How to Stop Holding Yourself and Your Business at an Unnecessarily Low Level of Success
Nearly 11 years ago (Christmas 2013), my family and I exchanged snow, sleet, and cold for sun, warmth, and a swimming pool in Lanzarote.
It wasn’t just time to celebrate Christmas in a new way, but also for a deep self-reflection.
That fall, the book Hunger in Paradise had shot straight to the top of the Dagbladet Børsen bestseller list.
Though I was “only” a co-author, with Rasmus Ankersen as the primary author, I felt a deep personal ownership of the book.
I had poured all my resources and skills into it, diving into research, innovation, and concept development every single day for six months.
But after the book’s release, my phone wasn’t ringing any more than usual.
I felt that I had been part of creating something big (the book, Hunger in Paradise, has now been published in more than 40 countries), but I didn’t feel that I gained much from the effort.
It was right there by the pool that I realized my personal significance and success were smaller than what I had built up in my own mind.
I reached out to Rasmus immediately.
For over 15 years, we’ve sought feedback from each other in the most direct way possible, even if it sometimes stings.
“You’re holding yourself at too low a level of success.”
That was the judgment from my 15-years-younger writing partner, who was already well into a career as an entrepreneur and speaker on some of the world’s largest stages.
That sentence changed everything for me. He didn’t need to say more.
Since then, that sentence has become my personal definition of mediocrity, and it has followed me ever since.
For me, mediocrity is not just a synonym for a mediocre performance. It’s a sign that you’ve stalled long before reaching your full potential.
It’s so easy to convince yourself that you’re doing well and feel satisfied just because you’ve reached a certain level of success.
But achievements are relative. They can be measured against others’ accomplishments and your untapped potential.
I was the advertising guy known for thinking big and coming up with bold ideas. I still think outside the box; now, I do it as part of working on demanding business transformations for larger companies.
At my most self-important, I see myself as a kind of corporate designer, transforming companies across all areas into a new, more unique, and cohesive entity that can accelerate growth.
Maybe you, like I did, are holding yourself and your business at too low a level of success.
For instance, if you own and lead a business that consistently earns 2, 5, 10, or 50 million kroner each year, you probably have skilled employees and satisfied customers.
You may also have a large house, an extra house abroad, luxury cars, and the ability to sponsor the local sports club.
There’s nothing wrong with being happy and grateful for that.
However, it doesn’t mean you’ve built a mission-driven company, one that’s setting a new market agenda, realizing its full growth potential, and taking significant responsibility for creating a better world.
That, of course, is entirely up to you whether it’s something you want to pursue.
But it’s the fight against mediocrity and the development of extraordinary, purpose-driven companies with clear missions and big ambitions that ignite my passion.
I also believe this is the type of business that society needs more of. Business leaders content with just doing “pretty well” and who think about profit for profit’s sake don’t move customers or society forward.
My Top 3 Strategies for Fighting Mediocrity
It’s never too late to start fighting mediocrity.
You just need to realize that, right now, you’re actually holding yourself and your business at an unnecessarily low level of success.
Below, I’ve described the three approaches I use to keep mediocrity away from myself and the companies I work with:
- I Draw Inspiration from Unique, Purpose-Driven Companies
It’s not so much a drive to be as successful as the most acclaimed companies and leaders; it’s more about finding inspiration to identify a similarly meaningful mission and a unique identity that can make an equally significant impact in the market and the world. - I Try to Identify the Next Level and Plateau for the Business
I’m a big believer in thinking big, as it has a strong catalytic effect. But when I only stretch my ambitions to the point where, on one hand, it’s demanding but, on the other, still realistic to reach a new, substantially higher level for the business, it’s most energizing and effective.
I fight against mediocrity, but I also fight for the success of the development. Any transformation is a journey, where you continually move the business from one plateau to the next. - I Extend the Time Horizon and Framework for the Effort
I believe that large visions can only be established and realized if you’re willing to extend the time horizon and scope of your efforts. It takes a lot and requires some time to move yourself and your business toward realizing its full growth potential. So, you have to be willing to take a bit from the bottom line and budget in the short term to create space and resources for the development and changes necessary to elevate the company to a significantly higher level in the long term.
Not everyone can become the next Steve Jobs, a high-profile exit founder, or an investor on Shark Tank, but we can all try to unlock our own and our company’s full potential.
We just need to start by fighting mediocrity.
