A famous greeting card company once used as their slogan, "When you care enough to give the very best." This was a fabulous philosophy if most of actually followed it. Unfortunately, we seem to have entered an age when many people merely do the minimum that they can do, and get away with it. When we ask many children how they did on an exam, it is not unusual to get the response, "I did okay." Yet, what exactly is okay?
When we examine the greatest athletes, they did not become great by accepting mediocrity, or doing okay, or just "trying." Many of the world's greatest golfers spent countless hours practicing repeatedly, working out, working with coaches - - all in an effort to be better. However, when we observe most workers in today's work force, it seems that the vast majority do not dedicate themselves to be the very best. When I interview individuals for any employment position, those who come across to me as looking at the position as simply a "job" are usually given far less consideration, than those that appear to consider the position an opportunity. Of course, in some cases, workers develop that attitude because the supervisor, manager, or even the owner of that company, have a "get away with the least you can do" attitude.
Most studies indicate that the United States economy, which at one time was considered the most solid and well respected, and the American workforce, which was consider top-notch, is no longer held in as high esteem. When did mediocrity become the accepted standard of performance?
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Statements like, "It's good enough," or "I'll try," or "I did it as well as I needed to," lead to rampant acceptance of mediocrity. Widespread "bending" or "breaking" the rules to take advantage of something or someone certainly has not helped. We complain about costs of health insurance, but how much fraud or near fraud is there in the system, at all levels, from the consumer/ user level to the delivery level. Business people and other professionals who double-bill or double-dip are similarly trying to "get something for nothing."
Studies show that while most people eating at restaurants review their bill or checks, and will question if they believe they were over-charged, most will not "fess up" when the error is in their favor. The same holds true when a cashier inadvertently neglects to charge someone for an item. These types of behavior are all examples of the "easy way out."
If we want our economy to get strong again, if we want our country to regain its former glory, we must depart from this age of mediocrity, and demand an age of achievement. Only then, will our economy be as strong as it can be!
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