I assume I'm below average -- stay hungry. Stay foolish.

96% of cancer patients in a hospital claim to be in better health than the average cancer patient.


93% of motorists consider themselves to be safer-than-average drivers.


90% students see themselves as more intelligent than the average student.


94% of college professors said they are better-than-average teachers.

Ironically, 92% said they are less biased than average, too.

The psychology term for this is illusory superiority.

To me, this was like finding out I'm a Cylon, or this is the matrix. Hard to accept facts.

At first, like almost everybody, I thought, "Yes, but I really am abve average !" Then I realized I was doing it again.

So I decided to gamble on the opposite:

I now just assume I'm below average.

It serves me well.

I listen more. I ask a lot of questions.

I 've stopped thinking others are stupid. I assume most people are smarter than me.

To assume you're below average is to admit you're a beginner. it puts you in student mind. it keeps your focus on present practice and future possibilities, and away from any past accomplishments.

Most people are so worried about looking good that they never do anything great.

Most people are so worried about doing something great that they never do anything at all.

You destroy that paralysis when you think of yourself as such a beginner that just doing anything is an accomplishment.

 

 

Literal translation is"Stay hungry, stay stupid"
. That is to say, Steve Jobs warned young people that they will always have a strong desire for knowledge and an open-minded attitude.

 

I thought this sentence was just an inspirational motto. I saw an article today.
,
To realize that it is actually a countermeasure to correct human psychological defects.

Psychology research findings:

* 96% of cancer patients think they are healthier than other cancer patients.

* 93% of drivers think they are more secure than normal drivers.

* 90% of students think their intelligence is above average.

* 94% of professors think that their teaching level is higher than the average level of the school.

* 92% of visitors think they are more equitable than the average person.

 

Such overestimates of oneself are common. Psychology has a special term called"Illusory superiority"
(Illusory
Superiority ).

For this reason, Steve Jobs will say "stay
Foolish ", because most people do not realize this. They don't think they are foolish, but smart ). A typical manifestation is that many people are eager to let others know themselves.
Your opinion, even if the other party does not ask you at all.

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Now let's change. What if you assume that you are dumb and know less than others?

You will find that this will not cause any harm to you, but has many advantages.

Why?

Because you will listen more and ask more questions.

You admit that you are a newbie, which allows you to place yourself in the position of a student. It allows you to focus more on the current situation and future changes, rather than on past achievements.

Most people are too concerned about their own images and find it a shame to reveal their ignorance. Therefore, they prefer to pretend to understand and do not want to ask questions. They want others to see how beautiful they are,
I refuse to accept the ugly results, so nothing can be done in the end.

Only when you acknowledge your backwardness can you break this self paralysis. Because whatever result you make represents your progress.

Let's listen to Steve Jobs's suggestions. In our hearts, instead of believing that we are smart people, we should believe that we are stupid people and bravely expose our ignorance.