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Choosing Mediocrity or Abundance

Posted By: Randy GageFebruary 3, 2010

Last post we discussed the common belief that prosperity comes from reducing your desires to be happy with what you have.   I told you I thought that was craziness.  Here’s why…

That kind of lack thinking is what keeps people in mediocrity.  Real abundance comes from striving for more, daring to be bold, daring and imaginative.  Innovation happens.  Personal growth happens.  Because to manifest more, you have to become more.

If I accepted the common belief, I would have been happy working long hours in a restaurant, driving a beat-up old car, and living in a cramped apartment.  I would have reduced my needs and desires to match what I had.

If I did that – or if you do that – what’s the difference between that and being dead?

If you connect with me on Twitter, then you know I just came back from another around the world trip.  I mixed business and pleasure, doing some workshops in Rome, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, interrupted by a trip of a lifetime to the Great Barrier Reef.  What a spectacular experience.

And what an expensive one…

SCUBA diving has to be one of the most spiritual things you can ever experience.  But do you know how much it costs?   Do you think it’s a different experience to dive off Australia versus Lake Michigan?  How about the two grand I spent to charter a helicopter to go back, because the waves were so choppy and we didn’t want to get seasick?

Now my oceanfront suite in the resort on the private island we stayed at goes for about $5,000 a night.  I’m sure the Holiday Inn is a lot cheaper.  But they don’t have Holiday Inns there.

The trip from Rome to Sydney was 20 hours.  Which in First Class on Singapore Airlines with a lie flat bed, delicious food, and charming service is almost like a vacation in itself.  Now could you be happy cramped up in the middle seat in the economy cabin on a flying slum like United?  I guess so, but I don’t want to test that out.

How often have you heard people say that the best things in life are free?  That’s a little misleading.  Yes rainbows, watching a kitten play, and sunsets are still free.   But it’s a lot cooler watching the sunset or catching a rainbow from your balcony on a private beach.   And if you love kittens, it’s nice to be able to send a check to support the animal shelter.

People say a car just takes you from point A to point B.  But people who say that have never driven one of my cars.  Yes you could be a newlywed and be happy in a studio apartment.  But I bet you’d be a little happier in your dream home.

What do you think?

-RG

35 comments on “Choosing Mediocrity or Abundance”

  1. Well I think you have summed it up very well!!!
    Life is meant to be lived.....and lived well.

    We can pretend that it is ok not to have or be able to do some of the finer things in life, but, and I can only speak for myself, who am I kidding!!!??

  2. Randy, you are right on!! I have heard folks say they are destined to help others? How can this be done if they are broke..by asking those who are rich to finance their quest?

    Seems "double minded" to me.

    Thanks for sharing.

  3. Randy, even the same airline the difference between business and economy can be very marked. I flew ot LAX business, lay flat bed made uo by the steward, wonderful food - a truly great experience. Compare that to cattle class flying home. In the middle seat of three, no leg room, squashed up, could barely move my elbows to eat. To top it off, some "helpful" idiot (not the crew) insisted on putting my bag in the overhead locker. It promptly fell on my shoulder from a great height and I spent weeks at the chiropractor getting it put right. Made myself a promise. If I can't travel business class, I ain't goin'.

    Jean

  4. I totally agree. We can not help 1000s of people or even 1 person if we can not help ourselves and break free from our thoughts of lack...
    God Bless!

  5. Thanks for the great insights Randy.

    It is so sad how many people in this world come from a perspective of lack or less will bring prosperity and happiness. It hurts deep to meet people with this kind of thinking.

    I believe that it is our God given mission, being created in His image, to live a life of abundance and prosperity so that we can fulfill His plan for our lives and help others to do the same.

    Thanks again for sharing this with us all.

    God Bless,
    -ed

  6. Randy, yes I agree that life looks a lot better from the prosperous side. As stated a few days ago, I have witnessed both sides and the meek and lowly side did very little if anything to bring my family closer. Oh yes my family did learn value when we were struggling, however, there was not alot of excitment or smiles from sitting in the townhouse every weekend because we could not afford to do anything. I have said and I truly believe that "God is a God of motion" and it is hard to be in motion if you are broke. Life is happening and without money you are not!

  7. I vote for prosperity all the way. I'd love to drive one of your cars! and fly first class! And live in our dream home, on the water, near the mountains.

    Most people who live "comfortably" really aren't that comfortable when they look at their situation closely. Go for Rich first, then you'll always be comfortable!!

  8. Accepting mediocrity is what I used to do yet now abundance is the only way that I think and accepting less than the best of what I know I can really doesn't exist for me. My children and I are living in a two bedroom apartment and I pay $700 a month in rent and $200 to $300 a month in electricity and about $100 in a water bill that just continue to go up with each month, it is as if I and my children are paying for the other families that are living in the same building. Our monthly income is only $1200 a month and we receive assistance. So at this very point in my life and our lives have more of what we have never had is what I and my children are all about. Oh and I drive a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Classic which I love dearly although there will come a day when I will be driving a better vehicle like I have never had before. Lacking is crazy and today and everyday there is no crazy in our lives.

  9. Well once I again I have to defer to Wally Wattles book, "The Science of Getting Rich".. The Universe WANTS us all to experience infinite abundance which means living the life we KNOW is possible.. Driving the Aston Martin, living in the house with views and comfort, traveling to places like you do and living life with purpose, passion and joy!

    Accepting isn't what the Universe wants us to do because when we do, we are NOT living in accordance with Abundance. In fact, accepting that 'this is all there is' will never bring us the level of Joy and Purpose that's possible.

    What you think about, you bring about..

  10. Hi Everyone,

    "Mind is the master power that molds and makes; and man is mind and evermore he takes the tool of thought and thinking what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys or a thousand ills. He thinks in secret and it comes to pass. Environment is but his looking glass."~ James Allen

    When you know what you know there is absolutely only one choice that will serve my highest self and that is ABUNDANCE.

    I stay on course by feeding my mind with empowering possibilities, taking (baby) steps/actions, and reading this blog everyday.
    Thanks, Randy!

    May the light always shine in your life,
    L.E.E.

  11. Love your Certainty!
    "So be it unto to YOU"!

    Ava, wishing you and your family lots of blessings,
    Leslie

  12. So I think there is something to the idea that you need to be happy with what you have to ever attract more than what you have...otherwise you are thinking lack. But I think I have struggled with how to be happy with now and still feel like I'm not creating a feeling of lack when I want more.

  13. Wow, Randy!

    You are a great great inspiration for me!! I love to read about your trips and everything, I can visualize for a moment it is me, saying all those things. Thank you so much!!
    I promise I'll keep doing my best and I'll keep believing!!
    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

  14. A great summary of what money can do for the quality of your life and others too.

    Enjoy one kitten or feed many? Very cool.

    Randy, your comment (paraphrased) on reducing your desires to match your reality in order to feel comfortable and have no inner conflict reminds me of a 'joke'

    Whats the difference between a rut and a grave?

    The depth.

    Many blessings, BB

  15. Yes...I want it all...Prosperity...happiness, health & wealth!

    "Real abundance comes from striving for more, daring to be bold, daring and imaginative. Innovation happens. Personal growth happens. Because to manifest more, you have to become more."

    I always strive for more...but I was not dreaming big enough.
    I think sometimes you need to let go of things to move forward.
    Being willing to let go of houses, cars, stuff, bad memes and even old dreams may be needed to move forward.

  16. People actually believe that one 'needs' to reduce their desires and bring them down to their current situation to feel prosperous??

    ABSURDITY!

    That thinking will kill a person. Good grief. Trust me, I know. After my divorce I was left with a very small child support and alimony check. Small enough that I qualified for food stamps.

    And, for a while, I brought all desires down to very, very little and tried to act like it was enough and we were good. It damn near killed me emotionally, physically, and left me spiritually bankrupt.

    Then I called bullshit on it. I started thinking big. Bigger than I ever had before. Trust me, it took a LOT of work and massive amounts of time and energy to pull out of that thinking.

    I guess many people can and do, but I could not and will not sacrifice my desires and dreams or lessen them.

    That shift is what has brought me to my current stage of abundance and prosperity. However, I had to become a different person than I was then.

    Sadly, however, it IS the common belief system of may Americans. Too bad.

    ~Jhanna Dawson

  17. I agree that you should not reduce your desires to be happy with what you have, but I do think that the first step to creating the kind of mindset that can take you anywhere you want to go is to be thankful and grateful for blessings that already exist around you. The next step is to move boldly in the direction of your dreams!
    By living a happy and thankful life on a daily basis and pursuing your heart's desires - you are pulling a double-whammy...you are creating more circumstances that will cause you to be thankful (via the law of attraction) AND you are taking inspired action by following your heart and you passion! Your potential then becomes unlimited!

    Here's to beachfront hotels and large checks to charity!
    MS

  18. What do I think? Hmmm

    I have to say, I think it is awesome that you can spend money the way you do, enjoying life and all it has to offer, and at the same time giving greatly to charities. Most, like you said, would look at the money you spend and say it's a waste. I say that shit ROCKS!!!! (and if you're flying 20 hours to Sydney in the back of the plane.... my guess is that you should probably not be spending the money in the first place if you can't afford the upgrade... lol)

    I am so happy that I do not have any major "money files'' in my mind to overwright. When I see nice things, ex: cars out on the road, I don't think to myself 'what a jackass, or what a waste of money' I think "that car will be mine some day" my second thought is "I wonder what it is that they do that allows them to afford such a car?"

    Although.....

    I have allowed myself to play victim for 30 of my 31 years here on earth. I had hugh dreams when I discovered my passion in life, fashion. From the age of 9 I told everyone I was going to be a rich famous fashion designer, everyone was going to know my name. When I discovered that there were better things in the world than what was around me I wanted them all, and told my parents that it would all be mine one day..... They told me... I lived in a dream world, slowly crushing me down to there level of mediocrity. They crushed my will to strive for my dream, basicly implying to me that it would be virtually impossible for me to achieve it. (I guess my dreams were bigger than theirs, or that they never achieved their own.)

    I am slowly coming out of the fog that has kept me from seeing the light. The determination I felt at such a young age is slowly coming back to me, I am 1% a day (as J.B. Glossinger says in his first book Get Out of Neutral) working on me, to become the person I truely am deep within, my "true self". NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!! (oh another one my parents would tell me to hold me down to there level was "it takes money to make money", nice scare tactic pfffffff)

    So, now I am slowly but surely following my passion while working one of those 40hr per week things. It may take money to invest (especially when you refuse to use credit cards, but you sure don't have to be rich to become rich, lol) so every paycheck a little more gets invested in my passion for fashion (lol, it rhymes =)

    Many are led to believe that the rich will stay rich and the poor will stay poor. And they just accept the cards they are delt. Not this girl, not anymore I will keep folding the cards untill I get the ones that will bring in the chips. I will not accept living paycheck to paycheck, it does not allow me to enjoy the things I want to enjoy, or bring new fun experiences into my life, or allow me to pick and fight battles of my choosing like animal testing, human trafficing and sex slaves. My paycheck does not allow me to save anyone or being.

    I will no longer reduce my desires to conform to others mediocrity. I will be victorious, against all odds!

    Thank you Randy for sharing your life story with the world of people like me who have been broken. You are truely a band-aid on a broken dream, healing and bring it back to health.

    Jamie 😉

  19. Hi Randy;

    It took me a long time to figure that out, I had to do a lot of work to release the program I had instilled in my sub conscious, but I can honestly say I agree with you completely.

    Life is too short to be lived in a lack mentality. !

    All the best
    Olga

  20. Who is richer: the one who can afford to fly first class, or the one who can find happiness in the moment, even in coach? Who is more important, the one with the $5,000 seaside hotel suite, or the one who earns a great deal of money and invests it or donates it to making the world a better place.

    Why is it that I don't want to be or even trade places with so many of the people whom I've met who own so many very expensive things and who have purchased expensive experiences? There are so many ways to not be mediocre; spending tons of dough on stuff seems a rather uninspired approach.

  21. What do I think? I think you just crushed United Airlines and no one reading this is flying them ever again!!! LOL. Seriously speaking Randy, I've been heavily into your educational materials and your latest book (is THEE MLM Bible) since seeing you in Houston last November. I knew you had a fan page but it is my first time looking at it. These are some great topics you address in your blog. I love your lifestyle and i'm going to be a regular on the fan page and certainly the blog.

  22. Hi Randy!

    I'm a new fan from Kuala Lumpur, and I didn't know you were in town. Do you have a video of the presentation you did here?

    And can you let me know if you come back this way???

  23. Hey!But Randy-just another question-do you think there are people in this world who are really not interested in creating material prosperity?I mean,who seriously want to have a small house and dont like airplanes at all and would buy like a farm for their millions?And dont like fashion and thinks that a kennel with fun dogs is more nice to have than cars?And my last question today:Do you think the money problem can disappear from earth?That we can start to think about other things in the future,because (thanks to you and others)people are not poor sick and dumb anymore?Crazy question but interesting to hear your answer anyway.I LOVE YOUR PAGE!Have a nice day!

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  • 35 comments on “Choosing Mediocrity or Abundance”

    1. Well I think you have summed it up very well!!!
      Life is meant to be lived.....and lived well.

      We can pretend that it is ok not to have or be able to do some of the finer things in life, but, and I can only speak for myself, who am I kidding!!!??

    2. Randy, you are right on!! I have heard folks say they are destined to help others? How can this be done if they are broke..by asking those who are rich to finance their quest?

      Seems "double minded" to me.

      Thanks for sharing.

    3. Randy, even the same airline the difference between business and economy can be very marked. I flew ot LAX business, lay flat bed made uo by the steward, wonderful food - a truly great experience. Compare that to cattle class flying home. In the middle seat of three, no leg room, squashed up, could barely move my elbows to eat. To top it off, some "helpful" idiot (not the crew) insisted on putting my bag in the overhead locker. It promptly fell on my shoulder from a great height and I spent weeks at the chiropractor getting it put right. Made myself a promise. If I can't travel business class, I ain't goin'.

      Jean

    4. I totally agree. We can not help 1000s of people or even 1 person if we can not help ourselves and break free from our thoughts of lack...
      God Bless!

    5. Thanks for the great insights Randy.

      It is so sad how many people in this world come from a perspective of lack or less will bring prosperity and happiness. It hurts deep to meet people with this kind of thinking.

      I believe that it is our God given mission, being created in His image, to live a life of abundance and prosperity so that we can fulfill His plan for our lives and help others to do the same.

      Thanks again for sharing this with us all.

      God Bless,
      -ed

    6. Randy, yes I agree that life looks a lot better from the prosperous side. As stated a few days ago, I have witnessed both sides and the meek and lowly side did very little if anything to bring my family closer. Oh yes my family did learn value when we were struggling, however, there was not alot of excitment or smiles from sitting in the townhouse every weekend because we could not afford to do anything. I have said and I truly believe that "God is a God of motion" and it is hard to be in motion if you are broke. Life is happening and without money you are not!

    7. I vote for prosperity all the way. I'd love to drive one of your cars! and fly first class! And live in our dream home, on the water, near the mountains.

      Most people who live "comfortably" really aren't that comfortable when they look at their situation closely. Go for Rich first, then you'll always be comfortable!!

    8. Accepting mediocrity is what I used to do yet now abundance is the only way that I think and accepting less than the best of what I know I can really doesn't exist for me. My children and I are living in a two bedroom apartment and I pay $700 a month in rent and $200 to $300 a month in electricity and about $100 in a water bill that just continue to go up with each month, it is as if I and my children are paying for the other families that are living in the same building. Our monthly income is only $1200 a month and we receive assistance. So at this very point in my life and our lives have more of what we have never had is what I and my children are all about. Oh and I drive a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Classic which I love dearly although there will come a day when I will be driving a better vehicle like I have never had before. Lacking is crazy and today and everyday there is no crazy in our lives.

    9. Well once I again I have to defer to Wally Wattles book, "The Science of Getting Rich".. The Universe WANTS us all to experience infinite abundance which means living the life we KNOW is possible.. Driving the Aston Martin, living in the house with views and comfort, traveling to places like you do and living life with purpose, passion and joy!

      Accepting isn't what the Universe wants us to do because when we do, we are NOT living in accordance with Abundance. In fact, accepting that 'this is all there is' will never bring us the level of Joy and Purpose that's possible.

      What you think about, you bring about..

    10. Hi Everyone,

      "Mind is the master power that molds and makes; and man is mind and evermore he takes the tool of thought and thinking what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys or a thousand ills. He thinks in secret and it comes to pass. Environment is but his looking glass."~ James Allen

      When you know what you know there is absolutely only one choice that will serve my highest self and that is ABUNDANCE.

      I stay on course by feeding my mind with empowering possibilities, taking (baby) steps/actions, and reading this blog everyday.
      Thanks, Randy!

      May the light always shine in your life,
      L.E.E.

    11. Love your Certainty!
      "So be it unto to YOU"!

      Ava, wishing you and your family lots of blessings,
      Leslie

    12. So I think there is something to the idea that you need to be happy with what you have to ever attract more than what you have...otherwise you are thinking lack. But I think I have struggled with how to be happy with now and still feel like I'm not creating a feeling of lack when I want more.

    13. Wow, Randy!

      You are a great great inspiration for me!! I love to read about your trips and everything, I can visualize for a moment it is me, saying all those things. Thank you so much!!
      I promise I'll keep doing my best and I'll keep believing!!
      Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

    14. A great summary of what money can do for the quality of your life and others too.

      Enjoy one kitten or feed many? Very cool.

      Randy, your comment (paraphrased) on reducing your desires to match your reality in order to feel comfortable and have no inner conflict reminds me of a 'joke'

      Whats the difference between a rut and a grave?

      The depth.

      Many blessings, BB

    15. Yes...I want it all...Prosperity...happiness, health & wealth!

      "Real abundance comes from striving for more, daring to be bold, daring and imaginative. Innovation happens. Personal growth happens. Because to manifest more, you have to become more."

      I always strive for more...but I was not dreaming big enough.
      I think sometimes you need to let go of things to move forward.
      Being willing to let go of houses, cars, stuff, bad memes and even old dreams may be needed to move forward.

    16. People actually believe that one 'needs' to reduce their desires and bring them down to their current situation to feel prosperous??

      ABSURDITY!

      That thinking will kill a person. Good grief. Trust me, I know. After my divorce I was left with a very small child support and alimony check. Small enough that I qualified for food stamps.

      And, for a while, I brought all desires down to very, very little and tried to act like it was enough and we were good. It damn near killed me emotionally, physically, and left me spiritually bankrupt.

      Then I called bullshit on it. I started thinking big. Bigger than I ever had before. Trust me, it took a LOT of work and massive amounts of time and energy to pull out of that thinking.

      I guess many people can and do, but I could not and will not sacrifice my desires and dreams or lessen them.

      That shift is what has brought me to my current stage of abundance and prosperity. However, I had to become a different person than I was then.

      Sadly, however, it IS the common belief system of may Americans. Too bad.

      ~Jhanna Dawson

    17. I agree that you should not reduce your desires to be happy with what you have, but I do think that the first step to creating the kind of mindset that can take you anywhere you want to go is to be thankful and grateful for blessings that already exist around you. The next step is to move boldly in the direction of your dreams!
      By living a happy and thankful life on a daily basis and pursuing your heart's desires - you are pulling a double-whammy...you are creating more circumstances that will cause you to be thankful (via the law of attraction) AND you are taking inspired action by following your heart and you passion! Your potential then becomes unlimited!

      Here's to beachfront hotels and large checks to charity!
      MS

    18. What do I think? Hmmm

      I have to say, I think it is awesome that you can spend money the way you do, enjoying life and all it has to offer, and at the same time giving greatly to charities. Most, like you said, would look at the money you spend and say it's a waste. I say that shit ROCKS!!!! (and if you're flying 20 hours to Sydney in the back of the plane.... my guess is that you should probably not be spending the money in the first place if you can't afford the upgrade... lol)

      I am so happy that I do not have any major "money files'' in my mind to overwright. When I see nice things, ex: cars out on the road, I don't think to myself 'what a jackass, or what a waste of money' I think "that car will be mine some day" my second thought is "I wonder what it is that they do that allows them to afford such a car?"

      Although.....

      I have allowed myself to play victim for 30 of my 31 years here on earth. I had hugh dreams when I discovered my passion in life, fashion. From the age of 9 I told everyone I was going to be a rich famous fashion designer, everyone was going to know my name. When I discovered that there were better things in the world than what was around me I wanted them all, and told my parents that it would all be mine one day..... They told me... I lived in a dream world, slowly crushing me down to there level of mediocrity. They crushed my will to strive for my dream, basicly implying to me that it would be virtually impossible for me to achieve it. (I guess my dreams were bigger than theirs, or that they never achieved their own.)

      I am slowly coming out of the fog that has kept me from seeing the light. The determination I felt at such a young age is slowly coming back to me, I am 1% a day (as J.B. Glossinger says in his first book Get Out of Neutral) working on me, to become the person I truely am deep within, my "true self". NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!! (oh another one my parents would tell me to hold me down to there level was "it takes money to make money", nice scare tactic pfffffff)

      So, now I am slowly but surely following my passion while working one of those 40hr per week things. It may take money to invest (especially when you refuse to use credit cards, but you sure don't have to be rich to become rich, lol) so every paycheck a little more gets invested in my passion for fashion (lol, it rhymes =)

      Many are led to believe that the rich will stay rich and the poor will stay poor. And they just accept the cards they are delt. Not this girl, not anymore I will keep folding the cards untill I get the ones that will bring in the chips. I will not accept living paycheck to paycheck, it does not allow me to enjoy the things I want to enjoy, or bring new fun experiences into my life, or allow me to pick and fight battles of my choosing like animal testing, human trafficing and sex slaves. My paycheck does not allow me to save anyone or being.

      I will no longer reduce my desires to conform to others mediocrity. I will be victorious, against all odds!

      Thank you Randy for sharing your life story with the world of people like me who have been broken. You are truely a band-aid on a broken dream, healing and bring it back to health.

      Jamie 😉

    19. Hi Randy;

      It took me a long time to figure that out, I had to do a lot of work to release the program I had instilled in my sub conscious, but I can honestly say I agree with you completely.

      Life is too short to be lived in a lack mentality. !

      All the best
      Olga

    20. Who is richer: the one who can afford to fly first class, or the one who can find happiness in the moment, even in coach? Who is more important, the one with the $5,000 seaside hotel suite, or the one who earns a great deal of money and invests it or donates it to making the world a better place.

      Why is it that I don't want to be or even trade places with so many of the people whom I've met who own so many very expensive things and who have purchased expensive experiences? There are so many ways to not be mediocre; spending tons of dough on stuff seems a rather uninspired approach.

    21. What do I think? I think you just crushed United Airlines and no one reading this is flying them ever again!!! LOL. Seriously speaking Randy, I've been heavily into your educational materials and your latest book (is THEE MLM Bible) since seeing you in Houston last November. I knew you had a fan page but it is my first time looking at it. These are some great topics you address in your blog. I love your lifestyle and i'm going to be a regular on the fan page and certainly the blog.

    22. Hi Randy!

      I'm a new fan from Kuala Lumpur, and I didn't know you were in town. Do you have a video of the presentation you did here?

      And can you let me know if you come back this way???

    23. Hey!But Randy-just another question-do you think there are people in this world who are really not interested in creating material prosperity?I mean,who seriously want to have a small house and dont like airplanes at all and would buy like a farm for their millions?And dont like fashion and thinks that a kennel with fun dogs is more nice to have than cars?And my last question today:Do you think the money problem can disappear from earth?That we can start to think about other things in the future,because (thanks to you and others)people are not poor sick and dumb anymore?Crazy question but interesting to hear your answer anyway.I LOVE YOUR PAGE!Have a nice day!

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