10 Reasons You Should Not Stand Out

1. It's hard.

Think about it.  What do you have to do to stand out?  Get up early? Work harder than the others?

Picture it, you're at work 15 minutes before everyone else; that's time you could have spent sleeping in.
Why would you work harder than the others? They seem to be doing a good job, no need to make them look bad by doing extra work, or putting more detail into yours, or just helping them.  After all, one for all, all for one, right?

2. It means putting yourself out there.

The tallest blade of grass gets cut, right?

If everyone sees you working hard and you mess something up, all eyes are on you! The CEO will probably walk right up to you and tell you you're fired.  That's way too much responsibility.  Be smart, lie low.


3. You might hurt someone's feelings.

Let's say one day you're at work and you're so busy you find yourself so deep in thought you forgot to go meet your work buddy for lunch.

Uh oh, looks like somebody got too big for their pants! Mr. High And Mighty doesn't have time for "friends" anymore because he's busy trying to make a name for himself.  Pff!  No need to lose friends over extra effort.


4. You might neglect your hobbies.

I mean, come on, if you work a little harder you might accidentally stay late and miss your next round of Call of Duty.

Also, you might be too tired to read your favorite book on the ins and outs of ant farming.  Come on, a shepherd has to tend to his flock right?  What else is life without hobbies?  I mean, it's not like you can just make separate time later.

5. You're lazy.
You have aches and pains and extra work is just....extra work.  You have to do extra work to make yourself stand out, right?

I dunno, I'm lazy.

6. There are others who are better.

John's so good at collecting trash that there's no way I could be better.

I mean, I know we have the same job and everything but he just has eyes that penetrate every where.  It's like he IS the trash.  He just knows where to find it; right in the trash can.  He moves quickly, bagging it, and moving to the next one.  It's hard to compete with people who have done it more than you.



7. You don't have time.
I get it, you're busy.

There is no time to put extra effort into making sure the sandwiches are made properly.  It's quantity over quality, right?  Of course.  No one cares about GOOD WORK, just as long as you're WORKING.


8.  You can't make a difference.
Everyone is so good at your place and you try to be better but you fail.  Even if you stand out exceptionally, it's not like they'll give you a raise, or even a promotion.  Accept the mediocre.

9. The critics are right.

That fat kid in 3rd grade was right, you are a loser.  And you'll never amount to anything.  So let him win.

After all, the critics have all made themselves known in this world, they know how to become great, right?  I mean, otherwise they couldn't criticize you or your work because they would have no grounds.  Oh well.


10. It doesn't really matter anyway.

So what if you work extra, get a raise and a promotion.  You're still working your butt off and you still come home tired.  In the end, it's only money and success.  Money can't buy happiness and success isn't everything.

Sounds like way too much work to me.



W. Justin Hook