What is “average?” Normal, modest, common, standard, typical, and this one stings a bit…adequate. Does anyone really strive to be any of these things?
Not me. And certainly not Bitcoin Ben.
But here’s the thing, most people would probably be considered “average.”
A few years ago, our daughter received some Cs in a few of her high school classes. Now, she’s a smart girl, but she had a bad case of the lazies. We were discussing her report card, and she asked me why I was mad about her grades “because they were average.”
I still remember this conversation very vividly. I replied, “Why would you want to be average?” And she said, “What’s wrong with being average?” <insert woman smacking her head emoji here>
So…what IS wrong with being average?
Well, when you don’t consider yourself average (nor are her dads average), having your child embrace being average isn’t something that excites you.
Yes, being average means you don’t stick out, it’s safe and secure. Like a cozy blanket. And I get that teenagers especially don’t usually want to stand out and be different. Heaven forbid!
But you also don’t want your child, your young adult, to think that this is a road to continue down because we have seen other young people go down this road, and once you start down it, it’s hard to come back. Because there’s comfort in being average. (So I’ve heard anyway.)
Even if you strive for greatness and put yourself out there and fail, that’s okay! Failure is a part of life! Yes, I said it.
Not everyone should get or deserves a trophy! That trophy is what pushes kids to work harder, play better, run faster. If each kid knows they’re getting one anyway, some would likely say, “Why would I work harder then?”
This is what’s happening in our society. We have a bunch of people who ALL received trophies, were ALL told they are the best, and they deserve what everyone else has…but these are all lies. BIG Lies.
It’s a hard realization for some, I know. But not every kid is the “best” and no, not everyone deserves what everyone else has. Yes, you guessed it, life is indeed not fair.
We taught that to our kids early. It’s a simple fact that many of us tend to gloss over. Life isn’t fair. And that’s ok! It’s not supposed to be. But if you want THAT life—that life that other people envy—it surely doesn’t come from being average.
Do you admire or envy anyone who is average? I’m guessing not.
Be the person who someone envies. Be the person who your child admires—and aspires to be like. Whatever that is…be that person…but realize that it means a life of NOT being average.
It means being different, working harder, being better.
Be motivated by the fear of being average.3
You’ll never regret it.
References/Related Articles:
2 – https://markmanson.net/being-average (Interesting quote: “Which leads to an important point: that mediocrity, as a goal, sucks. But mediocrity, as a result, is OK.”)
3 – https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/35-inspirational-quotes-on-being-average/ (Love this: “Be motivated by the fear of being average.” Anonymous)
4 – https://www.businessinsider.com/seth-godin-if-youre-going-to-be-average-you-might-as-well-quit-2012-9 (Great quote: ‘Never quit something with great long-term potential just because you can’t deal with the stress of the moment’. Now that’s good advice.”)
5 – https://mikekim.com/8-must-read-definitions-about-being-average/ (Yes to this: “I must say “yes” to things people say “no” to and say “no” to things people say “yes” to.”)
6 – https://www.shortform.com/blog/the-middle-class-trap/
7 – https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/5-ways-stop-being-average-now.html (Courtesy of Anne Frank: “Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.) You can’t be average if you’re original.
8 – https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/be-motivated-by-the-fear-of-being-average/ (So many good quotes in this one! “Be motivated by the fear of being average.” “The extra mile is never crowded.”)
9 – https://medium.com/the-ascent/the-fear-of-mediocrity-303f0dfd340f (Good quotes: “Typical is the murderer of thought, the defiler of ideas, the jailer of genius.” “We make the choices that lead to Mediocrity.”
Kelly Wisness-Semchee has been Bitcoin Ben’s wife for more than 11 years. She has spent 20+ years in marketing and communications for various companies, including 13 years in healthcare specifically. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and an MBA. Kelly resides with “Bitcoin” Ben, their fur babies “Litecoin” Little and Lacie, and daughter Alexa in the St. Louis area. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwisness/.
Copyright © 2021 by Kelly Wisness-Semchee