Let’s talk about something that’s been bothering me for a while now. An epidemic that’s quietly spreading, affecting everyone in its path. And no, I’m not talking about the HMPV virus. I’m talking about the epidemic of ignorance. It’s a plague that runs rampant in young people, old people, and even business. And the worst part? Most people don’t even realize they’ve caught it.
It’s everywhere in Africa; most of us are walking around with half-baked knowledge and yet somehow thinking we’re doing just fine. The problem is this: we don’t know what good is.
You might think you’re on the right track, but here’s the hard truth: most people are too busy coasting along, thinking they’re good, without realizing how badly they are off the track. And if you’re serious about being the best in your field, this is something you need to fix.
Learning is a feedback loop, get comfortable with it
I’ll be honest, when you first start out, you know nothing. And that’s okay. When a baby learns to walk, they fall. A lot. But they get up and try again. They learn through feedback, through mistakes. This is the foundation of growth, and it’s something every professional needs to embrace. But then, once babies start walking, and then running, you badly wish for the days they were organically crippled.
Sometimes, when I think of how ignorant I was as recently as when I worked at the Trium / Coronation Group, I cringe. I wonder why Aigboje didn’t fling me off then. One thing though, he never missed an opportunity to show me that I didn’t know shit. 🤣
So, feedback isn’t just about receiving praise for a job well done. It’s about constructive criticism that pushes you to get better. But here’s the thing: if you’re not getting feedback, you’re probably not growing. And if you’re the one giving it, you better make sure it’s honest, not just a pat on the back to avoid conflict.
The problem comes when you think you’re past the learning stage, when you start believing you’ve made it. That’s when feedback becomes harder to take, and when growth starts to stagnate. You have to stay consistently hungry.
The dangerous whisper of “good enough”
The worst thing you can do to yourself is buy into the lie that “good enough” is okay. Even though I don’t believe in any god, I’m damn sure the devil does whisper to some people. “You’ve done the work, you’ve hit your targets, why push harder?” Because here’s the truth: good enough is a trap. It’s comfortable, it’s safe, but it’s not where the magic happens.
What most people don’t realize is that “good enough” is a silent killer. The people who settle for good enough end up stuck in a cycle. They might not fail, but they certainly don’t thrive. They don’t take risks. They don’t learn. They don’t grow. They’re in the comfort zone, and that’s where they’ll stay until someone else eats their lunch.
The best in the game aren’t the ones who do “good enough.” They’re the ones who push, even when they don’t have to.
The “not knowing you don’t know” problem
This is where things get really tricky. It’s one thing to know what you don’t know — that’s the starting point of improvement. It’s another to be so blissfully ignorant that you don’t even realize you’re missing the mark. This is the “not knowing you don’t know” phase, and it’s the most dangerous one.
If you’re operating under the illusion that everything is fine, that your skills are sharp, and that you’ve figured it all out, you’re not learning. You’re just coasting. And I’ll tell you this: that’s where mediocrity starts to take root.
That’s why it’s so crucial to regularly evaluate your work. You can’t assume everything’s fine just because it’s working — you need to be aware of the gaps, the areas where you could improve, and the things you might be missing. Because if you don’t, trust me, someone else will.
Too many people fall into the delusion of being the absolute best, so they don’t bother to get better. And that cycle? It’s vicious. It’s a damn hamster wheel that keeps spinning, trapping people in the same place for years while they wonder why they’re still stuck.
Kirindin vs. Karanda: a tale of two mindsets
Let’s make it clearer with a story. Fictional, but very real in how they reflect the people I’ve worked with.
Karanda’s story: Karanda is a developer. Smart guy, top of his class, even. He’s been coding for years and does what he needs to get the job done. But there’s one problem: his code isn’t the best it could be. It works, but it’s clunky, inefficient, and if you really look under the surface, it’s a mess. When he’s called out, he argues: “It works, doesn’t it?” Feedback bounces off him like water off a raincoat. He doesn’t read, doesn’t learn, and doesn’t grow. A few years later, Karanda is stuck in the same role, wondering why his career hasn’t taken off as well as it should.
Kirindin’s story: Kirindin, on the other hand, started with less experience. But she’s different. Kirindin listens. She’s the first to ask for feedback, and she knows how to take it without getting defensive. Over time, she improves her skills—she learns, adapts, and gets better with each project. Kirindin doesn’t settle for “good enough.” She constantly pushes herself because she’s obsessed with improving, and five years later, she’s leading a team, while Karanda is still arguing about why his buggy code “should work fine.”
The harsh reality: ignorance isn’t bliss
At Lendsqr, I’ve seen this epidemic firsthand. Tons of developers, designers, and other professionals have crossed my path. Smart people, no doubt. But the lack of self-awareness? Astounding. I’ve reviewed assessments where the gap between what was asked and what was delivered was staggering. When you point it out, instead of introspection, you get excuses or worse defensiveness.
It’s not that they’re bad people or even bad at their jobs. It’s that they don’t know what “good” is. And because they don’t know, they’re not striving to reach it.
When you don’t know what “good” looks like, you settle for mediocrity. You might think you’re doing fine, but in reality, you’re stagnating. And when you’re stagnating, someone else is out there improving, learning, and making strides. And that’s the person who gets ahead.
So, who’s to blame? The individual? Or all of us
Is it entirely their fault? Maybe not. Leaders (myself included) need to do a better job of defining what “good” looks like. Clear benchmarks, practical examples, and consistent feedback are essential. Without them, people end up chasing vague notions of success or even settling for mediocrity.
In fact, I think the leaders are the most to blame? Why? It’s natural to look up to leaders and role models. And when we can’t define what good means or put our feet down for quality to be met, we silently lead many souls astray.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, personal growth is just that: personal. The hunger to improve has to come from within. If you’re not reading, learning, and challenging yourself, you’re stagnating. And in most industries, stagnation is just a fancy word for falling behind.
Ignorance is a bigger problem than you think, break the cycle or be broken by it
Let’s zoom out for a second. Why does this even matter?
Ignorance isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a collective one. Teams suffer when mediocrity is allowed to fester. Progress stalls, opportunities slip through the cracks, and everyone ends up working harder to compensate for those who aren’t pulling their weight.
Worse still, it’s contagious. A team member who constantly gets away with subpar work sends a message: “This is acceptable.” And once that standard is normalized, it’s a race to the bottom.
The worst part? Clients and customers can smell mediocrity a mile away. When they lose confidence in your ability to deliver, it’s game over.
The epidemic of ignorance isn’t inevitable. It’s curable, but only if you’re willing to confront it head-on.
Ask yourself: Do I know what “good” looks like in my field? Am I actively seeking feedback, or just coasting on past successes? When was the last time I truly learned something new? If your answers make you uncomfortable, good. That’s the first step to getting better. As for me, I’ll keep fighting this epidemic one conversation, one critique, and one post at a time.