months after your sabbatical--how would you decide: what criteria is most important to you?”
4/ Other Q’s re: decisions:
“Putting aside a list of pros/cons, what’s the *one* reason you’re doing this?” “Why is that the most important reason?”
“What’s end-game here?”
“What does success look like in a world where you pick that path?”
5/ When listening, after empathizing, and wanting to help them make their own decisions without imposing your world view:
“What would the best version of yourself do”?
Please add your own.
2/ The Magic Question: "What would need to be true for you
1/\u201cWhat would need to be true for you to\u2026.X\u201d
— Erik Torenberg (@eriktorenberg) December 4, 2018
Why is this the most powerful question you can ask when attempting to reach an agreement with another human being or organization?
A thread, co-written by @deanmbrody: https://t.co/Yo6jHbSit9
3/ On evaluating where someone’s head is at regarding a topic they are being wishy-washy about or delaying.
“Gun to the head—what would you decide now?”
“Fast forward 6 months after your sabbatical--how would you decide: what criteria is most important to you?”
4/ Other Q’s re: decisions:
“Putting aside a list of pros/cons, what’s the *one* reason you’re doing this?” “Why is that the most important reason?”
“What’s end-game here?”
“What does success look like in a world where you pick that path?”
5/ When listening, after empathizing, and wanting to help them make their own decisions without imposing your world view:
“What would the best version of yourself do”?
