The Hidden Cost of Aiming for Average
About 30 years ago, I clipped an article from a newspaper. Yes, back when newspapers were physical—sheets of ink-stained paper that left smudges on your fingers and carried the faint scent of mineral spirits. Unlike today’s digital world, those pages were tangible, something you could hold, fold, and revisit.
I don’t remember the article’s title or its author, but I kept it taped to my desk for years. Eventually, the paper yellowed, the ink faded, and it ended up in the trash. Yet, its message never left me: If we accept ‘average’ as the goal, the average will always decline.
The Danger of Targeting the Mean
In a world driven by percentages, aiming for the middle creates a dangerous cycle. Over time, the mean represents less and less. When we accept mediocrity as the standard, we gradually lower the bar—without even realizing it. This concept has shaped how I approach audits, evaluate school scoring systems, and set personal goals.
But the impact extends far beyond personal ambition. Societies that embrace mediocrity widen the gap between the privileged few and the struggling many. Every generation of the middle class has slipped further behind, while a select few consolidate power and wealth. By settling for ‘good enough,’ we unknowingly contribute to a system where true excellence becomes the exception, not the norm.
The Spiral of Mediocrity
Look at the consequences of prioritizing the average over what’s truly necessary. When we say a “C” is enough to graduate, or when businesses aim only to pass audits rather than strengthen security, we reinforce a downward trend.
In cybersecurity, adversaries don’t care about audit scope—they care about vulnerabilities. Yet, many organizations focus only on meeting compliance standards, assuming that passing an audit equals protection. The same flawed logic applies to education—when we teach students to settle for average, we rob them of their full potential.
The Slow Erosion of Ambition
The real danger of normalizing mediocrity is that it quietly erodes ambition. Over time, “good enough” becomes the new baseline, leading not just to stagnation but to inevitable decline.
This isn’t just about performance—it’s about mindset. When we grow comfortable with ‘just enough,’ we stop striving for more. The result? A world where the extraordinary becomes a rare anomaly, and we celebrate outliers instead of raising the baseline for everyone.
Rejecting the Average, Reaching for More
One day, I might stumble across that old newspaper article again. But I don’t need to reread it to remember its lesson. I set my goals to climb mountains—not to stand on their shoulders and settle for a mediocre view.
Life, work, and ambition should be about pushing beyond the mean. If we refuse to accept mediocrity, we open the door to true excellence. The question isn’t whether we can break free from the cycle of average—it’s whether we dare to try.
