Just Make It Better

Amazing is a state of being that is not easily achieved. Socrates and a few other (actually) extraordinary people sum-mated that a man of true intelligence is one that can recognize his own ignorance. The way personal development and self-help go on we should all be world leaders and millionaires. Realistically not everyone will do anything special in their life.

Critical thinking.

How could the world define elite without the mediocre? How would we even know we were exceptional if there was no measurement? And if every Tom, Dick and blog reader was capable of those things would the world even exist as we know it? If I am wrong and we all simply need to reach our potential then we’d we just cancel each other out walking around as millionaire – lawyer – ballerinas curing cancer and winning Heisman trophies.

Everyone is capable of doing something amazing in their lifetime.

Just look at Jason McElwain. His little story proves it can happen anywhere, at any time. It is astonishing as it is heartwarming. Nevertheless, his single act does not exemplify what it means to be out of this world. Perhaps this is a glimmer of what he will come to be as he matures, but more likely it will be his fifteen minutes and he’ll instead live some average, American life. Just because he did something amazing does not mean he has conquered an amazing work. He just did it. Unlike Micheal Jordan, who has said he developed his skills through practice, Jason was simply an anomaly.

The brains behind it.

As the Kruger – Dunning effect shows, people who are better than average are aware what is necessary to be successful and therefore struggle to believe in their own capacity to create it. While those who produce either mediocre or below overestimate their abilities and instead believe they will produce above average results. This is brought on by unfortunate decision making and the incompetence causing blindness that causes errors.

Their evidence shows that people who are a little insecure and hesitant are so because of realistic expectations in themselves and their abilities. Ironically though, they are the ones who are actually above average producers.

(Basically, if you’re worried about failing that’s a good thing. Those that are way too confident are that way because they don’t know they kinda suck.)

It’s kind of like those reality show talent contestants.

Their delusion leads them to believe they are amazing. Their incompetence and that of those around them perpetuates the pipe dream until they make a complete ass of themselves. It is their misjudgment that fortifies misunderstandings about what it takes to be great. Unable to comprehend demonstrative skill, they cannot measure their own properly.

Therein lies additional questions.

If we don’t understand the real definition of amazing, then how can we ever create something truly magnificent? Especially if we delude ourselves into believing what we’re doing is so great when really it’s nothing special?

Why?

Being amazing takes an intense amount of determination and work. And if you really want to get to the top, if you truly, undoubtedly want to create something fucking amazing realize what you are up against.

You may be the most fabulous in your crew, job or basketball team, but you may never make it with the big dogs. That’s okay if you’re happy in your little pond but the minute you start believing in the dreams you’re sold think about what you’re made of versus what it really takes.

Be honest with yourself and question whether what your looking to do is really within your reach. You may very well be one of those people that overestimate their abilities. It’s best to know what you’re getting yourself into and realize that your level of greatness (in that arena) may truly be average. You could dream of your business being sustainable but it may be a bit much to think it’ll be sold for millions. Know your limits and you’ll better harness your skills to perform successfully. Working with what you’ve got, not with what you want to believe you have will make you happier and more grateful.

Because in the grand scheme of things if your amazing really is average, that should still be good enough for you.

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News from JMIB

Big changes are coming to the site. I’m in the middle of a redesign, intending to be relaunched by the end of August. If you have any requests for changes, topics you’d like to discuss or anything else please email me at makeitbetterblog @ gmail dot com. I’ll be committing to a posting schedule once the new site is up. Content won’t change, except it will be more consistent and more thought provoking. Thanks for sticking with me all this time, those of you who are out there are the best. I am super excited about what’s to come. I have a feeling you will be too.

Plus, I caved and joined Twitter. Find my one-liners @jmibetter

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