I believe that about half of people are unremarkable. All human beings have the potential to be remarkable I think, but for some reason or other, upbringing, exposure to ideas, conditioning, whatever, that half aren't remarkable at all. It is very difficult to tell which people you meet are this way,remarkableness is not a constant, people have talents that they hide because they're self conscious, because they're none of your business or whatever reason, or just contextually, you'll never see it, like a guitar virtuoso you only ever see when hes scanning your groceries at Walmart.
Additionally, because there are public social norms and people are reserved about demonstrating any talents they may have, many of those privately remarkable people won't appear so to anyone outside. So to all of us, it appears that the majority of people are unremarkable.
For this reason, I believe that going along with what is expected, what the norm is, going with the flow, is almost always a losing proposition. Doing what most people do is a sure ticket to mediocrity. But just doing things because everyone else does not is not a ticket to happiness either, you have to use reason and understand what is good for yourself, period, there's no silver bullet to greatness. I think everyone that can do this should do this, differentiate themselves how they please, without harming others or themselves of course.
Additionally, because there are public social norms and people are reserved about demonstrating any talents they may have, many of those privately remarkable people won't appear so to anyone outside. So to all of us, it appears that the majority of people are unremarkable.
For this reason, I believe that going along with what is expected, what the norm is, going with the flow, is almost always a losing proposition. Doing what most people do is a sure ticket to mediocrity. But just doing things because everyone else does not is not a ticket to happiness either, you have to use reason and understand what is good for yourself, period, there's no silver bullet to greatness. I think everyone that can do this should do this, differentiate themselves how they please, without harming others or themselves of course.