Mediocrity is normal, because mastery requires sustained effort and focus. In the vast majority of our activities, mediocrity is good enough.
I make eggs most mornings for breakfast. I make fried eggs, omelets, or scrambled eggs, depending on the day. All of them are good enough – but not truly excellent. I haven’t committed to the work that would be required to make truly the kind of breakfast eggs that would allow me to open a hopping brunch restaurant. And for my purposes, good eggs are good enough. I make mediocre eggs, and I enjoy them.
What is true of my eggs is true of virtually every enterprise of learning. A child who learns to write will naturally become a mediocre writer unless she commits the required effort and focus to excel. This presents a persistent challenge for every form of education.
- As a classroom teacher, this means that my students will naturally become mediocre unless I press and inspire them to something more.
- As a coach, I know that my players will naturally achieve mediocrity unless I can motivate them.
- As a parent, I know that in many learning endeavors, my kids will become mediocre unless they can sustain the effort and focus required for mastery.
Despite this reality, we live in a world in which people to absolutely amazing things. While mediocrity is normal, it isn’t necessary. One of my intellectual passions – which I explore on this site – is how successive mastery is attained.