Walking the “good enough” road may be comforting, but being stagnant in life will not do you any good. Do not settle; learn how to achieve greatness, and embrace it!
Transforming Your Good Enough Mindset and Embracing Greatness
It Begins with a Realization
A lot of people live a life that is only good enough, and it’s understandable. Most of them may not have dealt with life’s hardships while growing up. Their parents worked hard to provide for everything they needed, such as food, clothes, and education. They didn’t have to pay the bills or deal with the challenges of work and business yet.
Now they’re older, their concept of life changes. Most of them have gone through some level of difficulty. If it’s about the business, perhaps they’ve realized they cannot trust everyone they meet. They also discover they need more than talent and dream to succeed.
When people, therefore, find a solution or comfort zone, they stick to it. They don’t try to fix what isn’t broken in the first place. They settle for what they think doesn’t bring them problems. People avoid rocking the boat, so to speak.
For them, and even for you, it works. Settling, though, isn’t always the smartest decision. It stops you from being the best version of yourself.
I was at a seminar years ago. The speaker was Toastmaster Champion Craig Valentine. During his presentation on achievement and happiness, he asked the audience to consider this compelling question:
Is your good enough getting in the way of your great?
Wow! It was like he punched me in the stomach! The question had a significant impact on me. Right there in the ballroom, I began to cry silently. I wanted to stand up and scream, “Yes! I am letting my good enough get in the way of my great!”
From Good Enough to Great
That night, I went back to my hotel room. On a piece of paper, I highlighted that question. I identified the many areas in my life where I was not doing my best or was settling. The results were pervasive. How did I let this happen?
Here’s what’s even more interesting. On the surface, my personal and professional life looked ideal or perfect. That evening, though, I realized I had become complacent in some major areas of my life. I was settling and deemed things as good enough for me.
I wondered, how did I create this level of complacency? Was it a habit, fear of change, or withered dreams? Was it as simple as the fact until I heard that question I never gave it any thought?
Once I did consider the question, the wheels started turning. With new awareness, I developed a goal. I made decisions that completely transformed my personal and professional life. Over time, they brought me success. I now embrace that awareness, and I choose not to settle.
Evaluate Your Life Today
I share this story because I want you to take a look at where you are in your business. Where are you today? Do your enthusiasm at work, commitment to learning, and activity level align with your potential, goals, and vision? Can you honestly tell yourself this is the life you want to live?
Ask yourself,
Are you letting your good enough get in the way of your great?
It’s a fascinating question and one worthy of consideration!
You may tell me, “Leslie, I’ve never been so happy. This is probably the best moment of my life!” You may be right, but it’s also possible you haven’t reached your fullest potential yet. Your life has been on autopilot for too long. You may not even realize how you’ve been settling or dissatisfied in certain areas.
When you stop to question and evaluate, you give yourself the opportunity to make decisions and choices on how to design your life and step into your greatness. You open yourself to a world full of amazing possibilities.
If you run a business, that can mean several pathways to success. If you’re a local brand, you can try to market statewide. Then later, you can explore selling to customers around the world. You can consider franchising or selling your company for millions. The sky is the limit for you simply because you don’t let being good enough hold you back.
Steve Maraboli encourages this type of awareness when he says, “Your greatest self has been waiting your whole life: don’t make it wait any longer.”
For most of us, nothing is more empowering, motivating, or inspiring than creating clarity around the person we want to be, the personal life we want to create, the career we want to build, and the lives we want to live. You don’t have to settle in any area of your life. Choose great over good enough and design your life on your terms. Trust me, you have the will, tools, support, and vision to get yourself to the top!
Are you living a life that’s just good enough? What are your strategies to bring it to greatness? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Up Next: One Inspiring Journey Starts with Three Simple Questions
Editor’s Note: This article was published on May 21, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.