Why Are We So Content With Mediocrity?
If you’ve been following myself or this blog for any period of time then hopefully you’ve already come to realize that as I work to guide you and lead you toward greater success online, I’m not the kind of person who simply provides you with tips and gadgets for your websites and blogs.
Although I do provide some resources like that, that’s not my main focus because I don’t believe that we’re going to develop ourselves online as persons of influence by discovering a blog widget or by applying the right blog template.
Those concepts are important but they pale in comparison to the real answer to online success. In fact, it hurts me to watch so many people unknowingly sealing themselves into mediocrity because they refuse to stop focusing on issues that don’t really matter.
The success that Darren Rowse enjoys has nothing to do with whether or not he uses dofollow or nofollow in his comment links. The success that Chris Brogan is blessed to enjoy wasn’t attained by his choosing of such an amazing blog template. Seth Godin hasn’t built his cult following because of his awesome comment section…he doesn’t even have a comment section.
I Want You To Think…To Really Think Outside The Box.
So what is it? What is the key that has separated these men from the pack? What has it that has propelled these men and others like them above and beyond the crowd?
Are these just rhetorical questions to you? Are these just questions that we passively view never to think of again or do are we actively striving to figure out the key to gaining that same success?
Seriously, tell me what you think. What will it take for you and I to continue our climb to the top? What is the difference between you and those that are making it big? What is the key?
Ron Leyba said:
The right attitude, passion and persistence makes a big difference. I think, if you have those things in your heart and mind, for sure, you will just make a name for your self in blogging or online world.
My Latest Blog Post: Webthesurfi Rugs Webdesign
Nicholas Cardot said:
I agree that passion can take you a long way if it’s the type of passion that both moves you to learn and grow yourself into the person who is able to impact people and that shines through in your online presence.
My Latest Blog Post: Why Are We So Content With Mediocrity?
Richard Scott said:
Giving visitors material that they can’t find anywhere else. Expanding into related niches and building an empire out of them. Building iPhone apps that help my online business become more successful. Things like that!
Nicholas Cardot said:
Richard Scott » That is certainly a great business strategy and I know several people who are making it big by doing stuff like that so that method definitely has a lot of merit to it.
Sachin @ Web Design Bureau of Mauritius said:
If I try to think out of the box I would say that it has nothing to do with blogging. These people have a deep understanding of human nature and how it works in a given context. The second thing is that they know how to word this understanding in a friendly and understandable manner. Add to this the fact that they have a clear way of saying the things out.
Overall I would put passion and dedication.
My Latest Blog Post: You should be (over-) using the H (heading) tags.
Nicholas Cardot said:
I think that you are incredibly close to be right on. I think their success in blogging does actually have very little to do with blogging. I think that they’ve developed themselves into the type of people who are authorities on their respective topics and who know how to lead and influence people. Then they simply express themselves as themselves and they find success.
My Latest Blog Post: Why Are We So Content With Mediocrity?
Cat T. said:
Being true to our own voice and conviction. To never be satisfied and always desire to do better/more.
Nicholas Cardot said:
But isn’t that the same answer that everyone gives? Do better? Do more?
We’ve got to get more specific. We’ve got to really pin point what we need to do. I think that we use answers like this as a cop-out, almost like it’s something that we say but we aren’t willing to really dig in and apply the thought necessary to accomplish it.
My Latest Blog Post: Why Are We So Content With Mediocrity?
Mary E. Ulrich said:
You’re right Nick it’s not a new widget that makes the difference.
I’m guessing it’s our inner vision, willingness to keep learning and trying new things, and our damn stubbornness to keep believing.
Though I do wish I had at least some geek in my DNA.
Bruce said:
Looking at those 3 I would say a common thread I see is they are always evolving. They try something new, and if it fails, they fail forward. They take it as a learning experience. No sulking about the failure and giving up.
They look at why, what worked, what didn’t and move forward. Failure teaches you what your audience doesn’t want thus helping you figure out what they do.
We need to take our failures and success to help narrow our focus and deliver a better product. I see them doing that. I recon you see that in most successful people…
A more specific response.. They all have a book or more.
Shirley said:
Nick, I honestly think that the key here is being unique around something you know how to do or offer best.
It’s being the purple cow in the cow herd, just like Seth Godin himself talks about.
You have to do something different and unique to be identified with and then work hard towards it without giving up and that thing has to be something that you love to do so that when obstacles and hard times come you don’t give up cos it’s all fun for you to do and you love doing it and so you will still continue to do it no matter what and it won’t be a chore or any hard thing to you
.
This is my piece of cake that I want to give you about the whole thing
.
My Latest Blog Post: 27 Young Internet Entrepreneurs Who Inspire
Keith said:
Can’t I just pay someone to like my content?
My Latest Blog Post: Blog Tip | Work Environment
Nicholas Cardot said:
Keith » That’s what some people try to do. And with the caliber of your content, that might be a good strategy.
Keith said:
I don;’t think I have enough money to get people to like my content!
In all seriousness Nick, the key is simple: Be yourself! So many people try to be Darren Rowse or Brian Clark instead of just being YOU!
My Latest Blog Post: Blog Tip: Free E-Book Released
Sanford said:
I agree with Sachin as to their understanding of human nature and context. They understand people and know what they can provide, and communicate it in a human voice.
There are innumerable passionate, knowledgeable and persistent people online who will never be acknowledged because they don’t “get” who their real audience is or how to talk to them.
They are people that stimulate the mental and emotional processes within their readers and communicate a strong desire to help. And, even without a comment section, they feel accessible.
What they have is hard to teach because there are no metrics for this. And no how-to’s because you cannot teach someone how to be themselves. A mentoring relationship might be what is needed, but that’s not the kind of thing you would ever find in a standard classroom.
I subscribe to this blog because there is a real person behind it who cares and values the input of his readers. And he makes us think.
Thanks, Nick!
My Latest Blog Post: Sanford49: @RetroRazor Grew up with these! Glad they’re back! #HARO
Reza Winandar said:
To think outside the box, just get the box out of your life. Just get out of your normal life and start camping to get inspiration from nature.
My Latest Blog Post: 5 Types of Comments That Attract Attention
D'MarieF said:
You sure are good at asking thought provoking questions, NIck. My thoughts go to the fact that these 3 men you mentioned all focus squarely on providing value first and foremost, thereby creating strong loyal relationships with their readers. The selling of what they have to offer is clearly secondary, even when they are actively promoting one of their products.
This, as opposed to many online marketers who try to skip over those important building blocks to get right to the point of buy, buy, buy as if they are big time hawkers in a traveling carnival. Twitter has a lot of this going on. They may think they’re taking the easy route, but I think it’s the opposite.
Of course, marketing strategy plays a huge part, too, and all 3 are sharp marketers. Always on the leading edge of where the market’s going and not afraid to jump in and try out the new directions that resonate with their values.
My Latest Blog Post: Who Should Buy Real Estate Now and Ride the Market Back Up?
mark said:
Hi Nick –
There are MANY differences between the people you mention and everyone else, and some of them are likely very hard to notice.
Sure, they pick great topics and have a great way of communicating, and do these things with passion and focus. But I think that Sachin is right – there is something more.
We are currently getting ready for next week, and it is easy to get lost in the less important things either because they are easier or, in some cases, more fun. For example, I had to stop fooling with design so I could focus on content.
I would guess that three really important components of the stuff that makes the people you mentioned able to be consistently excellent is that they all have (1) an awareness and an interest in a subject that was not covered completely, (2) a unique way to say it, and (3) the ability to set goals without being vague.
That last one seems to be the hardest to me. When setting goals, I know that it is easy to get lost in generalities. A better method may be to pick one or two categories and then make very specific goals (e.g., increase Twitter followers by doing X).
Also, it seems to me that blogging is not just one business type – it is one component which can be included in a business model. Who really just blogs?
That is, creating a way to become successful with a model such as Richard Scott’s would share some commonality with yours, but in the end, your business plans are going to look very differently.
What sets people like Darren Rowse and Chris Brogan apart from most bloggers is that they were leaders, not followers.
My Latest Blog Post: icebluebanana.com Grand Opening – 04/19/2010
Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing said:
While I rarely if ever read the ones you mentioned for reasons that are mine, I understand where your going here.
Personally speaking my thing is personability.
While I do provide as much growth help through tips and strategies as i possibly can, that’s merely the second half.
First and foremost is personability – getting to KNOW you, the reader/commenter/follower, and so forth.
This allows for much more pin-point accuracy in the help I can provide and creates an ACTUAL relationship/community.
I invite, if not urge, everyone to use email, messenger, and even phone (once the relationship is started).
My Latest Blog Post: YES it is Time for ME to TWEET! What’s my username? Part 1
clara54 said:
Nick-I haven’t read any of the responses to the question yet, I just think for me, it’s Originality! I know all of those other things count to a huge degree, but, if you’re not ultimately being true to yourself/passion/purpose and what you believ in, whatever product you’re selling, trying to brand have to be correct and if it’s not, the obvious will become clear to your audience,client/buyer that if it’s not what your truth & then it’s not going to work for them…
My Latest Blog Post: Clara54 Sharing The Grapevine…
Mike Stenger said:
It starts on the level of our mentality and our attitude. If that’s off, everything else will be thrown off.
Like some have probably already shared here in the comments, you gotta be passionate and dedicated for you to generate any lasting results and in the end, results that truly make you happy.
My Latest Blog Post: Increasing Your Mind Power With Rhyme
Boni said:
I think the main point is giving what people wants.
I think that is the only point, you even don’t need SEO to make people come to your site if you have something they need. They’ll come because they need you.
But the most difficult thing is give what people need. I think to do that you just have to do one thing, and that is Give The Best You Can. I’ll never be Chris Brogan, Daren, or Seth, or Nicholas Cardot. What can I do is being myself, and do the best I can do.
Nice article Nick…
My Latest Blog Post: Some Hacks to Fasten Your Firefox
mary rodowicz said:
…basically in a nut shell they were leaders,not followers….