Conquering Mediocrity
How To Achieve Success In Life
Success Is a Choice
The successful individual is the one who does what the average person will not do.
What do I mean by this?
Sometimes, the only thing that hinders us from achieving success is ourselves. We sabotage our own potential when we think wrong, believe wrong, or speak wrong. These are habits that lead to an unhappy, mediocre, and unprofitable life.
Today, I won’t be talking about credentials or high achievements — instead, I’ll be talking about attitude.
How Is Attitude Related to Success?
A person with a winning attitude accounts for 80% of the results.
Having a below-average attitude limits your growth potential, return on investment, rewards, and personal independence.
That’s why I’ve always advocated for thinking positively — for looking at the bright side. Your future is only limited by your vision and desire.
But don’t worry — we’re all endowed with unique talents and abilities. We just need to develop them and use them to serve others.
Let’s conquer mediocrity with these four tips:
1. Take the Offensive
What does being on offense mean in basketball? It means grabbing the ball and working with your team to shoot it into the basket.
In life, taking the offensive means taking initiative.
Never start your day in neutral. Every morning, take control of your time and your life. Visualize what you want to accomplish by the time your day ends.
People who live defensively never conquer mediocrity. Take unique, radical, and courageous moves — especially if you don’t like how your life feels right now.
Taking the offensive isn’t just about action — it’s about a decision made within.
2. Start Where You Are
A lot of people wait for the perfect opportunity.
Don’t be that person.
Opportunity is always where you are — not where you were, and not where you wish you could be.
The key is to start with what you have, not with what you don’t.
Remember the couple who started their ice cream business with just ₱20? It was featured on television. That’s a perfect example of starting where you are.
You don’t need to quit your job to achieve success. Start right where you are.
Ask yourself:
Do I hate my job? Why?
If I do, what can I do to make my life better?
Should I ask for that promotion?
How can I add more value to my team or organization?
Remember, you used to wish for what you have now — a job, a partner, a chance. What are you doing with it?
3. Keep on Growing
Once you’ve started, look within.
What are your gifts? What are you naturally good at?
Managing people?
Speaking?
Writing?
Selling?
These gifts will never be taken from you. But the more you use them, the more interest they’ll bear. Use them — and grow.
Write that book.
Join a Toastmasters club.
Start selling.
Don’t quit — unless everything clearly tells you it’s time.
Life is full of distractions. It’s easy to lose hours watching movies or K-dramas — when those same hours could be used to study, create, or build your dreams.
Take the driver’s seat. Get a hold of your life.
Opportunities are everywhere — waiting for you to use your God-given gifts.
4. Indecision Is Deadly
Decide what’s important to you today — or someone else will.
Being decisive means having laser focus. When you know where you’re going, you won’t be easily swayed by distractions or discouragement.
If you know you're meant to teach or create, then you won’t jump at every shiny opportunity or let one bad day make you give up.
Being decisive means you don’t change direction at every crossroad. You stay the course.
Conclusion
Attitude and habits may only take up 20% of your time — but they account for 80% of your results.
Wherever you are right now, take the offensive, start where you are, keep growing, and stay focused.
All of these nuggets of wisdom were inspired by the book An Enemy Called Average by John Mason. Read it when you can — and conquer the number one enemy of your success.