Author: Todd Rose
Short Summary |
The End of Average (2015) teaches that our obsession with average has caused us to miss out on the great opportunities life presents us with. Instead, we have allowed ourselves to be shackled by the idea that we should all strive for average when in reality we can do anything if we try hard enough. This book will help you understand why you are different from everyone else, and how these differences create the opportunity for success in any field. |
Detailed Summary
In the past two decades, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in how much data is collected about us and how it’s used to inform our decisions. And while some people are concerned this could be an invasion of privacy or even a form of surveillance, others see it as an opportunity to help them make better choices for themselves and their families. So what exactly do we mean when we say someone is “average?” And why does it matter?
The End of Average argues that we are living in a new age where the average is not what it used to be. The author believes that people are becoming more aware of their own identities. They are not willing to accept the idea that they are part of an average group. He explains how people today have become more aware of their own identity than ever before. For example, he mentions how people today can easily distinguish themselves from other people through their choice of clothes or even tattoos.
This book also focuses on individuals who have managed to change their own identity by choosing certain careers or hobbies which they enjoy doing. The author points out that this new awareness has led us down a path where we no longer see ourselves as part of an average population. Instead, we see ourselves as individuals with unique characteristics and abilities which set us apart from others around us.
The End of Average Key Points
The mathematical concept of averages does not relevant to human behaviors
The mathematical concept of averages is not relevant to human behavior, but it has its purposes. People are not perfectly similar in their behavior and characteristics. The majority of human beings almost always have different characteristics than what is considered average. This makes the whole concept irrelevant. Many people have strong personality traits that go against what is considered normal. This does not mean that they are abnormal, but just that their personality traits are different from most people.
If we were to use the mathematical concept of averages to describe how humans act, then everyone would be considered an average person. Everyone would be considered to have no specific personality traits and would be completely uniform in all aspects of life. However, this is not true because there are many different personalities among human beings. Most people do have certain strengths and weaknesses that make them unique individuals with different personalities.
The average is a meaningless concept in human nature because it ignores the fact that most people are different from their average. Most people are not all alike, and so they cannot be compared by looking at their averages. For example, if you compare two people of different heights, one who is short and another who is tall, you would see that they have very different “averages” even though both have been measured on the same scale. You cannot compare them by looking at their averages because your scale does not account for their differences in height.
There are no “typical” personality traits and no one set of interests for everyone
At some point, you realized that there is no such thing as a typical career path and you can’t rely on stereotypes to guide your decisions. In The End of Average, the author detailed that everyone has a different set of strengths and weaknesses. Some people are good at math, some people are good at sports. But how you learn and master new skills is completely unrelated to your character traits. You can learn anything you want to learn. If you want to be a doctor, a plumber, or an accountant, that’s fine. What matters is that you’re willing to work hard and put in the effort.
A lot of people are afraid of failure because they think it means they’re not smart or skilled enough. But if you don’t try new things and take risks, how will you ever learn anything? How you learn and master new skills is not something anybody can predict. It’s a very personal process that depends on your personal experience and how comfortable you feel in a particular environment. You don’t even need to be good at something to learn it; all you need to do is be willing to try new things. This means you can make up for any lack of natural talent by working hard on projects that interest you.
Our environment — from our thoughts to the people we surround ourselves with — has the power to change our behavior
It’s no secret that when it comes to hiring the best people, most businesses tend to rely too much on grades and degrees. But relying on grades and degrees for hiring can often lead companies to miss out on hiring good people who are extremely capable but may not have the grades or degrees that a company is looking for. We’re told from a young age that we can change who we are. It’s the backbone of liberal arts education, and it’s a philosophy that has been applied to everything from surfing to parenting.
In the workplace, however, we’ve been conditioned to look for stability in our employees. Words like “hustle” and “grit” have become catchphrases that we use to describe people who are invested in their work. According to the business books we read, if you’re not working until midnight every night, then you don’t have what it takes. If you take breaks to go outside or meditate during your lunch break, then you don’t have what it takes. That’s why so many companies grade new hires on their GPA or the alma mater they attended — they think they can find talent by looking at where someone went to school and what their highest degree was.
Most companies might search online for engineers or designers with top grades or degrees in their fields. But according to the author of this book, The End of Average, if you want to hire great people, you have to forget about grades and degrees. Instead, look for “human beings who do things for reasons other than getting an A or a promotion.
The End of Average Quotes
“The hardest part of learning something new is not embracing new ideas, but letting go of old ones.” -Todd Rose
“From the cradle to the grave, you are measured against the ever-present yardstick of the average, judged according to how closely you approximate it or how far you can exceed it.” –Todd Rose
The End of Average Review
The End of Average is the book everyone should read. It will tell you what makes you different from everyone around you, what makes you unique, and how to find your skills. In a nutshell, this book has everything you need to know to make yourself better.
To whom I would recommend The End of Average Summary?
- Anyone who thinks the big company will only look at the grades to hire him.
- Any marketer who wants to win every battle of life.
- Anyone who sees people based on his meaning of averageness.
