You’ve likely heard the phrase “the gold standard,” referring to an ideal benchmark. The literal term refers to the standard use of gold to back a nation’s money. These days, the gold standard usually refers to an individual, product, company, process, etc., representing excellence. For example, Kodak was the gold standard in photography for most of the twentieth century.

Regardless of context, I highly doubt anyone has called me the gold standard. I am good at many things, but I don’t know that I’ve genuinely mastered anything. Yes, I graduated college in four years, never failing a class. But someone carelessly told me anything above a C was passing. So, what do you think my target grade was? In my defense, a host of exciting and entertaining activities persistently tore me from my studies. As a writer, I consistently crank out ten thousand words in a sitting. When I finish a work, satisfied that my story is complete, I move on. I know there are probably chapters that could be cleaned up, and a couple of comma splices are likely still hiding, but I’m done. The next story is coming soon.

So, I’m not a gold standard; however, I proudly say that I’m the copper standard. Without my definition of the copper standard, you might assume the term is the concept of an underachiever seeking validation. I’ll make my case if you hang with me.

Consider three characteristics of copper—

Copper is Useful

There is a spate of uses for copper–wiring, plumbing, architecture, brazing, soldering, electric motors, and it’s an antimicrobial. Brass and bronze wouldn’t exist without copper, and neither would the foremost symbol of the United States, the Statue of Liberty.

Copper is considered an essential element in animals and plants. As copper wires keep the lights on in your home, the same element is also busy keeping you in good health.

Copper is Valuable

Despite being four hundred times less valuable than gold, the demand for copper is so great the FBI issued a bulletin regarding copper theft.

Copper is so inherently valuable that the ancient Romans associated it with the goddess Venus.

Copper has been used as currency for over twenty centuries and is still used (to the dismay of many) in American pennies. For years, there has been a push to cease penny production in the United States, but the copper penny lives on.

Copper is Dependable

Copper is much like that friend who is durable and adaptable, willing to drop what they are doing to help with anything. In addition to its resistance to wear, copper is also highly malleable, adapting to its needed purpose. Copper has always been there for us, waiting to be of service. We don’t even have to worry about copper corroding; oxygen forms a protective top layer (and creates a nice patina) when reacting to copper.

Lastly, let’s revisit the penny—the coin many would like to abolish. When you see a penny on the ground—especially heads up—as you traipse across a filthy parking lot, your natural compulsion is to pick it up. Why? It’s our intuition that directs us to the familiar piece, and our instincts are correct. Copper isn’t shiny, demanding our attention, copper’s desirability comes from invisible but palpable qualities—reliability, consistency, and ruggedness. Comparatively, the appeal of precious metals—gold, silver, platinum, etc.—is, if we are honest, superficial. Yes, all these metals have practical uses, but copper has no use for pretense. Copper knows what it’s about; it gets the job done and doesn’t want the attention that comes with a shiny luster.

So, I embrace the copper standard—helpful, capable, and time-tested—as an alternative to the perfection of the gold standard. Don’t get me wrong, while I espouse my copper-standard life, I am also thankful for the gold-standard folks. After all, I’d prefer my cardiologist obsessively study and perfect the skills necessary to keep my heart pumping.

Recently, a literary publication rejected one of my short stories. Naturally, I was disappointed, so I wrote the publisher and asked for advice or a critique of my work. His response comforted me. My piece was grammatically sound, the narrative flowed well, and it was good. In short, there wasn’t a surprise plot twist or an abundance of flashy descriptors in my story that stood out from the hundreds of competing works.

My takeaway from the editor’s response was he thought my story was good. When I write, my goal is to tell an interesting story that makes sense and is easy to follow. Sure, I’d love to write a novel that people call great, but I’ll take good every time.