If You Can Underperform Then You Can Overperform

If you can underperform then you can overperform

To “underperform” means to perform lesser then expected

Expected is the average

Therefore there must also be “overperformance” to balance it out

Why is this important?

Because I’ve seen promising people produce very unpromising results

And I’ve seen unpromising people produce very promising results

To the point that it was shocking at times

We like to think everything’s so tidy and predictable

We have this clear sense of who-deserves-what and entitlement

We rely on confirmation bias to keep ourselves ignorant and delusional

And yet world is so much less predictable

And so is human potential

So when I see someone really underperform

I see someone else tremendously overperforming

And I am hopeful

And I believe there really is a place for everyone

And this is all I want you to know

And now I want you to find your place

See that’s the part we get wrong

We don’t try enough

We fail to give up on the unpromising

We fail to discover the promising

It’s as simple as that

Our search is too superficial

If you think you’re underperforming — take it as an invitation to discover your true vocation

Don’t be too dramatic about it either

You don’t have to turn your life upside down immediately

Don’t be crazy

Just stay open-minded

try things

and please do get lucky

find your lady-luck