The Third Degree of Action

People who take normal levels of action are probably the most prevalent in our society today. This is the group that appears on the surface to be taking the necessary amounts of action and to be “normal.” This level of action creates the middle class and is actually the most dangerous—because it’s considered acceptable. People in this group spend their lives taking enough action to appear average and create

normal lives, marriages, and careers; however, they never do quite enough to create real success. Unfortunately, a major- ity of the workforce takes normal degrees of action; it’s those managers, executives, and companies that blend in more than they stand out. Although some members of this group may occasionally attempt to generate exceptional quality, they almost never create anything in exceptional quantities. The goal here is average—average marriages, health, careers, and finances. As long as average works, they are fine with it. They don’t cause problems for others or themselves as long as conditions remain steady and predictable.

However, the moment market conditions become negatively impacted—and therefore less than normal—these people will suddenly realize that they’re at risk. Add any serious change to the conditions in which people take only “normal” actions—which is certain to happen at some point— and all bets are off. It’s not uncommon to encounter a situation that will challenge a person’s life, career, marriage, business, or finances. When you have been taking only normal actions, you are even more susceptible to challenges that are certain to come your way. Any set of ordinary events, financial con- ditions, or stressful experiences can throw off a lifetime of typically “acceptable” levels of action and result in a serious degree of stress, uncertainty, and hurt.

Average, by definition, assumes “less than extraordinary.” It is truly—to some degree or another—just an alternative description of retreat and no action. And it does even take into consideration the negative spiritual effects of a person know- ing his or her true potential for action and then operating well below that which he or she is capable. Someone who takes average actions but is capable of much more is really electing to do some variation of doing nothing or retreating.

Be honest with yourself: Do you have more energy and creativity available than you’re using? Average student, aver- age marriage, average kids, average finances, average business, average products, average body type. . . . Who really desires

“average”? Imagine that the products and services we’re so often tempted to buy used “average” in their advertising: “This fairly average product can be found at an average price and delivers mediocre results.” Who would buy such a prod- uct? People certainly don’t go out of their way to find and pay for run-of-the-mill merchandise. “We are offering cooking classes that will guarantee that you become an average cook.” I can do that now without taking classes. “New movie open- ing this weekend—average director, average acting, and the critics are raving, ‘two hours of average action.’” Oh—can’t wait to stand in line for that one!

Taking normal action is the most dangerous of the levels, because it is the most accepted by society. This level of action is authorized by the masses, and therefore people who don’t take normal actions don’t draw the necessary atten- tion required to catapult them to success. Companies call me constantly to help the lower performers in their organization, yet they’re overlooking the average and even top performers who are still only taking average actions. This book is prob- ably more likely to wake up a “normal” action taker than someone who does nothing or retreats since the “do-nothing” person wouldn’t even bother to buy this book in the first place and the retreater probably won’t even go into the bookstore. People who take average or normal levels of action will buy the book—and hopefully come out from under the spell that has been placed on them. It is only by moving from the third to the fourth degree of action that a person can turn an aver- age existence into an exceptional life.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 744