The virus of mediocrity  – a global epidemic.

Google defines mediocrity as the quality or state of being indifferent, having lack of inspiration or a person who does not have the special ability to do something well. Let me share some thoughts about mediocrity in business structures.

The majority of small-middle sized businesses have two main complications: a terrible product and a disability to sell it effectively. Around us are million of commodities without any soul, poorly made and the irony is — we already got used to it, but there are people behind those products, you might think, they are working on advancements and enhancements. Well, lot’s of modern employees are struck by a virus called mediocrity. This deliberates unwillingness to develop and improve themselves. So why so many individuals are drowning in the ocean of mediocrity? Why does their motivation rise above the minimum? I have tried to identify a few reasons:

1. Do not indulge — no fun allowed.

Creating an illusion of seriousness. When you join the business, it should be carried out according to the rules. Standard is “serious people talk about serious topics”. If you’re not reaching a certain status, then you start feeling uncomfortable. When you are hyper-excited about the coolness of your product — you’re not matching “the frame” and considered to be flippant.

As a result, the substitution of concept happens — people start to portray activities adopted by external rules rather than creating and generating their own thoughts. The “serious” life of signing the contracts, wearing a suit and nodding with a solemn look takes over.

2. Hyper Marketing.

The second problem is that marketing is considered at the forefront of the company’s strategy. It seems like the excellence of the product does not have a strong value anymore. However, I ask myself — isn’t it fundamental to each entrepreneur to develop a product, that offers a substantial value?

And not just press and push their customer with hyper-strong advertising to squeeze their money for a “so-so” thing? As a short term goal, the hyper-marketing plan without any doubt will bring some results, yet such single-celled thinking will not scale significantly.

How to define the “perfect marketing”? Just produce and offer the product the way it is! Talk about the Magnifique tasty chocolate and deliver such merits! Promise explicit, efficient services and execute those!

3. Go for a quickie or do it with pleasure?

When just starting working in a business, we are giving it lot’s of our energy. Pushing it higher and having ambitious goals. Each business have a monotonous daily routine if to look from another corner — a trap: “tomorrow I have a meeting with this important person after I have to take that call, send those materials and write 100 e-mails.” It’s a nice feeling, in the beginning, to feel yourself a businessman! Apart from the fact that many are imprisoned in it for several years… Instead of doing something worthwhile, they are eliminating the little things, not delegating routine work. Business goes in a stable position and even if some improvements are done, they do not have high significance.

4. Why are they not doing it?!

If you have employees or try to get some work to be done in your team and often have a feeling “Why are they not doing it?!” This shows, that nothing good will be created. The problem may have two reasons:

1. The product idea is not good. It could be a simple and logical matter to you, but some won’t see the need or value in it, trying to sabotage or struggle to change the task.
2. People are not right. Perhaps you have employed or have loungers in your team, who are just waiting for their payday and in return deliver almost zero efficiencies.

5. The strict structure trap.

Business is chaotic, it is born out of chaos and that’s its beauty. The first million turnovers must be earned in a mess. If all is optimized, there is no space for implementation and scaling.

There is no first million earned in a perfectly sterile environment because the model is being tested yet because you need to exercise how every action affects the result. The business is a place not only for the structured system but also to chaos and creativity. It is a big asset if part of the company is structured, however, if it is fully structured down to a set of strict rules and regulations — the end will follow sooner, then you think. I am not denying the structure, I do endorse efficient order and evident numbers. A clear shape should be present in any company. Here, I underline the importance of maintaining a balance between creative chaos and specified rules. The system will eventually pull down, it simply will not have the power to develop itself. If in the beginning, you start with prescribed regulations, the company will follow only those beaten paths and will not give a try to experience something new.

6. A$$hands.

His hands grow from … the back. This expression is commonly associated with specialists. More precisely, with your ability to select such specialists. Mediocre specialist is not able to develop a cool product since they have no aptitudes. Solution? Well, I write about it soon 😉

Do you think, you are infected with this virus? Did mediocrity manage to suck you into its warm soft trap?

From one side, all those reasons seem to be very ordinary, but each of them nullifies all your efforts in business development. Unfortunately, you can not make a development leap, if the company is struck by the mediocrity virus.

Very truly yours,

ILona B. Schukina