This is just one word but it seems to sum up the quality of what we as persons produce in this century and accept. No longer is quality, workmanship, pride and achievement characteristics of a good worker. Today these workers are treated as problems and they are looked at with distain. That is the situation because they blatantly expose the poor performance of the majority and expose them for what they are. These mediocre workers cling to each other in thought, word and deed and they support each other in pointing out the “problem" with those who want to do things correctly.
As example, in todays society when asked to provide input and to say what you must truthfully it really means your job is short lived. In truth people, regardless of what they say, don’t want to know what they already know and you saying it just makes it harder to swallow. Then there is the whistle blower. They are always being solicited to come forth and tell management. However, when they do the tables always seem to turn around and they become the “disgruntled, non team player, individual type“. There is only one thing to do with them and that is to discredit them and get rid of them.
Yes, you see it all around you day in and day out. You see it in the poor leadership, the non leadership, the uncaring responses from those whose job it is to provide service and in the lack of attention to anything. These types always have enough time to do it over and for more money but at their pace. Yes, it’s the America we all longed for. We get paid even if we produce or not. It is even better if you’re a member of this mediocre group. You can literally do nothing and get promoted or the perks. Think this is not true then in my opinion you don't have a grasp on reality.
You see it everyday in our government agencies who seem to never get anything right or accomplished. You see it in our schools where High School kids can’t read, do elementary math and have a curse coming from their lips with every other word. You see it in many of the administrators who are doing little to nothing, make little to no decisions and attend meeting after meeting or seminars constantly. You know when your 5 minutes late and they gripe but they take as much time as they want because they're in charge. You see it when they complain when you leave on time because they had informed you this was a requirement but yet they don't really like it and they chew you out for not staying longer. Then to boot when confronted they profess they don't ever remember having told you to leave when your shift is over. You also see it in our politicians who always have someone else to blame but never look at themselves in the mirror and also the business owners who always find fault but never know just what the hell is going on!
You could write about the products you purchase that don’t even last as long as the 90 day warranty that is also as worthless as the item. You could talk about the food you plcked from a shelf that was expired for months. One could on and on but there is not enough paper or ink on the topic. Lets just finish this up with if you think I’m wrong then stop look around you and see what is happening in your office and in those businesses that supposedly serve you. The next time you look for that person who you always went to. You know the one who you trusted to help because the rest never could because they seemed to be always busy or non interested and never acknowledged you and you will find out they left. They won’t tell you why, but bottom line is they finally got disgusted, or most probability someone will tell you that person was really a problem. They sure were, they most likely excelled and made everyone else look bad! We can't have that, can we?
Now what about you? What type are you? Of course you know exactly. But you know something, if your mediocre you don’t like someone blowing the whistle and you don’t like this article. In fact your probably upset in some way internally that someone called you out. However, if you’re a doer, then what I say hits home. Best of luck to you in the world of mediocrity, it is only going to get worse.
PS: To prove the point even further, a large well known corporation just paid one of their senior managers 1.8 million to leave because he "lied" to get the job! I guess that didn't matter? You try that and see where you get? I guess being honest is the wrong road?
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. Copyright ©2005 Robert Melaccio
