Here is an extreme example of the decline of excellence. Sophie Rebecca is a 6ft 3 trans woman who has decided to become a female ballerina. Long shot, right? He looks to be a pretty substantial guy physically, but he was actually accepted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance in 2017. Thousands of very talented biological women apply for the academy every year, and, well, Sophie got it. You can take a look here and see if you can tell which dancer is Sophie:
I’m not being critical of poor Sophie, but when it comes to men who become women and start competing against biological women and obsessive diversity initiatives that push unqualified people based on ethnicity, gender, or whatever, it just seems like all this being nice and respectful has come with a price.
The Decline of Excellence
The pursuit of excellence often involves pushing boundaries, demanding high standards, and offering candid feedback – regardless of how the team “feels” about it. However, in today’s increasingly interconnected, socially conscious, and “woke” world, there’s a growing inclination to prioritize being ‘nice’ or avoiding conflict over achieving and maintaining high standards of excellence. In my opinion, this shift has led to a decline in the unyielding pursuit of excellence, often at the cost of progress and quality. For instance, here are some reasons for the decline of excellence:
The Fear of Offending:
In a culture that values being politically correct and avoiding offense, there’s a hesitancy to give critical feedback or point out flaws. Constructive criticism or holding individuals to high standards might be perceived as harsh or confrontational, leading to a reluctance to push for excellence.
Mediocrity in the Name of Kindness:
The desire to be ‘nice’ often translates to accepting mediocrity rather than demanding excellence. Settling for average or ‘good enough’ becomes the norm to avoid potentially hurting someone’s feelings or causing discomfort.
Embracing the Average:
The fear of being labeled as ‘mean’ or ‘unpleasant’ often leads to a culture that rewards mediocrity. Embracing and celebrating average performance over striving for excellence sets a standard that’s lower than what is truly achievable.
