This was my mantra today. I found out that I am not the Grand Dip Master.

Had you asked me last week or even two days ago whether I wanted to be the Grand Dip Master, I would have truthfully told you that I have no need to gain that title to leave a significant legacy. Well, I still don’t need that title to leave a legacy, but it would have been nice.

Confused, yet? In honor of Super Bowl weekend, we had a dip competition at work. I’m not known for making great dips. I’m great at pouring store-bought dip into a bowl and dressing it up a bit. But today, I entered the arena of dip-making, and it wasn’t pretty. Actually, the dip was pretty, but it wasn’t very good.

Two of my fellow team members claimed the title of Grand Dip Masters. I was happy for them, but I sort of…kind of…wanted to be one, too. I don’t like the idea of not doing something well.

I know that sounds pretentious, but it’s really not my fault. I facilitate leadership workshops and say over and over again that we’re a product of our choices, not our circumstances and that we need to own our own issues instead of blaming other people, but aren’t we all allowed to revert to immature behavior periodically?) I’m going to blame this one on my eighth grade science teacher.

To all teachers reading, you do leave long lasting impressions on your students. Your words have power. Especially on students who take everything you say literally. My poor teacher told me this as her parting words as I transitioned to high school:

“Nhung, you are good at so many things, but great at nothing.”

In hindsight, I think it was supposed to be a compliment of sorts, but I was devastated! I saw this future where I was just good, but not great, and it was unacceptable to me. So…I sought to be great at everything! That means putting myself into serious over-drive to learn more, practice more, do everything more.

Sad, huh? I can imagine that if I focused on being great at a few things instead of trying to do it all, I’d be more effective. I’d be calmer. I’d be more content.

I’m not ready to hang up my dip-making hat, or dip-making ladle, though. I know where I erred. I made two dips where I should have focused on one. I also made fancy dips when I should have gone simple.

Anyone have a blue-ribbon dip recipe?