Answer these:
Are you more or less honest than the average person?
Do you have a better or worse sense of humour?
Are you kinder than the average person?
Are you a better or worse driver than the average person?
Do you care about your family and friends more or less than the average person?
Do you have more or less emotional intelligence than most?
Looks like you’re well above average!
And so will be the vast majority of the ten thousand people who read this newsletter.
Which makes you think.
Either the readers of this missive are genuinely extraordinary and above average. Unlikely.
Many suffer from ‘illusory superiority’, the cognitive bias where individuals overestimate their qualities and abilities relative to others. More likely.
Which is fine. Especially if used positively.
A bit of self-belief can go a long way. But it’s often needed in areas where we score ourselves below average. ‘Illusory inferiority’.
Who wouldn’t want more confidence? Better appearance, time management, ability to present, self-esteem!
The list goes on.
It’s a classic Flip It. Use your ‘illusory superiority’ thinking (maybe you are a stellar driver) and apply it to your ‘illusory inferiority’.
Illusory is the key. If you think it, you can be it.
And you’re definitely above average at that.
I’d love to know your thoughts on this message and examples of where you have challenged your illusory inferiority.
I’ll send a copy of my Sunday Times No.1 best-selling book ‘Flip It, How to get the best out of everything [https://amzn.to/49qmYYE],’ to our favourite.
Michael
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