Stop Lying to Yourself: ‘Above Average’ is Just a Fancy Word for Mediocre
(Spoiler: You'll hate AVERAGE after reading this)
Average is deceptive.
It is a seemingly comfortable place where mediocrity thrives.
It is the space where people congratulate themselves for being slightly better than the worst, rather than pushing themselves to be the absolute best.
Breaking it down: Average is the MEAN of all performances.
It means we mixed all the performances into a melting pot, taking into account both the exceptional and the terrible.
So, when the average score is 4, and someone scores 6, they might feel good about being above the benchmark. But should they?
The highest possible score might be 9.5, which means that the person is still significantly below what is truly possible.
There is nothing to celebrate about mediocrity when greatness is still on the table.
The Illusion of Being “Above Average”
Think about a classroom where the average math score on a test is 55%.
If a student scores 65%, they are above average—but does that mean they have mastered the material? Not even close.
There is still 35% of the content they have not understood.
Yet, many walk away satisfied because they have surpassed the lowest bar rather than reaching for the highest.
This happens everywhere: in workplaces, in athletics, in relationships, in personal growth.
We see people content with being slightly better than the status quo instead of striving for the best they are capable of.
Our corporate workplaces are filled with professionals who do just enough to meet their KPIs but never push themselves to innovate or lead.
Athletes train just enough to be slightly better than their peers but never push to set new records (or break their own record, regularly).
Relationships crumble because partners give just enough effort to avoid breaking up, rather than giving their all to create something extraordinary….something magical.
Your Best is Premium
Your best is not just about winning trophies or setting new records—it’s about extracting every ounce of your potential.
It’s about walking into any challenge and saying, I will give everything I have, rather than I just need to do enough to be above average.
Destroying the Benchmark
Averages serve as benchmarks, but they should never deceive you into thinking you have achieved greatness just by surpassing them.
The real goal should be to shift the entire benchmark upward—to redefine what is possible for yourself and everyone else.
If you are in a room where the highest standard is 9.5, your aim should be to reach 10, or even better, 11, creating a new ceiling for others to aspire to.
Great minds don’t just aim to win; they aim to redefine the playing field.
Imagine if Usain Bolt had been satisfied with just beating the average sprinting time. Would he have shattered world records?
Excellence demands that we stop measuring success by average standards and start measuring it by the limits of our true potential.
Here is my Mindset Shift Advice: Hate Average
Average is the metric by which the mediocre evaluate their performance.
If you want to be exceptional, you have to despise mediocrity. Not in a way that diminishes others, but in a way that refuses to let it define you.
Picture a swimmer in a race.
If they only aim to be better than the slowest person in the pool, they might finish in the middle of the pack—but they will never touch greatness.
The mindset must shift from I just need to beat someone to I need to set a new standard.
In business, in sports, in academics, and in life—this is the mindset that separates the elite from the masses.
Press Toward the Highest Mark
Paul taught us in Philippians 3:13-14:
Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Excellence is a continuous pursuit.
Excellence doesn’t rest on past achievements or comparing oneself to others who are performing worse.
Excellence constantly pushes forward, refusing to be stagnant, and setting one’s sights on the highest possible achievement.
Forget what you have already done.
Forget being slightly above the average.
Reach for what is ahead.
Press towards the mark of the highest calling in every area of your life.
Whether in your spiritual life, career, education, or personal development, always ask yourself: “Am I aiming for my highest, or am I just trying to be slightly better than the lowest?”
How to raise the bar in Real-Life
At Work — Don’t just meet the job description—excel at it. Innovate, lead, and become indispensable.
In Relationships — Don’t just maintain friendships and partnerships—be the best friend, spouse, or colleague possible.
In School— Don’t just pass exams—master the knowledge and seek wisdom beyond what is taught. The wisdom to create new things.
In your walk with God — Don’t just avoid wrongdoing or fight sin—actively pursue righteousness and the fulfilment of purpose.
The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Life is not a contest where being slightly above average is the goal.
Strive for the highest performance score—not just in comparison to others, but in the fullest realisation of your potential.
Aim to tear apart the record books, not just for what exists today, but for what can exist tomorrow.
Be the standard that forces the average to rise.
Please hate average and keep aiming for greatness.
Your best is not just enough—it is everything.
I'm not even going to lie; this piece moved me!
I choose to set the standard.
No longer will I be comfortable with "above average"
Thank you for sharing this soul stirring capsule of life! #rewritetherecords