It’s OK to Be Mediocre

KQED's Forum

KQED

News Commentary, News, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2022

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you browse the self-help aisles or click on a TED Talk, you will rarely be given the advice that “it’s OK to be mediocre.” You’re more likely to be told how to achieve excellence, how to rise above the fray to distinguish yourself and how, if you get good enough at your hobby, you can make it a side hustle. But maybe it’s best if we embrace the joy of being average in our pursuits, and just do what we like even if we are not good at it. We’ll talk about the freedom of stinking at things, and finding pleasure in the process, rather than obsessing over the product and result. And we’ll hear from you: What’s something that you’re perfectly happy to be bad at? Guests: Rachel Feintzeig, columnist, Wall Street Journal - She wrote the article "Go Ahead. Let Yourself Be Bad at Something." Brigid Schulte, author, "Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time"; director, Better Life Lab at New America, a public policy nonprofit. Thea Monyee, licensed marriage and family therapist, Founder - MarleyAyo, a creative wellness consulting company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for KQED Podcasts comes from Landmark College, commemorating 40 years of educating people who learn differently, with programs on campus and online for both students and professionals.
0:12.0	Learn more at landmark.edu.
0:14.7	Switch to Comcast Business Mobile and save hundreds a year in your wireless bill.
0:18.8	Comcast Business, powering possibilities.
0:21.4	Restrictions apply.
0:22.1	Comcast business internet required.
0:23.4	Comparates two unlimited intro lines and lowest price 5D plans of top three carriers.
0:26.4	Tax on fees extra, reduce speeds after 30 gigabytes of usage.
0:28.8	Data thresholds may vary.
0:31.1	From KQUD in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.
0:47.7	I have a small confession to make.
0:50.2	I'm not good at yoga.
0:52.2	Despite years of down dog and opening my hips, I'm still just so not good at yoga.
0:58.8	But I still like it. It still feels good and maybe that's okay. At a time when hobbies turn into
1:04.8	hustles and passions transform into side projects, we want to celebrate mediocrity this hour.
1:11.4	We're joined by guests who want us to embrace the joy of being average, of not optimizing
1:16.6	your performance, of not being the best you can be.
1:20.0	Because if we give up the desire to reach the top, maybe we can find the will to try a
1:23.7	whole new set of things.
1:25.6	What's something that you're perfectly happy to be bad at?
1:28.1	We'll talk.
1:31.0	Welcome to Forum. I'm Alexis Madrigal. We live in a culture that likes to optimize. From grade
	...

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