some ple strive for perfrection ...
some simply settle for mediocrity...

Me ? I'll try to keep somewhere in between.

Striving to be tops is something i feel requires too much effort to be done. Heard of the phrase : 90% effort to complete 10% of the work? For each task you do, it's really easy to achieve minimum standards. As the task gets better in standard, the amount of effort put in will invariably increase. Principle of increasing marginal cost. So really... Whats the point of going through fire and water only to get a slim chance of making it to the top?

On the other hand, mediocrity has a much bigger demand. Most ple only expect minimum standards and if you are able to do better, its a bonus. Being laid back, doing what you want and living the simple life sounds good. But in the real world, people would obviously choose a nice condo over a 2 room HDB flat if they can afford it. Why settle for less?

So ultimately there has to be a balance between effort and results. I strive to be above average, whether training for competitions or studying for exams, to be above the majority. I guess several reasons drive me to do so... Satisfaction, a sense of achievement, better prospects and probably pure male ego among them... But I do not do more than i need to. No point spending too much time on a project that is already sufficiently well done in order to get afew more marks rite?

I know of friends who are literally workaholics, perfectionists in every way. Tenacious people who will undoubtly have bright futures due to their relentless behavior.

I also know others who simply live life by the day. Taking each obstacle as it comes and not planning ... for anything at all. Happy go lucky people without much of a care in the world.

While i admire both groups for various apsects of their ideology, the passion of a perfectionist and the easy-flowing style of an optimist, I prefer to walk my own path... the path of a pragmatist.