To be, or Not to be (Average)?

When is hate OK? When it's the feeling you have toward average. Let me make this point clearly and without reservation. I hate average!

What is average? My dictionary describes it as being about midway between extremes. Being not out of the ordinary. Common. You know, "Average". To me average is having a focus that's on just doing enough to meet the standard. Average is showing up for work, or school or that interview or meeting at precisely the time you're scheduled to start. Average is choosing comfort and convenience over saying and doing what needs to be said or done. Average is doing "it" or believing a certain way because everyone else does.

The average persons focus is on what the world's standard is. The above average persons focus is on his own standard.

Ever notice how average people whine about their problems. Above average people are too busy putting their thoughts and energies into solutions to whine. To the average person adversity is an enemy to be avoided at all costs, while to the above average person adversity is looked upon as opportunities and welcomed challenges (smiling as I type, knowing that this is true).

You should make it your habit, your way of life, to always put your above average foot forward. How do you do this? Simply enough, just by doing it. Say what needs to be said, in the way it needs to be said. If you don't know how to say it the way it needs to be said--- say it the way you believe it should be. "Nature" will take care of the rest. Do what needs to be done the way it needs to be done. If you don't know what needs to be done or how to do what needs to be done, again put your above average foot forward and do what you believe needs to be done. Nature always honors honest effort. Always.

There are too many above average people accepting average as their standard. I know it's hard to break out, but break out we must. I know the gravitational pull of average is strong, but the resolve to rise above average in the above average person is stronger.

We need to develop a real dis-taste for average. Talking about it is not doing it. I encourage you to resist the evil "average". In all aspects of your life put your above average foot forward. Step out of the crowd. Simply don't settle for anything less than above average. Don't walk average. Don't talk average. Don't live average. Just don't do it.

Kids figuring out this is average, above average thing is real simple. Pick a formula and apply it.

Formula 1 - Average thoughts lead to average actions. Average actions lead to average lives.

Formula 2 - Above average thoughts lead to above average actions. Above average actions lead to above average lives. It's your choice.

A simple, straight forward question for you on the way out. In your home, community, place of employment, where ever you are, are you the standard bearer? The one pushing the standard higher. Or, are you the one holding the standard down?

To be, or not to be?

Live some. Love some. Learn some. Everyday.

C...

Clyde Dennis, a.k.a. "Mr. How-To" has been writing and publishing Articles and Newsletters online since 1999. Clyde's company EASYHow-To Publications provides "How-To" information on How-To do, be or have just about anything one can imagine. For more information visit http://www.EASYHow-To.com Email correspondence for Clyde should be sent to: cdennis@easyhow-to.com

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/harrahs-entertainment-names-october-womens/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BCCFDCF66-4FCA-4E8A-B131-C0DCDFA3976A%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257852922ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNHdh5RL1_Cq6CyBXx0IuUF1kXUtGgHarrah#39;s Entertainment Names October Women#39;s bLeadership/b Month/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Harrah#39;s Entertainment will host a Women#39;s bLeadership/b Forum 2008 at 4:30 pm Thursday, October 30, 2008 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel amp; Casino in Las Vegas. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/unity-elects-new-leadership/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BB0B6BCC6-FB1F-4994-BF7D-4048AF5E1ADD%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257789033ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNHG-JE1C9rdM4KcWKUlBfbsqjiaHgUNITY Elects New bLeadership/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;I consider this an honor, and I#39;m fortunate to be part of such a talented bleadership/b team,quot; said Mr. Olmeda. quot;I look forward to working with our alliance b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/tourism-leadership-council-seeks-fundraising/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B644D0509-0236-4512-AA9F-51A17BA588DD%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257709227ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNG65csKr2N1CdT_1eXOMV37sXrsIwTourism bLeadership/b Council Seeks Fundraising Counsel/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The Tourism bLeadership/b Council, a South Carolina not-for-profit corporation, plans to develop companion world-class, visitor-serving destinations in b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/technology/nco-consortium-taps-cisco-ibm-thales-new-leadership-team-1887257400/cid=1257792580ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNESlZVB0GvSX7IgZ6mOdmTdSXNitANCO Consortium Taps Cisco, IBM and Thales for New bLeadership/b Team/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fFOXBusinessnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Notes: - NCOIC bleadership/b appointments are determined by general member election and are held for one year. - Executive biographies and photos are located b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/houston-technology-centers-emerging-technology/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BF3290E2D-4E87-4B59-8DE2-F6767E23B68B%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257741185ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNF9OZWQIwMJOPtElhbIcxZhT87ieQThe Houston Technology Center#39;s Emerging Technology Council b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;Both Michael and Bill are innovative leaders in the industry and as a bleadership/b team are sure to accelerate the HTC#39;s and ETC#39;s shared vision of elevating b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/new-leadership-benchmark-association-services/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B37CEF062-06DF-4BBA-86F0-0DEE98D036D3%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257707983ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNGwFd0cprBxL2f71e9bJ8TJ_iqDMwNew bLeadership/b for Benchmark Association Services/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Benchmark is an industry front runner in the State of Nevada, committed to improving the quality and professionalism of its services, providing bleadership/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/management-commitment-new-business-book/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B7385907A-7CB8-4121-95DC-CC94F403150D%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257677571ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNHiBGTJf2859loAIMGWIsoXYO-YCQ#39;Management by Commitment#39;: New Business Book Hails the Best and b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Steps one through four focus on communication and cooperation between bleadership/b and subordinate departments. By presenting the annual business plan, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/14/business/NA-US-JPMorgan-Chase-CEO.phpcid=1257751071ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNFF9zf0EEMAv2kRyWdX5A8EZhPVHwJPMorgan Chase CEO: Political bleadership/b lacking/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInternational Herald Tribune,nbsp;Francenbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1AP BOSTON: The top executive of JPMorgan Chase amp; Co. on Tuesday railed against America#39;s political bleadership/b — but didn#39;t name names — saying government b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081014/NEWS01/81014016/1079cid=1257765667ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNGNCdl3VxCEsoPr0BN3OyEl5fqBQgMason talks about women in bleadership/b in Iowa/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fIowa City Press Citizen,nbsp;IAnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1When it comes to women in bleadership/b positions, Iowa lags in some ways, but it excels in others, University of Iowa President Sally Mason said Tuesday. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122385776449927339.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1257838388ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNHtGmGoSoD_NblusMgBqm8Iy86oCQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=nME0Q3HrbxEJimgurl=s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-AT125_Interv_D_20081012210245.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Wall Street Journal/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/163756cid=1257838388ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNEE_Pj1NqJJM0h5zh5-YPYMKg1soQThe bLeadership/b Vacuum/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNewsweeknbsp;-/font nobrOct 13, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bLeadership/b is like that: you know it when you see it. Yet too often our leaders, fearful of their legacy, fail to rise to the occasion. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp%3Fpage%3D2008%255C10%255C15%255Cstory_15-10-2008_pg5_56cid=1257838388ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNFtdvg8mWe2cJnp7Q1AWT9z5RAxuQA possible solution to the economic crisis : What is to be done?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrDaily Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122394360912831019.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1257838388ei=xFH1SJfJI6CQ6APA9ISTDQusg=AFQjCNETO12KOUxqHeQqgTHsg3Ek-jqhpwWe#39;re Laying the Groundwork for Recovery/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWall Street Journal/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257838388hl=ennobrall 481 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
leadership - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

In Leadership, The Eight Ways Of Right Action (Part 2)

In Part 1, I said that leaders who can't have... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 6, Deadlocked Discussions

Although a meeting is a vehicle for resolving differences, it... Read More

Dont be Afraid to Lead!

In most aspects of human activity, the pendulum of fashion... Read More

3 Aspects of Developing Leadership Skills

Everyone knows that great leaders are made, not born. However... Read More

A Call to Men to Live a Strenuous Life!

Any man would be justly proud to claim even a... Read More

Lessons In Leadership: What Not To Do... From A Canoe!

When it comes to fishing, my husband takes the lead.... Read More

Leadership for the Successful Entrepreneur!

Why talk about leadership?"Leadership is important whether you a leader... Read More

3 Cs Leaders Must Communicate!

"Of every noble work the silent part is best, Of... Read More

C4 Leadership: Taking Your Leadership (and your Life) from Good...To Explosive!

Chances are if you're interested in this post, you're looking... Read More

Leadership Success and its Greatest Barrier: the Law of Administrivia

Years ago, a very wise, and often cynical boss of... Read More

The Top 10 Questions for Socially Responsible Leaders

The assets of your business traditionally include property, plant, equipment,... Read More

The Ten Commandments of Leadership

A poem hangs on the wall at Mother Theresa's orphanage... Read More

Being Other Focused

In the Wall Street Journal, Franklin Lavin, U.S. Ambassabor to... Read More

Common Mistakes Extraordinary Leaders Dont Make

When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to... Read More

Leadership For Deep Results: Without Them Are You Wasting Your Leadership And Your Life? (Part One)

I've challenged all leaders I have worked with during the... Read More

Leadership For Deep Results: Without Them Are You Wasting Your Leadership And Your Life? (Part Two)

How does one go about getting deep results? There are... Read More

The Power of the Leader Within - The Keys to Martial Arts Life Mastery, Key#1

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"Remember... Read More

Steps to Becoming a Good Leader

STEPS TO BECOMING A GOOD LEADER: 1. Develop a master... Read More

5 Leadership Power Principles!

95% of Workers Fail Because of This...But They Can Fix... Read More

The Synergy Effect

Have you ever considered that everything you want in life... Read More

Leadership and The Dirty Work

The airline, Jet Blue, has been featured in many magazines... Read More

The Code of the Conference Leader

Are your meetings generally a waste of time? Do you... Read More

Give Your Valentine A Very Special Gift - Empowerment

Delegating is a commonly misunderstood concept. Delegating is not about... Read More

Two Vital Abilities Any Leader Must Have

As a business owner, you are a leader whether you... Read More

What is Leadership?

Leadership is what every organization needs and so few have... Read More