I heard Morgan Housel say this on a podcast today. He was talking talking about people who think they are above average investors. But it got me thinking about everything in life.
At all times, in all things, half of us are below average. For me, this is quite apparent with my social connections, my romantic connections (now), my networking skills, my looks/attractiveness, my flexibility, my family connections and much more that could fill this entire screen.
I made my peace with this a long time ago.
I knew about some of my shortcomings from an early age. I was far below average in athletic ability. And, being a fat kid, in looks. On the other hand, I was an academic genius who was always the top of the class.
For a long time I longed to be above average in my weak areas – especially athleticism, attractiveness and being cool.
Paradoxically, it wasn’t until I stopped caring about these things that I made some headway with them. Still, I would never say I was above average.
When I managed a team of tech sales people in the 1990s was when a realization finally clicked for me. I had a sales rep on my team who was a natural schmoozer. Despite not being the smartest, nor particularly hardworking he outsold all of our other reps. I was awed by his he did it. He actually befriended his prospects. He plays golf with them, took them out for dinner, invited to happy hours and hung out with them in his free time. He got to know them and their families. He invited them to his house and socialized with them.
They, in turn, sent him a lot of business.
He wasn’t dishonest. He wasn’t bribing anyone. He developed actual friendships.
I was terrible at doing that.
On the other hand, when it came time to build a comprehensive project plan and technical solution, he came to me because that was my forte.
Once I realized this, I took a new approach to my own self-development. I would work on my “below average” weaknesses only enough to raise them to a minimal acceptable level. Instead,I focused my efforts to be exceptional in a few areas where I excelled.
It worked – professionally and personally.
In the 30 years since then, I’ve often recommended this approach to people I mentored and managed. Some of them applied it and their careers skyrocketed. Some disagreed and usually grew increasingly frustrated and dissatisfied with their lack of demonstrative success.
When you are above average at something, to an outsider it looks easy for you.
I think it is easy.
As for being below average, I’m quite content with accepting my lot in life there too. There’s no point in fighting it.