{"id":496,"date":"2016-04-25T15:43:40","date_gmt":"2016-04-25T22:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelspeaks.com\/blog\/?p=496"},"modified":"2023-06-13T21:37:24","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T21:37:24","slug":"one-question-if-you-hate-mediocrity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelspeaks.com\/blog\/one-question-if-you-hate-mediocrity\/","title":{"rendered":"One Question if You Hate Mediocrity"},"content":{"rendered":"

I hate speakers that put me to sleep, I hate presentations with no purpose, and I hate\u00a0it when the boss requires me to sit through an hour-long meeting that could have been condensed into an e-mail.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately,\u00a0many such presenters think<\/em> they’re\u00a0great<\/span>, but are shockingly mediocre<\/span>. Let me give you a simple test to know if you are one of those presenters.<\/p>\n

I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’re probably mediocre.<\/p>\n

Most people are mediocre public speakers. By definition, mediocrity encompasses the majority. Mediocrity is the same as the average, and almost everyone is only slightly better of slightly worse than average.<\/p>\n

The Minimum Standard of Excellence<\/h3>\n

Even people who think they are “better than average” at presentation skills rarely approach the echelon of the true excellence.<\/p>\n

When it comes to public speaking, are you mediocre? Or are you truly excellent?\u00a0Ask yourself this one simple question:<\/p>\n

Could another person copy my presentation?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>That’s it!<\/p>\n

If you are copyable, then any mediocre copycat can replace you. \u00a0You are replaceable.<\/p>\n

If you are un-copyable, you truly stand out from the crowd. You become irreplaceable.<\/p>\n

The irreplaceable\u00a0are NOT always excellent, but the replaceable\u00a0ARE always mediocre!\u00a0Which do you want to be?<\/p>\n

Irreplaceable Talent<\/h3>\n

Just take yourself outside of the world of public speaking or business presentations and apply the rule to any other art. For example, pick your favorite singer.<\/p>\n

The reason your favorite singer sells 4 million albums and the copycat sells 4 is because the original cannot be copied.<\/p>\n

Can anybody truly copy Michael Jackson? Can you duplicate\u00a0Freddie Mercury, Elvis, Madonna, or John Lennon?<\/p>\n

Many people try, but the copy is never quite the same as the original. Whether or not you like the original is irrelevant–it doesn’t mean the original isn’t excellent.<\/p>\n

Can anybody duplicate your favorite comedian, your favorite author, or your best\u00a0friend?<\/p>\n

True excellence is always\u00a0one-of-a kind.<\/p>\n

Can you imagine planning a dinner date with your best friend, but having a substitute show up and declare that your best friend hired her as a stand-in?<\/p>\n

Carbon Copy Communication<\/h3>\n

Compare this to the office team meeting you had last week. Could anyone else stand in place of your boss? Could anyone else stand in the same place, say the same words and deliver the same message?<\/p>\n