The job hunting process has taught me that nobody cares about mediocre people; applicants who don’t stand out don’t get considered.

Exceptional people get jobs. Exceptional people get paid well, get paid to do what they love. Companies don’t wait for exceptional people to apply, companies actively seek them.

I simply have to look to some of my favorite successful people to confirm this. Musician Martin Molin? Exceptional. Skateboarder John Hill? Exceptional. Javascript magician TJ Hollowaychuck? Exceptional.

Life is a game, with winners and losers. Why should a company pick a loser when they could have a winner? Finally, teachers who graded on a bell curve in school makes sense, since that’s how industry works.

I can’t think of a single marketable area in which I am exceptional. I am mediocre.

This isn’t just me feeling down or having low self esteem. I am truly a mediocre software engineer. I am truly a mediocre computer scientist, video editor, artist, musician, writer, juggler, rollerblader…

I love the quote, “specialization is for ants.” Which I think I got from a Robert Anton Wilson book. I really like it because the point is humans are capable of doing many things equally well, and that fact should be celebrated. Doing repetitive acts over and over is something insects are good at, but humans can launch rockets, teach, go kayaking…

I live in a capitalistic society, where companies are compelled to make profits and improve efficiency on a regular basis. Mediocre people would hold them back.

If money was no object, I wouldn’t care. I would be mediocre in as many categories as possible, and simply revel in the experiences.

Now with not a single dollar to my name, my basic needs going unfulfilled, I long to build wealth. Low income labor jobs no longer challenge or satisfy me. I want to take myself to the next level, so specialize I must.

I must become exceptional to land my dream job.