You’re the best! … Until You’re Not

I am not good at ping-pong. I’m ok, but I know a guy who was a whole lot better. He was better because he kept beating me and everyone else who played at that level. Then some other guys showed up who were much better than him, and he was forced to step up his game. They came in and beat him because he had gotten used to doing what he needed to do to stay ahead of mediocracy.

Being better than mediocre does not make you the best. That’s a lesson I’m glad to be reminded of. How do you keep sharpening your skills if you never look for ways to advance? Or in this case new competition. Are you happy being “better than ok?”

In the movie Rocky 3, the “champ” held on to the title because he was fighting guys who weren’t real competition. When he finally fought a guy who was, he lost because he didn’t take his training seriously.

If you are not the best, who is helping you improve? And if you are the best, how are you sharpening your skills?

– Larry Castro, KSBJ Mentoring Team