Is Mediocrity Contagious? Is it spreading faster than the flu?

What is happening to our next generation of leaders?

Have we become a nation that inspires mediocrity? Are we going through a metamorphosis and don't realize it? Do we really believe excellence comes without effort? Are we all getting infected with the mediocrity disease?

The tired example that still fits in my mind is the propensity to give the "participation" trophy. In an effort to make all the players happy, everyone gets a trophy. Is the happiness what we truly seek? Or, have we lost the intestinal fortitude to inspire hard work and better effort for the reward? Should everyone pass and none fail? Do we really appreciate anything that comes too easy?

As a parent of two boys, I am often as guilty as anyone for giving "too much" to my children. Yet, as a society we are all infected by the same need to give a hand "out" instead of a hand "up" to those around us. True personal value comes from the sense of accomplishment that is very individual and personal. Think about anything you worked very hard to achieve. The journey in retrospect is as valuable as the destination.

Simple economics holds the clue to the riddle. Supply and demand are ingrained to our core. What is plentiful and easy to acquire has little value, while the rare holds precious value. This works in every facet of our lives. Applying the simple supply and demand model can improve our personal lives as well as the organizations we serve.

If we develop the discipline to inspire the effort, the results are achievable. However, if we focus on the results alone, they become only a vision. Saving your money to make a "down payment" may seem cruel and unusual in today's everyone-can-have-the-nice-home society. If everyone gets the same great home, what do we work for? Do we appreciate what we have if we didn't struggle to get it?
True reward comes in the struggle to improve. Whether it be sports, education or owning a home...there is great value in the struggle to achieve. Determination and stubbornness to "work hard" for the end-result is what I hope to inspire in my two boys. Achievement without effort is useless for us as individuals and as organizations.

Great leaders understand that the effort and redundancy of basic principles is what yields greatness in large and small organizations alike. Only the true meritocracy can inspire world-class results. Entitlement can be the virus that kills the host. Performance holds the true key to success. Anything else only inspires mediocrity...