Green and “On Go” | Yellow and Mellow | Which is for you: Green or Yellow?

The difference between a high-achiever and a moderate achiever, the sacrifice each must make, and whether you want to be liked or disliked by others. It's important to understand the implications that come with each path as you decide which one is for you.

I thought I’d try something different in this article. I asked ChatGPT for a random word, hoping it’d give me a word like perfection, which I could give my take on. But instead, it gave me "banana".

After a few minutes of thinking, I realized it presented an interesting comparison. The two main stages of a banana that the consumer sees are unripe and ripe, or green and yellow. In the green stage, the banana is bitter, whilst in the yellow stage it’s sweet. 

Those two colors are also used in the traffic light system. Green means "go" and yellow means "slow". 

Keep that in mind as we link the stages of a banana and the traffic light system to the type of life you want to lead.

When a person is “on go”, they are focused, disciplined, moving at a fast pace, and ticking off goals. 

They are what I'd call a high-achiever. Someone who isn't only capable of great things, but also prepared to put everything else aside to fulfill their objectives and hit their mark.

But that's also a drawback. Anything that won't help them succeed is not seen as a priority. In this state, it's easy to become cold, selfish, and like a unripe banana, bitter.

I know because I've been that person. I didn't like to spend any energy talking about certain things. The latest movie for example, or what the Sidemen were up to. I couldn't. That energy was better spent ticking off another task on my to-do list. 

Of course it's possible to separate work and play, but that line isn't clearly visible when you're moving at a high pace. When you're "relaxing" your mind can't help but think of new ideas or solutions to problems. Or when it's time to relax, you're too mentally drained to put energy into meaningful conversation.

I'm sure you can see the issue with that lifestyle, but that's what it takes to be great. Look at the work rate of people like Elon Musk, the late Kobe Bryant, or KSI. Each of them can be seen as greats in their own right, and the common factor each of them share is their dedication to work.

In the traffic light system, yellow means slow down. That color also signals when a banana is sweet. The same can be said of a moderate achiever. 

A moderate achiever is someone who still achieves but moves at a slower pace in comparison to a high-achiever. They are capable and goals are a priority, but they value other aspects of life too, which limits their productive output. 

This type of person is not wholly goal-focused, or results-driven, and that's not a bad thing. They have hobbies, a social life, and are liked by others (just like how a ripe banana is favored by most).

In other words, they've found a sweet spot. Whether that's for better or for worse depends on the individual. 

For most people, being productive enough whilst spending quality time with family and friends is the sweet spot in living a fulfilling life.

Meanwhile, like a traffic light, I alternate between the two. Sometimes it's nice to move at a slower pace and find time for leisure. It's in those moments of low activity where you can properly self-reflect and reassess.

But I become bored and impatient. Whether it's an age thing or a personality trait, I'm not sure. When that time comes though, it's back to the thrill of sprinting towards achieving my goals. 

So, should you be green or yellow? Well, that's entirely up to you and your goals. Do you want to lead a "balanced" life and look back reminiscing of all the happy memories? Or are you ruthlessly ambitious, looking to sit atop an empire?