I’m about to say something that might make high achievers flinch: Lately, I’ve been intentionally mediocre.
Yep, you read that right. Mediocre. Meh. Mid.
Why? Because I’ve started creating video content. And friends… it’s not exactly award-winning (yet). The lighting is questionable. The delivery is unpolished. I’ve said “um” more times than I care to count.
But here’s the twist: I’m not judging myself. I’m celebrating the mediocrity.
Because the alternative? Is waiting. Delaying. Perfecting. And never actually doing the thing.
The First Pancake Theory
A friend once shared something I now hold dear: The First Pancake Theory.
The first pancake off the griddle is usually a bit of a mess—lopsided, uneven, maybe a little raw or burned. But no one freaks out. You just make another. And then another. And soon you’re flipping golden perfection.
Creative work is exactly like that.
So why do we expect our first attempts to be anything other than awkward?
Why do we hold ourselves to pro-level standards when we’re just stepping into the arena?
Mediocrity Is a Genius Strategy
Let’s reframe mediocrity for what it really is: momentum.
When you give yourself permission to be unremarkable, you override the perfectionist’s panic button.
It’s a tactical move. A brain hack.
Neuroscience shows that perfectionism activates the amygdala—the brain’s fear center—leading to procrastination and avoidance. But when you shift your goal from “this must be great” to “this must exist,” your nervous system relaxes. Your prefrontal cortex engages. And momentum builds.
And momentum, not mastery, is the real unlock.
Dr. Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset reinforces this. When we focus on learning rather than performing, we’re more creative, more resilient, and more open to feedback.
Mediocrity, then, becomes the fertile soil of mastery.
Beginner’s Mind and the Gift of Humility
In Zen Buddhism, there’s a concept called shoshin—beginner’s mind. It means approaching everything with openness, curiosity, and no need to prove yourself.
That’s where I’m standing now: camera rolling, presence raw, ideas flowing… imperfectly. And honestly? It’s teaching me humility.
There’s something profoundly human about starting from zero and not needing to be brilliant right away. It’s an invitation to return to the practice, not the performance.
This is my next level in the game—stretching into broader visibility, sharing ideas through a new medium, letting people experience my presence, not just my words.
And when you watch my videos, you’ll know you’re getting me—not AI.
Mavericks Know: Progress > Polish
Let’s be real: Mavericks don’t wait until they feel confident to take action.
They build boldly. They take steps before they feel ready. They wobble, but they move. They dare to let things be messy—because that’s how momentum, and eventually mastery, are born.
So if you’ve got a hunch, a vision, or an idea you’ve been stalling on, I invite you to try this:
Let it be a first pancake.
Let it be awkward. Let it be mediocre. Let it be enough to get going.
Because when you do, you’re not just creating content. You’re building trust with yourself. You’re signaling to your brain—and to the universe—that you’re here to show up and shine, no matter what.
And that, Mavericks, is where the real magic begins.