Is being average that bad?

Don't get lost in the comparison game... You have your own path.

Hello, Friend,

Until I answer that, let’s take a trip down memory lane…

Growing up, I always believed hard work paid off. So, in high school, my definition of success was landing a cooler job than anything my parents had (sorry, mom & dad).

I was a single child with this big dream. So, I enrolled in the art high school in my tiny hometown, starry-eyed about becoming an architect.

As an aspiring student, I saw that I needed to either have the skills and talent or work my ass off to make it. While I was always passionate about art and loved everything design and architecture related, I never considered myself the best at it. I was average. And the fact that my perception of art and design was blurry at the time didn’t help.

In the class, we were about 28 students divided into three small groups: 2 groups that would study architecture and one that would study design. Needless to say, I was in the first one studying architecture.

There was this incredibly talented but quiet classmate named Kate. She could draw anything and everything, and with such style! Kate practically lived in the art room, churning out amazing drawings, paintings, and projects way faster than anyone else. Everyone admired her talent, and the teachers showered her with praise.

For me, drawing was more of a calming activity, like meditation. While I wouldn't say I was obsessed with art, it was a skill I wanted to improve. So, beyond the assigned work, I'd occasionally squeeze in some extra drawing practice. However, I was always drawn to the technical aspects like descriptive geometry, sacred geometry, and the principles behind architecture.

After four years of high school, we ended up at the same Art & Design University, where again, no one could beat Kate’s mad creative skills. She was the same quiet introvert from high school, with more design knowledge but more shyness. Kate never spoke, only when asked and even then, on a hushed note. She was never loud, and you could never hear her laugh. Because of these and her insane drawing skills, everyone respected her, but to me, she seemed lonely most of the time. She didn’t make time to grab a coffee with us, study in the library, or even come to a party or a shopping spree. When it came to grades,

I, on the other hand, was, let’s say…trying. Don’t get me wrong, I liked what I did, but I had this bad habit of leaving homework and projects till the last moment. For me, it was more challenging this way - a fancy way of saying procrastination. But jokes aside, it was difficult and stressful, and stupid. 1/5 wouldn’t recommend it.

But even with this last-minute method, I had pretty good grades, I enjoyed what I did, and I knew my job in the future would be graphic design related. The process of creating something is the best feeling in the world for me, even now, while writing this paragraph.

Overall, I enjoyed student life. I had great friends and went to coffees, concerts, and parties - sometimes, maybe a little too often. I also volunteered and even offered my services as a graphic designer to an NGO. And my first job? It was because of a rebranding I did for a local IT company. They saw my project at our annual design exhibition and contacted me immediately.

Graduation came, and we all scattered like seeds in the wind. Every one of us tried to find a job or continue working at the job that we had at the time.

Fast forward ten years after three jobs as a Graphic Designer and one as a Community Manager, I am now a Brand Designer at a Saas company.

From time to time, I would wonder about my former high school or university colleagues and look on their Facebook or Instagram to see what they have been up to.

One discovery surprised me: Kate, the design prodigy, was working at a print shop.

And let me stop you right there - there's absolutely nothing wrong with working at a print shop! Happiness and success have different meanings for everyone. This revelation sparked a lot of questions for me about the role of talent, grades, and hard work in shaping our careers.

The BIG Questions (that still haunt me)

💭 Talent vs. Grind: Does raw talent guarantee a dream career, or is relentless hard work the secret ingredient?

💭 Beyond the grades: In the real world, how much do grades actually matter compared to the skills and experience you bring to the table?

💭 Connections vs. Dedication: Is being in the right place at the right time, surrounded by the right people, more important than burning the midnight oil honing your craft?

💭 What really gets you promoted? Does building a strong network of contacts open more doors than having the best set of skills?

But the biggest question of all:

💭 Is being average really a bad thing?

This applies not just to me, but to everyone who's ever felt like they weren't the star student or the standout employee. Maybe you weren't the Kate of the class, the one with the jaw-dropping talent. That's okay. There's so much more to you: your skills, your passions, your experiences.

Is there something inherently wrong with being typical or usual? (spoiler alert: there absolutely isn't!)

Look at the definition of "average" itself: Average → a standard or level that is considered to be typical or usual.

So, let's celebrate our individual, average journeys.

This week’s reminder is as follows:

👉 If being typical or usual makes you happy, embrace the averageness and your uniqueness. It’s better than getting lost in the comparison game.

This week’s highlights:

This week I don’t want to share some photos, but instead, a video. A video that I accepted as a challenge to face my fears, to grow, to be, and to do better. Like I said in the previous newsletter, I’m grateful to have found the community that helps me grow and improve my work.

Check it out, and let me know what you think!

Big smiles,

Mira