Stuck in Mediocrity
The competitive drive is a very powerful attribute.
For every Coke there’s a Pepsi.
For every Home Depot there’s a Lowe’s.
I wonder though, how it is that some companies have managed to escape the competition.
How is it that no mayonnaise comes close to being as good as Hellmans?
That no cotton swab even attempts to unseat The Q-tip.
Heinz Ketchup?
What about Adwe?..lol
Can you think of another brand that has no competition?
I remember as a kid 2 pizza shops on the same block. Pizza Shop A had superb pizza and was always teeming with people. Pizza Shop B had lousy pizza and was usually empty. I remember wondering even back then, why doesn’t Mr. Pizza Shop B close up shop for one day and play around with recipes until it’s good?
Have 5 Yeshiva guys come in and do the tasting.
Sometimes I feel like that too.
Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck in mediocrity. Happy to be number 2.
Not striving to be the best or better.
But, that's not good enough when it comes to spirituality.
I guess there’s no time like Elul to close down the shop for a bit and play around with the recipes...
posted by David_on_the_Lake at 11:20 PM
20 Comments:
awesome. very funny what you wrote about the second pizza shop, i also always wonder that.. like.. how hard can it be to better those things.. but i guess we do the sme.. ugh i hate mediocrity..
when youre really bad at something or incapable, you can say - its out of your hands or you just dont have the skills/ability. but when youre just average, mediocre, you always have this sense that if you just worked a littttttle harder..and thats so frustrating!
Well I think your recipe is about the best one going.
As for feeling mediocre, dear me I feel that way every day-- how much harder do I have to work to get ahead of the pack? But I think sometimes we create mediocrity by trying to be all things to all people. By taking on too many projects and by striving to make everyone happy, I've usually found that nobody ends up really being happy and the tasks end up being less than perfect.
So choose one thing to be your best at it, perfect it or at practice it and be happy. Spiritually, I think everyone can improve his relationship with God and work on being a better person.
But most of all be happy with what gifts He has given and use them well.
I really like this idea, David. I remember in high school feeling like I could be as good a writer as I was, and as everybody thought I was, but there was always someone else just a bit better. And that's something subjective. What about the objective things - if I could manage my time better or be a more attentive wife and mother, for example. But then there would be super mom living right around the corner, not trying to show me up, but showing me up, just the same...
Sorry, I've hijacked your blog with something I'm working on for my own... Good luck this Elul with your quest for the way out of mediocrity.
What's Adwe?
Finally the post I was waiting for lol. Nice job!
Sweet and to the point - love the comparisons.. lighthearted and funny..
Now is the time...
Thanks for the reminder..
Shoshana- Adwe is one of those Jewish companies that makes toothpaste, mouthwash, etc...
One product that I think fails to have any competition is Charmin TP. Nothing compares to it. Just like nothing can compare to Kleenex or Puffs Plus tissues.
Limes
Until I moved to England, I never knew there was such a thing as home-made mayo! lol
you're right - it IS good!
(though beware salmonella )
Great post!
You are so right!!!
When it comes to spiritual growth it's so much easier to settle for second best.
BTW ever go to trade shows where the people with the dumbest display and product sit there by themselves for three days straight with noone showing any interest at all, only to come back the next year for the whole charade to be repeated?????
Wonderful metaphor. Good luck to you w/the recipes.
David,
This concept is mentioned in meseelas yeshurim…
great post. i had to comment. yes some products stay the best no mattter what the competition. and yes it is easy to say i will be second best when it comes to sprituality. David help shar with us some tips how we can become number 1!
b"H, I have to say, that I'm happy to be what I am. I'm not perfect, and I know that, and of course I strive to be better. but, for myself, who I am as a person- I like me....
But, I can like me, and still know that I have to work on myself... delicate balance
And you're right- who can beat Heinz ketchup!
mediocore is only bad if youre comparing yourself to ur potential-not to ur neighbor
anonym00kie...
yeah...its this complacency..like a drug just induces u into a state of complacency...
bonnie...
thats a good point. Interms of accomplishing things..I always wonder is it better to excel at one thing or be 2nd best at a few...
ss...
when it comes to parenting i dont think there can be competition..every home as its unique dynamic..
There are attributes that can be worked on though..like anger management to be the best paren that you can be.
Good luck to u too..
Shoshana...
thats for another post..lol
swfm..
yup....thanks
towik...
thanks
youre very welcome...
limey....
well until I taste urs I'll stick have to stick to Hellmans..
and if its so good..why dont u market it?
fwq...
hmmm dunno..I dont use toilet paper...with tissues there..not even sure what function it serves anymore..
shopa..
oh u have a good excuse this year
:-)
kasamba...
lol...yesss..it sort of becomes a thing to do...oh and lets not forget that great client they picked up in 1987..at the show..
lol
stacey...
thanks..
aac...
mesilas yesharim mentions Hellmans?
j/k...I'm sure I didnt make it up..
chavera...
Thanks..glad u felt compelled.
Tip number 1. Have a good relationship with God...never feel distant..no matter what..
Gam ki elech...
workingema...
thats very important....never to cease liking urself..no matter how far uve fallen..
Nothing comes close to heinz..!
sabra...
very good point
The competition is scared of Teresa Heinz kerry! lol
hellman's mayo
heinz ketchup
tropicana oj
veryfine apple juice
kleenex tissues
bounty paper towels
tide detergent
golden flow milk
green giant niblets
just a few things that can't be subsituted in my humble opinion...btw the torah says we should always look for the middle path do you interpret that as mediocrity?
lv..
lol
open....
i thought about saome of those others...but the disarity just wasnt as big...while tropicana, keleenex, tide, very fine might be the best...I cannot say that the competition doesn't even clome close...
What the Rambam means is that you shouldnt bee too extreme in your attributes...like stingy, generous..etc..
That is a good point. I think I'd rather be second best at a few but not at many-- as long as I'm giving all my effort and not delivering substandard results.
Second best is good-- mediocre doesn't cut it for me-- unless it is something where I know I will never be the best or anywhere close to it (such as rendering first aide, drawing a banner for my daughter's carnival, helping my daughter with her homework, cooking for a crowd or raising money for charity). Sometimes whatever effort you give is better than none and is absolutely appreciated and essential.
If we dwell on a fear of being mediocre we may never learn what we are good at because we never try. Many good works would never be accomplished because so many people would think they don't have enough to offer, but sometimes as a society if we all give just a little we can make a difference. And so I say, do your best and don't be afraid of being mediocre-- just go where your heart is, remember what is important and don't spread yourself thin (though sometimes especially during the holidays I wouldn't mind being thinner)
bonnie....
I agree...although there are times when I regret not putting all my attention to one thing that I think I can really be good at...but..other obligations always seem to get in the way
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