Why do we hate to say the word "overachiever"... For me, I think it stems back to the brutal Middle School years when if you did something excellent, you know got 100% on a test, went above and beyond on a project, did something outside of school that was noteworthy, you were scorned and stamped with the nerdy and oh so not cool moniker.... "Overachiever". Funny how all the "overachievers" I went to school with ended up doing amazing things when they grew up and have gone on to be very successful individuals.
I began to wonder today why it is that excellence and the pursuit of it is such a demonized attribute and on the flip side, why mediocrity and being status quo is so openly revered and accepted. It is hard to be different, it takes courage to think above and beyond, buck common sensibilities and culturally accepted forays, and, well, it takes work. I am beginning to think deep down that laziness is the root cause of so much. It's not that humans are incapable of thinking big thoughts and doing great things, it is just that it takes a lot of hard work, determination, and perseverance to follow through and do those things. And, truly, we humans always choose the path of least resistance thus, we tend to be armchair quarterbacks instead of getting on the field, taking the hits, and working hard to win the game.
There is nothing wrong with being excellent or setting the bar high. Excellence spurs creativity and others to think big thoughts and do great things. Stop thinking small and doing the things just to merely get by, get to work and change the world.
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