I have been looking for a job in the Atlanta area for quite some time now. Going through the job-searching process has been a real pain in the ass (pardon the French). The whole process is just hard. There is no other way to describe it. It's a roller coaster ride with plenty of ups and downs. However, the one thing that I have learned most throughout this whole process has been patience.
“He that can have patience can have what he will.”
I love hockey.
I think that so much can be learned from this great sport. It truly is unlike any sport. I was very upset with the lockout at the beginning of the season; however, I am glad that an agreement was reached, and I am very happy now that the Playoffs have begun. In my personal opinion, the NHL Playoffs is the greatest time in sports. It is far superior to the NBA Playoffs, World Series, Super Bowl, or Bowl Season in my opinion.
There are so many great aspects of the NHL Playoffs...from the traditional playoff beards to the post-game handshakes to the tradition of every member of the championship team getting to spend a day with the Cup. What really stands out to me is the level of intensity that the players bring this time of year. It's win or go home.
It's so hard to put into words...it is something that you have to watch to understand. So, this playoff season, try and catch at least one game. Maybe you will learn a little something, and have fun doing it.
This is a great article I found the other day on Forbes by Panos Mourdoukoutas.
In a recent blog, I struggled to find an answer to the question, "What defines success?" I think that these 10 things that Panos highlights in his article (which are condensed from his book) are a great starting point. Let me know what you think!
The title of this article really intrigued me. Often times do we see "7 Habits of Winners," "7 Habits of the Most Successful People," "7 Ways to Be Successful," etc., but, rarely, do we see an article with a title like this one. I cannot wait to read the article myself. What makes us a highly effective mediocre person?
When I first think about this post, I have to ask myself, "Am I a 'mediocre' person?" What a humbling question. It is easy to answer no, and tell you about why I am an extremely successful person...but what defines success? Compared to the Mark Zuckerbergs, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs of the world, I am very mediocre.
Let's see how Merriam-Webster defines it.
mediocre (adj.) - of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance: ordinary
Interesting. So is being mediocre a bad thing?
I like to think that at one point, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs were all mediocre people. Then they turned it around, and stopped being just another brick in the wall. They understood what made them mediocre, and used that knowledge to become a successful person.
Hmmm...interesting. In writing this post, I have inspired myself to write another post on what defines success. But let's get back on topic: How can someone be a highly effective mediocre person?
Procrastinate - This one is easy, and we are ALL guilty of it. Just keep putting things off until the very last moment, and then (even then) put it off some more. You will have time tomorrow, right? That great idea you thought of today can wait until tomorrow, right? Wrong. Act on your urges. Do.
Don't Contribute - Don't participate in meetings or in class. Sit there with your head down and remain as silent as possible. Don't say a word. Never give your input, or throw your ideas into the arena.
Never Challenge - This piggybacks with the one above. Never challenge other people's ideas. Regard them as the best practices, and move on. Always assume that the people in the room with you are smarter and better than you.
Be Extremely Cautious - Never take any risks. Why risk it?
Be As Predictable As Possible, And Leave The Creativity At Home - The shear sound of the word creativity should make you quiver if you want to be a highly effective mediocre person. Leave the creativity to those better suited than you. You want to be as predictable as possible, i.e. procrastinate, don't contribute, never challenge, and never take risks.
Don't Put Yourself Out There - Make like a hermit crab, and never meet people. Stay in your shell. The world is a dangerous place.
Follow The List Above Religiously - If you are a mediocre person, you have probably not made it this far down the list (or I am just an extremely terrible blogger); however, to be highly effective at being mediocre, you must follow the six steps above religiously. Never stray away from this list.
So, there you have it...a comprehensive guide to be a highly effective mediocre person. You can continue living the life of a mediocrity, or you can acknowledge where you fall short, and change things.
The original article can be found here.
Recently, I have started watching the AMC television show Mad Men. It was a little slow to start in Season 1, but after about 5 or 6 episodes, the show really got going. I am just now finishing up Season 2, and I am excited to see where the show goes! For anyone who is interested in marketing/advertising (or just in need of a great show), I would highly recommend watching. I have many blog ideas based on elements/themes/ideas in the show; however, I am waiting to get caught up a little more before writing them, so that I can let my thoughts mature a little bit more.
Also, for anyone interested in a hilarious parody Twitter account, check out '80s Don Draper. (Don Draper is the main character in Mad Men.)
And...Happy Cinco de Mayo!
