Over 90% of teachers think theyâre better at teaching than their colleagues.
More than 90% of bankers believe they know finance better than their peers.
And hey, even 90% of people feel like theyâre smarter, better-looking, and just generally more impressive than everyone else.
Okay⌠I totally made those numbers up. But come onâdoesnât it feel true?
Most of us think weâre better than average. Iâm no exception. For a long time, I genuinely believed I was a better physiotherapist than many of my colleagues.
And to be fair, I get it. When you care deeply about your work, itâs easy to fall into the trap of feeling like youâve figured it out more than others have. You put in the effort, you stay curious, you keep learningâand then quietly assume others arenât doing the same.
But hereâs the catch: that mindset might make you feel good, but it also blocks your growth. It keeps you from asking real questions, shuts down deep listening, and convinces you that you already know the answers. And when that happens, you miss the chance to actually become better.
The truth? Most of us are average.
And thatâs not a bad thing. Realizing youâre not as exceptional as you thought can be a relief. Because if you let go of the pressure to constantly prove youâre special, you open yourself up to real learning.
If you assume youâre below average, youâll start paying attention. Youâll ask better questions. Youâll listen more. Youâll spot things youâd otherwise ignore. And ironically, thatâs what can lead you to becoming truly great.
Harold Ramis put it simply:
Find the most talented person in the room, and if itâs not you, go stand next to him. Hang out with him. Try to be helpful.
And if you are the most talented person in the room?
Youâre probably in the wrong room.
So yeahâbeing average (or even below average) might bruise the ego at first, but itâs actually a superpower if you know how to use it.
Because once you stop needing to prove youâre the best, you open the door to becoming better.
đ ď¸ Letâs Get Practical
Youâre not above averageâand thatâs your secret weapon.
The goal isnât to prove how great you are. The goal is to get great. Hereâs how to start shifting your mindset.
đŻ Try This:
The next time you feel the urge to prove youâre right or show how much you knowâpause. Instead, ask yourself: What could I learn in this moment if I assumed I donât know everything?
Pick someone in your circle whoâs great at somethingâmaybe even better than youâand lean in. Ask thoughtful questions. Offer to help. Observe. Learn.
And most importantlyâlisten. Even if you disagree, thereâs value in understanding where others are coming from. Their experiences, beliefs, and perspectives can help you grow in unexpected ways.
đ§ Final Thought:
Being right rarely changes the worldâbut being curious just might. Stay humble, stay open, and let growth happen through connection, not competition.
Keep it simple, stay curious, and keep learningâyouâve got this.
Take care,
Carina đŚ
