Why perfectly average?

Chantal Janzen is an average kickboxer. Nikkie de Jager? A very average footballer. And even Elon Musk is just as average as the rest of us when he wakes up and immediately checks his phone.The difference? One tweet from him can send the value of cryptocurrency soaring, while we’re busy checking if that recently promoted colleague has updated their LinkedIn bio to remind the world how brilliant they are.Get over yourself, Diederik.

We’ve grown up with the idea that we have to excel at something, that we need to aim for perfection. The house, the picket fence, a good job. Average just doesn’t cut it.And because of this unspoken pressure, we chase status, more money, or greater independence. The result is something Lauren J. Peter once described: the Peter Principle. The idea that in a hierarchical organization, employees rise to a level of incompetence where they’re no longer effective.

Ambitious people don’t always recognize their limits, until they’ve already crossed them. The result? One in five workers experiences burnout symptoms.

In the second year of my optometry degree, I decided I didn’t actually want to be an optometrist. But I figured I might as well finish the degree—what else was I going to do? So I kept going, juggling a full-time program and two part-time jobs.

Then, in early 2021 everything came to a standstill during lockdown. I was able to help with a triage (tele)program at UMC Utrecht through my studies, and my supermarket job continued as usual. So for me, it became more supermarket, less optometry. After the lockdown, life slowly returned to 'normal', and I started my internship. Armed with hand sanitizer and an arguably excessive number of face masks, I spent my days helping patients with eye problems. For a few weeks, I was fully back in the study rhythm. Until, one day, I simply couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t want to keep pouring my energy into something I didn’t believe in. I was burned out. I hit pause—and texted my supermarket manager: “Available full-time in the coming weeks.”

I’m a hard worker. And I like people to see and recognize that. After nearly seven years of studying eye care, it didn’t feel like many people would understand if I chose not to work as an optometrist. I could practically hear the judgment in people’s voices when I mentioned that I might just stick with Poiesz (the supermarket). Still, deep down, I’d already made my choice. The turning point came with one simple comment from my best friend: “Isn’t it the theme of your life that, no matter what you do, you always like working at Poiesz just a little bit more?”

Even now, I still hear that unspoken judgment when people ask why I chose Poiesz. But honestly? I’m glad I chose something that makes me happy over something that was expected of me. I’ve learned to listen to myself—on more than one level.

Am I now satisfied with performing just averagely? Absolutely not. I still kick myself when I make a mistake I could’ve avoided. And yes, I secretly give myself a little pat on the back when someone higher up gives me a compliment. But don’t we all? Does wanting to do well make me ambitious? Or is it actually pretty average to just want to do a good job?

Either way, today I’m not chasing perfection. Today, I’m happy with good enough. Ask me again tomorrow.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to dance to Lizzo’s That’s Exactly How I Feel.

Can I dance?

Perfectly average.