Note: Although this article stands on its own, to get the most out of it, read this one first: How My Personal Development Began
Had I believed and followed the statistics, averages, and norms for a boy who was incarcerated for an extended period at age 15, I would not have come close to achieving any of the things I did.
Doctors use these measurements to predict medical outcomes. Teachers and coaches rely on them for grading and categorizing. Parents lean on them for guidance. Even friends refer to them when offering advice. Psychiatrists and psychologists (article) depend on them nearly 100% in making their “so-called” diagnoses based on the continually growing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Pharmaceutical companies that influence the content and expansion of the DSM benefit greatly from it, earning billions of dollars in profits whether their medications work or not.
No person who has broken a record, overcome a serious health problem, or achieved anything extraordinary relies on, looks at, or even considers statistics, averages, and norms. Ever!
There is a long list of well-known men and women who would have never achieved great success had they paid attention to statistics, averages, and norms. Here are a few.
Roger Bannister, who broke the four-minute mile, would have never done it had he relied on or believed in the statistics, averages, and norms that said it was impossible.
Had Richard Branson
Had Dr. Joe Dispenza followed statistics, averages, and norms after a tragic accident that left him with a high probability of being paralyzed or disabled, he would have never fully recovered. He describes his amazing story in his book “You Are the Placebo
Had Dr. Michael Greger’s grandmother believed in the statistics, averages, and norms presented by her doctor in his diagnosis of her terminal heart disease, she would have never fully recovered and thrived for many more years in excellent health. Nor would she have her grandson become a doctor and write his incredible book, which includes her story, “How Not To Die.” My review.
Forget, ignore, and beat statistics, averages, and norms, no matter your situation or needs. It’s fun, exciting, and incredibly rewarding.