Mediocrity can quietly settle into our lives, often unnoticed until it becomes a significant obstacle to our personal and professional growth. Shilpa Kulshrestha, founder of Scintillate Coaching, peak performance coach, keynote speaker, influencer, and bestselling author of “Play It Full: Seven Steps to Unlock Your Extraordinary Career,” offers profound insights on how to identify and overcome mediocrity. Her journey and expertise provide invaluable guidance for those looking to break free from stagnation and achieve a fulfilling life.
Recognizing the Signs of Mediocrity
One of the first steps in overcoming mediocrity is recognizing its presence in your life. According to Shilpa, mediocrity can often be subtle, especially for individuals who have been in the same career for a long time. Here are key indicators that mediocrity might have taken hold:
Lack of Excitement: If your job no longer excites you and feels too simple, it may be a sign that you are stuck in mediocrity. This lack of excitement indicates that you are not being challenged or stimulated in your role. Monotony: When life feels like a straight line with no significant successes or failures, it can indicate stagnation. This monotony means you are not experiencing the ups and downs that lead to growth and progress. Unfulfilled Potential: If you frequently have thoughts of doing more but consistently brush them aside, it means you recognize your potential but are not acting on it. This unfulfilled potential is a hallmark of mediocrity. Lack of Pride: Feeling that there is nothing in your career or personal life that you are genuinely proud of can signal that you are not achieving your best. This lack of pride and fulfilment often accompanies a mediocre existence.
Recognizing these signs is the first step towards making the necessary changes to move beyond mediocrity.
Making Incremental Changes
Shilpa emphasizes that overcoming mediocrity does not require drastic actions. Instead, it involves making small, manageable changes that gradually transform your life. Here are some strategies she recommends:
Daily Dedication: Dedicate 45 minutes to an hour each day to activities that challenge and inspire you. This could be learning a new skill, working on a personal project, or anything that pushes your boundaries. Gradual Progress: Rather than overwhelming yourself with massive changes, make incremental improvements. This approach ensures sustainable growth and reduces the risk of burnout. Practical Adjustments: Integrate new, positive habits into your daily routine. These habits should be realistic and manageable, allowing you to slowly build a foundation for greater achievements.
By focusing on small, consistent changes, you can make significant progress over time. This method also helps in maintaining a balance between your current responsibilities and your growth ambitions.
Embracing Consistency and Simplicity
Consistency is key to overcoming mediocrity. Shilpa highlights the power of simple, consistent changes:
Small Steps: Implement small, actionable changes that are easy to maintain. These small steps can gradually lead to significant improvements. Regular Practice: Consistently apply these changes to see tangible results. Building a habit of excellence through regular practice ensures that you are always moving forward. Focus on Implementation: Simple changes are easier to implement and lead to tangible results. The focus should be on doing rather than overthinking.
Shilpa believes that our minds often look for complicated solutions to problems, but it is the simplest changes that are the most effective. These are the changes we can consistently implement, and only those will produce results.
Understanding the Play It Full Triangle
In her book “Play It Full,” Shilpa introduces a powerful concept represented by a triangle. This triangle encompasses three essential areas of life:
Achievements: This side of the triangle represents career success, financial stability, and personal accomplishments. These are the external markers of success. Relationships: This side includes your relationships with yourself, family, friends, and colleagues. Healthy relationships provide emotional support and fulfilment. Health: The final side represents mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Health is the foundation that supports all other aspects of life.
Shilpa explains that you need to work on all three areas to play it full in life. Neglecting any side of the triangle can cause it to collapse, affecting your overall balance and fulfilment.
Prioritizing Dynamically
Playing it full isn’t about maintaining perfect balance at all times. Instead, it involves dynamic prioritization:
Shifting Focus: At times, you might need to focus more on one area, but ensure you don’t neglect the others for too long. This dynamic approach helps in maintaining overall balance. Creating Moments of Pride: Prioritizing different areas at different times helps create moments of pride and ensures a fulfilling life. It’s about being flexible and adaptable.
Shilpa believes that contrary to common belief, playing it full is not about achieving perfect balance across all areas simultaneously. Instead, it is about allowing a little bit of imbalance in each area at different times to achieve overall growth and satisfaction.
Building a Rock-Solid Support System for Women
For women balancing career ambitions and family responsibilities, Shilpa emphasizes the importance of a robust support system:
Sisterhood and Proximity: Building a circle of supportive women who understand your struggles and can offer help when needed is crucial. This can include neighbours, friends, and colleagues. Mutual Support: Women can be each other’s best allies, helping to balance work and family life more effectively. Shared Experiences: Recognizing that many women face the same challenges can foster a sense of community and mutual assistance.
Having a strong support system can make a significant difference, allowing women to manage their professional and personal lives more effectively.
Reintegrating After a Career Break
For women who have taken a break from their careers to focus on family, Shilpa offers practical advice:
Start Small: Begin with manageable steps to rebuild your career without overwhelming yourself. Small achievements build confidence. Align with Your Life: Create opportunities that fit your current life situation and expand gradually. This approach ensures that your career growth is sustainable and integrated with your personal life. Balance Your Triangle: Ensure you maintain focus on achievements, relationships, and health. A holistic approach helps in achieving long-term success and fulfilment.
Reintegrating into the workforce after a break can be challenging, but with the right approach, it is entirely achievable. Shilpa’s advice emphasizes gradual, sustainable progress.
Five Hacks for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Drawing from her personal experience, Shilpa offers practical hacks for aspiring entrepreneurs:
Daily Intentions: Start each day with a clear intention and strive to fulfil it. If you fall short occasionally, forgive yourself and move forward. Consistency: Whatever you choose to pursue, maintain consistency. Quality and quantity will improve over time. Integrity: Keep your word to build trust with clients, employees, and partners. This reliability fosters long-term relationships. Continuous Learning: Stay curious and open to learning. This mindset keeps you adaptable and innovative. Self-Care: Balance your work with personal well-being. Taking care of your mental and physical health is essential for sustained success.
These hacks are designed to help entrepreneurs build a strong foundation for their ventures while maintaining personal well-being and integrity.
Shilpa’s approach emphasizes that true fulfilment comes from dynamic balance, consistent effort, and a supportive community. Whether you are looking to overcome mediocrity in your career or personal life, her strategies offer actionable steps to help you achieve your goals.
