Are You Better Than the Average Creative?

By Matt Gartland

Average isn’t a word most people prefer to associate with. No mystery as to why; it means a lack of vitality, brilliance and relevance. If you look at surveys and interviews, a vast majority typically judge themselves better than average.

Any third grader can explain to you this basic mathematical truth: add up the data set, divide by the “bits” of data, and you get the average. Are we fooling ourselves to believe that “better than average” is a dominant quality? Yes.

A fabulous info-graphic via DailyBurn (from Frugal Dad) displays this conundrum in real terms: self-assessments of health and fitness. According to their research, the average man can complete one pull-up, 27 push-ups in a minute, and one mile in 8 min 34 sec.

Their punchline is striking: 69% of men consider themselves physically fit; 13% actually are.

Let’s apply this paradox to the world of the creative professional.

Are your ideas better than average?
Is your output more prolific than the average in your industry?
Does this belief cause you to be back on your heels rather than leaning forward, growing, and challenging yourself?

That last question bears the most attention. You see, I feel the gravest danger born of this mindset is complacency. If the majority of us genuinely feel that we’re better than average, then we may no longer feel the urgency to grow. It’s easy to grow complacent if our only motivation for getting better at our craft is our self-perceived position relative to everyone else.

The causes of this complex are many. One that I think deserves mention is what Todd recently wrote about in Everyone Gets a Trophy. In his words, “I believe that, contrary to its intent, this self-esteem push can be significantly detrimental to creativity.” The need to feel special negates the drive to risk, develop our skills, and grow. As responsible creative professionals, we owe it to ourselves, our team, our clients and the industry we serve to dedicate ourselves to continual growth.

Thoughts? Please share your opinions in the comments.

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Image: Peter Alfred Hess

Matt Gartland

Matt Gartland is Editorial Director for Accidental Creative. He's also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Winning Edits, an editorial agency helping indie authors win reader hearts-and-minds. You're cordially invited to enter Matt's psyche on Twitter.

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Wes Roberts

Matt…

…thanx!

…both your post and Todd’s “trophy post” were WAY better than average. Stellar may be a better word. :-)

…intriguingly, “average” can be either a noun, an adjective or a verb (had to look that up, as I’m only average in my knowledge of Engish)

…the word I don’t like attached to average, or almost any other word, is the word “just” which most often brings a negative assumption…I’m just average…he’s just an average student…I’m just a homemaker…I’m just a doctor…which is never a just (original definitions) use of the word “just.”

…no one is “just” anything. They are unique in every way. You gents are helping us all explore and discover way beyond average. You help us walk well on level ground, climb mountains of opportunity, and soar.

…thank you! (profoundly meant…not averagely spoken)
- http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland
  
  Hi Wes – I like your argument about the word “just” in association with “average.” It does feel like it anchors the sentiment in undue negativism.
  
  Thanks for sharing your thoughts, not averagely expressed!
  
  Matt
FJR

It is almost ironic that truly remarkable people will never sit back on their heels, while the most mediocre may consistently ignore inconvenient feedback or ideas inconsistent with his narrow understandings. And so the gap between them widens.
- http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland
  
  Great assessment about the widening gap. It reminds me of my days studying the digital divide; yes, there is absolutely a widening gap insofar as talent, creativity and influence is concerned, me thinks :D
  
  Thanks!
  Matt
http://www.brandoncroke.com/ Brandon Croke

Great piece Matt. My favorite part… “The need to feel special negates the drive to risk, develop our skills, and grow.”
- http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland
  
  Here here Brandon! Thanks for indulging and sharing your thoughts. Yes, many are so lustful of the shine that they’re scared to get a few scuffs along the way.
  
  Matt
http://iamconvicted.com Brett Henley

Matt,

Love this post. You’ve described the exact scenario that’s always bothered about terms like “expert” and “guru.”

Assuming you have nothing left to gain/learn … who’s pushing the fringes?

Better yet, we’re so busy chasing that next wave, we’re tunnelled into benchmarking success against all the wrong measurements.

To me, it’s about forgetting the chase and searching the peripherals for your own damn way.
- http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland
  
  Hi Brett – Really like your closing about forgetting the chase and simply exploring the peripherals. Chases have a nasty habit of leading us where we don’t want to go. Searches, however, often uncover where we’re meant to go even when the path is at first hidden from us.
  
  Cheers!
  Matt
Kes

This year I wrote a novel, directed a short film, published a book chapter, presented an article in a global conference and finished my phD after 1,5 years of research and was accepted for a one-week artisic residency in Berlin. I’m 30. I don’t think i would try to do these things if i would not want to be above average. But i hoped i could be. I Don’t try to go way-way beyond i think i can go. For instance, i dont try to be a genius because i feel i am not one. I just try as hard as I can. But I enjoy it.
- http://www.accidentalcreative.com Todd Henry
  
  Outstanding, Kes. Sounds like it’s been a busy year! Thanks for your thoughts.