Meet Mediocrity

My conversation with ME, Mediocre Mitch: I was prompted to do a solo podcast after receiving a text message with a meme from a friend of mine that said “Mediocrity is the Enemy of Greatness”.  Of course, I completely disagree with this.

On this episode I tell you a story about Janet.  Janet is truly a mediocre runner - based on her running time, and as compared to her expectations for herself, she is definitely mediocre.  Janet’s story proves, in my opinion, that mediocrity does not need to be a bad thing.

I also explore how greatness can be the enemy of wellness.  How greatness can stand in the way of finding happiness and joyfulness in our lives.  

It's ok to be mediocre at something, it's just not ok to allow mediocrity to cause you to give up on yourself.

My conversation with Taren Gesell (aka - Triathlon Taren):  For me, when I ventured into triathlons, Triathlon Taren quickly became my “go-to” information source.  His YouTube videos, his Triathlon Taren podcast and his social media posts (@TriathlonTaren) reflected a down to earth, practical and informative approach to triathlons for amateurs.

This podcast conversation is not a “how to do a triathlon” conversation.  Rather, Taren and I discuss real life challenges relating to starting and maintaining fitness; the pros and cons of setting and striving for specific goals; the mindset for starting and growing an internet-based business; and some tips for making wellness a lifetime event.

You can find so much more about Triathlon Taren by just typing his name on Google or YouTube or Facebook or Instagram… or check out Triathlon Taren here: 

YouTube Channel - Triathlon Taren YouTube Channel

Triathlon Taren Website - Triathlon Taren - Get To Your Start Line Confident

Triathlon Taren Triathlon Training Plan Platform - Team Trainiac : Triathlon Training Plan Platform

My conversation with Anne Elmendorf:  After an enormously successful career in real estate, including serving as CEO of a property management firm, Anne has embarked on the next chapter of her career - providing executive and leadership coaching.

In our conversation, we discuss the benefits of coaching and how coaching differs from traditional and medical based forms of therapy. What Anne and I fully agree on, is that business managers and executives have their share of mediocre moments, challenges, demands.  And, they don’t often have qualified, sensible, trained coaches to support them. With a coach, executives get someone who can help them set goals, bounce issues off of, and achieve personal development.  Anne is an exceptional coach.

Anne is certified as a coach by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Her coaching firm is called Morgan Steward.  More information about Anne and her coaching can be found at her website - www.morgansteward.com

My conversation with Kaeya Majmundar:  Kaeya is an inspiring, impressive, intelligent and high-energy entrepreneur.  She is the founder and CEO of Swaypay. In short summary, Swaypay is a payment method that lets shoppers convert their social influence into currency for online purchases - effectively removing the middleman between eCommerce and social influencers, even minor social influencers.

I became inspired by Kaeya long before she founded Swaypay.  In 2015, when Kaeya was 19 years old, she appeared on Shark Tank, pitching her product - BZ Box.  Kaeya was put through the ringer by Mark Cuban, Mr. Wonderful (Kevin O’Leary) and by Barbara Corcoran before she landed a deal with Lori Greiner - just as it looked like there was no deal to be had.

Kaeya displayed what I termed “poised desperation” on Shark Tank and she continues to demonstrate her poise and drive as she continues to impress the world as a rising business worman.

Check out Kaeya’s Shark Tank appearance on YouTube - Shark Tank Bzbox Indian Girl Amazing packaging Product

Check out Swaypay at - Swaypay - Pay For Products Online With Social Media Posts

My conversation with Matt Puzycki: Matt loves writing and has always loved writing.  He has been writing stories and screenplays since he was in high school.  But, like many of us, Matt has had his doubts about his ability to write a book that he could make public and publish.  

After years of getting rave reviews from friends and family, Matt finally put himself out there and published his first book, "Forming the Javelin" just a few months ago.  Now Matt is already writing another book for publishing.   

For so many of us, we wish our passion was our career, but we have fears.  Fears of failure, fears of rejection, fears of risk taking.  Matt is bravely pursuing his passion.  Yes, today Matt has a separate "day job" that pays the bills, but with perseverance and dedication, Matt has a great chance of turning his passion into his "day job" in the not too distant future.

Check out Matt's book, "Forming the Javelin", on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Forming-Javelin-Matthew-Puzycki-ebook/dp/B08J6TN6Z4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=forming+the+javelin&qid=1603394775&sr=8-1

My conversation with Anderson Bluu: Anderson Bluu is an up and coming artist and sneaker designer, and his story of perseverance is truly inspiring.  

Anderson had his share of mediocre moments - he struggled as a student, he had entrepreneurial ventures that did not work out as planned, he had a serious knee injury that seriously set him back and he lost his father at an already challenging time in his life.  But Anderson Bluu never gave up on himself. 

He took over his father's business out of respect to his father and his father's employees. At the same time, he continued to pursue his dream of making a living doing what he loved - being an artist.

NOW, Anderson is a well known artist and sneaker designer - creating sold out sneaker designs on ASICS and Converse shoes for Foot Locker.  His art can be found on his website - www.bluudreams.com and you can find him on Instagram at @anderson_bluu.

My conversation with... ME: It's been a while, but I decided to do a solo podcast.  A combination of good advice from my son Max and a topic that was burning in my mind led to my doing this.  There's a story I have told dozens of time at work about the time I bought my Mustang GT convertible - a car I loved, but I no longer own.  I told the story because it was a great example of how to and how not to sell a car... and frankly, how to sell just about anything.  Relate to your customer, understand their needs, get to know them - and then you can sell TO THEM.

In this episode, I apply that story to how we relate to... EACH OTHER.  If we could all do more talking, listening and understanding each other - and less name calling, stereotyping and not listening - the toxicity that exists in an already challenging world would be greatly reduced.  I tried to tackle this topic with some fun stories and everyday examples.  Hopefully it resonates with at least one person.  Because even one person can make the world a better place!

My conversation with Kevin Lauretti:  Kevin has more than enough golfing talent to have a career in the golf industry - as either a player, a club professional, an equipment sales person, a coach… but Kevin chose a different path - and frankly, the path Kevin chose positioned him to have a successful career, to have successful work-life balance and to enjoy his passion in a meaningful way.

Kevin decided that the best thing for him was not to make a career out of golf, but to make golf a part of his everyday life as a hobby.  Kevin admits that golf is part of his life pretty much every day.  Squeezing in 9 holes after work, hitting balls on the range, chipping balls in the yard, putting in his living room, talking to his golfing buddies, playing a friendly competition on the weekend… golf helps Kevin decompress, clear his mind and connect with friends.  By choosing to enjoy golf as a hobby rather than as a profession, Kevin is actually getting the most from an activity he loves... it's a lifetime companion.

Great choice Kevin!

My conversation with Greta Lovenheim:  Greta Lovenheim had a pivotal moment in her life a little over 2 years ago.  She was urgently hospitalized over a random, crazy situation.  While recovering, she had her epiphany.

And now, over 250 pounds lighter, Greta is living a brand new life.  Greta’s approach to weight loss and wellness were definitive and disciplined.  She leveraged a combination of intermittent fasting, a ketogenic diet and more movement to change her life.

Neither Greta nor I are advocating that her way is the best way or the only way to lose weight.  It worked for Greta and that's the most important thing for Greta.  For the rest of us, understanding ourselves, finding what we need to make us feel like better versions of ourselves, finding things that will encourage that - and adopting practices we can stick with are the keys to our own individual wellness.

Greta mentioned three reference materials in our conversation:

BBC Documentary - “Eat, Fast & Live Longer” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihhj_VSKiTs

Dr. Jason Fung Book - “The Obesity Code”

Benjamin Bikman PhD Book - “Why We Get Sick”