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Average Sucks: Why You don’t get what you want (And what to do about it) ǀ Small Motivational Tools for Big Improvements in Life
A jack of all trades is a master of none, they say.
But do you know, often it is better than a master of one!
If you have been feeling stuck in your life, realizing that things are not moving at the pace you want them to – you need to know that AVERAGE SUCKS.
There’s a higher level of success you can reach, and there’s a way to achieve it!
To change the so-called impossible to something “achievable”.
The tried and tested tips will train you to rise above the average slowly and gradually, bringing you to the pinnacle of success.
But most importantly, it will beat the one force that’s pulling you away from all your achievement – the negative thoughts that cloud your mind.
This bestselling book is the perfect guide to shape up your personality, and achieve all your dreams.
You’ve pushed, you’ve hustled, and yet you are unsatisfied with where you are.
It’s time to go beyond average!
But do you know, often it is better than a master of one!
If you have been feeling stuck in your life, realizing that things are not moving at the pace you want them to – you need to know that AVERAGE SUCKS.
There’s a higher level of success you can reach, and there’s a way to achieve it!
To change the so-called impossible to something “achievable”.
The tried and tested tips will train you to rise above the average slowly and gradually, bringing you to the pinnacle of success.
But most importantly, it will beat the one force that’s pulling you away from all your achievement – the negative thoughts that cloud your mind.
This bestselling book is the perfect guide to shape up your personality, and achieve all your dreams.
You’ve pushed, you’ve hustled, and yet you are unsatisfied with where you are.
It’s time to go beyond average!
- GenresSelf Help
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2023
81 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 2, 2025
Michael Bernoff’s Average Sucks is a fast-paced, no-fluff motivational guide that challenges your self-imposed limits. It urges readers to confront their “average”—the comfort zone that holds them back and provides practical tools to break through it. Bernoff’s writing is conversational, energetic, and full of actionable ideas.
The book shines when it pushes you to reflect on why you're stuck despite good intentions. It’s not about achieving perfection; it's about stretching just beyond your current “default mode.” The tools aren’t revolutionary, but Bernoff’s way of reframing your inner resistance makes them feel accessible and urgent.
It’s a book for doers; best consumed with a pen in hand and the intent to act.
Top 5 Actionable Takeaways & Real-World Applications
1. You are programmed to be average, by default.
Apply it: Take stock of your current habits and outcomes. Ask: What is my default behavior when I’m stressed, tired, or distracted? Then rewire one small daily action, like initiating difficult conversations or waking 30 minutes earlier, to move beyond that default.
2. Change your “average identity” before changing goals.
Apply it: Instead of setting a new goal (“I want to lose 10 kg”), build a new identity (“I’m someone who doesn’t skip workouts”). Affirm and behave in ways that reflect your upgraded self-image.
3. Language drives reality. Speak in commitments, not wishes.
Apply it: Replace “I’ll try to…” with “I commit to…” in both personal and professional life. It adds urgency and accountability. Try this in team meetings, watch how goals suddenly sound more real.
4. Leverage discomfort. Pain is the trigger to transformation.
Apply it: The next time something makes you uncomfortable (like public speaking or making a tough call), treat it as a cue to grow, not retreat. Set a “discomfort target” for the week, one uncomfortable action per day.
5. Communication with self is the starting point of all success.
Apply it: Start every morning with 5 minutes of intentional self-talk. Use Bernoff’s suggestion of “internal commands” to reset your energy and purpose. “Today, I will act like the person I want to become.”
Memorable Quotes & Insights
“Average is your silent agreement with mediocrity.”
Context: Early in the book, Bernoff sets the stage for his thesis—your current results are simply your “agreement” with what's acceptable to you.
Significance: This quote punches you in the gut. It calls out the comfort in underachieving, not due to lack of ability, but due to unchallenged standards.
Lesson: If you want change, don’t fight for success—renegotiate your agreements with mediocrity.
“You don’t have what you want because you’ve never truly decided.”
Context: Bernoff emphasizes the difference between wishing and deciding. A decision, he argues, involves full commitment and aligned action.
Significance: It reframes indecision as a major barrier—not lack of resources, time, or talent.
Lesson: Clarity is power. Decide what you want without hedging, and you’ll find new paths opening up.
“Your average is screaming louder than your ambition.”
Context: Bernoff explains how internal habits and old beliefs sabotage new goals.
Significance: It's a wake-up call—highlighting how inner resistance often drowns out desire.
Lesson: Align your daily behaviors with your ambitions or you’ll default back to your average self.
Average Sucks is motivational with muscle. While seasoned readers of personal development may find some familiar ground, Bernoff’s fresh metaphors and sharp delivery give these ideas new legs. It’s especially useful for those feeling stuck in the “almost there” zone—who want real progress, not just motivation. Highly recommended for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone ready to finally decide that “average” is no longer acceptable.
The book shines when it pushes you to reflect on why you're stuck despite good intentions. It’s not about achieving perfection; it's about stretching just beyond your current “default mode.” The tools aren’t revolutionary, but Bernoff’s way of reframing your inner resistance makes them feel accessible and urgent.
It’s a book for doers; best consumed with a pen in hand and the intent to act.
Top 5 Actionable Takeaways & Real-World Applications
1. You are programmed to be average, by default.
Apply it: Take stock of your current habits and outcomes. Ask: What is my default behavior when I’m stressed, tired, or distracted? Then rewire one small daily action, like initiating difficult conversations or waking 30 minutes earlier, to move beyond that default.
2. Change your “average identity” before changing goals.
Apply it: Instead of setting a new goal (“I want to lose 10 kg”), build a new identity (“I’m someone who doesn’t skip workouts”). Affirm and behave in ways that reflect your upgraded self-image.
3. Language drives reality. Speak in commitments, not wishes.
Apply it: Replace “I’ll try to…” with “I commit to…” in both personal and professional life. It adds urgency and accountability. Try this in team meetings, watch how goals suddenly sound more real.
4. Leverage discomfort. Pain is the trigger to transformation.
Apply it: The next time something makes you uncomfortable (like public speaking or making a tough call), treat it as a cue to grow, not retreat. Set a “discomfort target” for the week, one uncomfortable action per day.
5. Communication with self is the starting point of all success.
Apply it: Start every morning with 5 minutes of intentional self-talk. Use Bernoff’s suggestion of “internal commands” to reset your energy and purpose. “Today, I will act like the person I want to become.”
Memorable Quotes & Insights
“Average is your silent agreement with mediocrity.”
Context: Early in the book, Bernoff sets the stage for his thesis—your current results are simply your “agreement” with what's acceptable to you.
Significance: This quote punches you in the gut. It calls out the comfort in underachieving, not due to lack of ability, but due to unchallenged standards.
Lesson: If you want change, don’t fight for success—renegotiate your agreements with mediocrity.
“You don’t have what you want because you’ve never truly decided.”
Context: Bernoff emphasizes the difference between wishing and deciding. A decision, he argues, involves full commitment and aligned action.
Significance: It reframes indecision as a major barrier—not lack of resources, time, or talent.
Lesson: Clarity is power. Decide what you want without hedging, and you’ll find new paths opening up.
“Your average is screaming louder than your ambition.”
Context: Bernoff explains how internal habits and old beliefs sabotage new goals.
Significance: It's a wake-up call—highlighting how inner resistance often drowns out desire.
Lesson: Align your daily behaviors with your ambitions or you’ll default back to your average self.
Average Sucks is motivational with muscle. While seasoned readers of personal development may find some familiar ground, Bernoff’s fresh metaphors and sharp delivery give these ideas new legs. It’s especially useful for those feeling stuck in the “almost there” zone—who want real progress, not just motivation. Highly recommended for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone ready to finally decide that “average” is no longer acceptable.
May 31, 2024
A journey to set my new average
This book is simple easy to read and understand .The author has given a few exercises that are really supportive to assess where you are and where you want to be . Had an amazing experience thanks a lot Michael .
This book is simple easy to read and understand .The author has given a few exercises that are really supportive to assess where you are and where you want to be . Had an amazing experience thanks a lot Michael .
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews