When someone is acting miserably for no reason, call them a Debbie Downer.
It’s a lighthearted way of drawing their attention to their negativity. You might even get a laugh.
But Debbie Downer has a cousin who isn’t so easily changed.
Tommy Too Much.
You’ve met him before.
Signing up for a marathon? “Make sure you don’t train too much,” says Tommy. “You’ll get injured.”
Putting yourself forward for a big opportunity? Don’t get too big for your boots.
Going on a hot date? Don’t give too much away.
Starting a new business? Don’t work too much.
Tommy Too Much wants to remind you there are limits. He wants to stop you hitting them.
But there’s a flaw to this logic.
The best results happen at the extremes.
Not by operating below ceilings that aren’t there.
Imagine if you’d told Serena Williams not to play too much tennis. (She went pro at 14 and played over 36 hours a week as a teen.)
Imagine if you’d told James Dyson not to make too many prototypes. (He created 5,127 before successfully developing his bagless vacuum cleaner.)
Imagine if you'd told Thomas Edison not to experiment too much. (He tested over 1,000 different materials before successfully creating the light bulb filament.)
Imagine if you'd told J.K. Rowling not to submit her manuscript too many times. (She faced 12 rejections before Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was finally accepted for publication.)
If they’d have created imaginary limits. Stopped before they were done. Given up before it got good. Their art would have never made it.
Unrealised potential. Because of someone dampening their ambition.
Listen out for the words.
Don’t let it happen to you.
If you find yourself in conversation with Tommy Too Much, walk away.
He’s too much.