Be Kind to Overachievers

Are you a determined, ambitious, passionate, driven, and energetic person? Would you be willing to work insane hours just to perfect an assignment? Do you expect nothing but the best? If these questions sound like you, then you may identify yourself as an overachiever. All you want is to be the best at what you do and nothing can get in your way. If this doesn't sound like you, then you may know of someone like this. There is also a possibility that you are rolling your eyes right now.

The non-overachiever may see the overachiever as stubborn, stern, and a pain in (insert your word(s) of choice here). Each time you think about this person, you want to throw bricks at the person, wish the person would stop trying so hard. It could be frustrating to work with this type of person because s/he may not always communicate expectations. Perhaps the expectations of this person are unrealistic for many people to achieve.

If you're an overachiever, I am about to give a positive voice to you. There are things you want to tell the world, but won't because people may simply not understand. As a fellow overachiever, I will be the voice for all overachievers. If I could tell non-overachievers what it's like to be an overachiever, it would look something like this:

-They are extremely driven. Why is the overachiever driven? I cannot speak for everyone, but I know that my drive is rooted in a few key life experiences. I am driven because I don't want to be average. I know I am above average. To me, average is not a choice. I am aware of my capabilities. If I don't perform at the level I know I can, then I am disappointing myself. I would be going against who I am.

-They don't want to settle. A few years ago, someone told me that I am "too competitive" and I should "not take my studies so seriously." Really? Why would someone tell me this? As an overachiever, comments like this drive me to work harder. These type of people are jealous of those who take the time to work hard and actually succeed.

-They know what they want. How difficult is it to achieve a goal when you don't know what the goal is? It's pretty difficult. Any overachiever I've met has a detailed plan of action that maps out their goals and objectives. They know the specific steps to take in order to accomplish tasks.

I understand that this is not a comprehensive list. However, I wanted you to begin to think about overachievers from a different perspective. They are not bad people who think poorly of others. They are motivated, goal-oriented individuals. Sometimes, they are misunderstood, which causes frustration and confusion. Next time you encounter an overachiever, instead of casting judgment, get to know the person. Who knows? The person may pleasantly surprise you.