Suzie Key Tima

This is shaping up to be my most controversial blog post yet.

Before you close your browser and disregard my post, give me a minute to make my case. I think being an underachiever is the most effective way to achieve success and I’ll tell you why. First, let’s define what I mean exactly when I say ‘underachiever’.

Merriam-Webster describes an underachiever as one (such as a student) that fails to attain a predicted level of achievement or does not do as well as expected. For our purposes, an underachiever is precisely that: “someone who performs at a subpar level”. I also want to make it clear that this framework intends for the user to use the license to perform below the standard in some areas of life in order to excel and be extraordinary in a chosen area.

Here’s why this works:

Focus

Multitasking is a myth that impedes our productivity. This idea also influences us when we are thinking about big-picture things and bigger goals. We want to be experts at everything when reality shows that we will just end up being average at a variety of things. Instead, focus on one thing—maybe more than just one, but definitely one at a time—and master this one thing. Give yourself permission to be bad at some things in order to be great at the most important thing.

By embracing underachievement in certain areas, you can channel your energy and resources into a singular pursuit. This focused approach allows you to dedicate your time, effort, and attention to honing your skills, gaining deep knowledge, and achieving mastery in your chosen field. By eliminating the distractions and spreading yourself too thin, you create the space necessary for extraordinary achievement.

Efficiency

Underachieving strategically means not wasting your valuable resources on tasks or goals that do not align with your core objectives. By accepting mediocrity in non-essential areas, you free up time and energy to invest in activities that truly matter to you. This deliberate allocation of your limited resources enhances your efficiency and effectiveness, enabling you to make significant progress towards your ultimate goal.

Risk-Taking

Underachievers often have the freedom to take risks without the fear of failure. By embracing underachievement, you grant yourself the permission to explore uncharted territories, experiment with innovative ideas, and push the boundaries of what is considered conventional. By detaching yourself from the need for immediate success in every aspect of life, you open yourself up to unexpected opportunities and breakthroughs that can propel you towards extraordinary accomplishments.

Self-Reflection and Growth

Choosing to underachieve in certain areas requires introspection and self-awareness. It forces you to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, and passions, enabling you to make conscious decisions about where to allocate your efforts. This process of self-reflection and deliberate underachievement allows for personal growth and development. By recognizing your limitations, you can seek support, learn from others, and continuously improve in your chosen field.

Resilience

Underachieving strategically also cultivates resilience. By embracing failure and setbacks as part of the process, you build a resilient mindset that enables you to bounce back stronger from challenges. The ability to persevere through difficulties and setbacks is crucial for achieving extraordinary success in any endeavor. By accepting underachievement in some areas, you develop the mental toughness and resilience needed to overcome obstacles and thrive in your chosen pursuit.

As someone who loves to excel at everything, this mindset shift has not been easy (just look at my list of things I want to learn and get good at.) However, I think adapting my approach and focusing on one thing at a time and pursuing that one thing with laser focus with result in greater growth and allow me to do more better in the long run. This is not a call to mediocrity or laziness; it is a call to prioritize the most important thing.