Life is Great!

Ek is seker almal is goed vertroud met Jim Collins se spreuk Good is the enemy of great uit sy boek Good to Great.

Dat hierdie spreuk miljuisende male in bosberade, strategiese sessies en beplannings gebruik is om besighede tot beter prestasie en hoër bergpieke aan te spoor, hoef niemand oor te redekawel nie.

Waarvan ek egter oortuig is, is dat die res van die spreuk and when we look back over life and see if it is a great one, we don’t see many because it is just so easy to settle for a good one êrens met die klim na die piek weggeval het.

Seth Godin takes this idea a little further when he says that the opposite of remarkable is very good.  It’s a step closer, but still not great.

Why are there so many people then that are prepared to settle for a good life instead of a great one?

I think most people confuse great with good.  They believe that if their life is not awful, atrocious, mediocre or pitiful they have a great life. But in reality it’s still only good.

Let’s illustrate. If you travel on an airline and the flight leave on time, it’s not great.  They are supposed to do that.  But when they leave on time, upgrade you to business class and serve you mojito; that makes them great!

Same with life.  If you live your life between the normal lines, it’s only going to be good.  Not remarkable or not even very good.

Om great-status te bereik verg volgens my ook guts. En dit is waarom baie mense nooit great ervaar nie. Hulle is net doodeenvoudig te bang! Te bang om buite die inkleurlyne van hul daaglikse bestaan te beweeg.

Wie het ons dan só bang vir die lewe gemaak?

Miskien is die volgende woorde van Bill McKenna die sleutel tot ’n great lewe?

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well-preserved piece, but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting GERONIMO!

Foto: Idea Go