Why Most People Stay Average – Chanakya’s Advice to Rise Above
Riya Kumari | Mar 17, 2025, 23:51 IST
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau, Timeslife )
So, here’s the thing—most people are painfully average. Not in a “we’re all unique in our own way” kind of average, but in a “spending 40 years in a job they hate, complaining about Mondays, and finding deep emotional connection in reality TV” kind of average. And you? You’re not about that life. But if that’s the case, why does it feel like no matter how hard you try, you’re still stuck in the same routine, drowning in the same predictable conversations, and getting advice from people who have no idea what they’re talking about? Enter Chanakya.
There’s a reason most people live predictable lives. Not because they lack potential, but because they follow a script they never question. They wake up, do what’s expected, complain about the monotony, and repeat—year after year. They want more but stay stuck, because breaking free requires something most people avoid: understanding how life actually works. Chanakya, the ancient Indian strategist, was a man who saw reality as it was—not as people wished it to be. He advised kings, built empires, and shaped history by understanding one thing most people ignore: the laws of power, human nature, and success are timeless. They don’t care about feelings. They don’t bend to wishful thinking. So, if you don’t want to live a life of mediocrity, you need to see things clearly. And that begins with unlearning the very things keeping you stuck.
1. Comfort Is a Trap, Not a Reward
Chanakya said, “A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first, and honest people are screwed first.” This doesn’t mean you should be deceitful. It means you should be smart. Most people think success is about working hard and following the rules. But the truth? Hard work alone doesn’t guarantee anything. People who blindly play by the rules often become pawns in someone else’s game.
Mediocre people crave comfort. They take the safe job, avoid risks, and follow what’s familiar. They call it being responsible. But really? It’s fear disguised as logic. Those who rise above mediocrity understand that comfort should be earned, not chosen by default. Growth demands discomfort. Success comes from stepping into uncertainty, making difficult decisions, and refusing to settle when the world pressures you to.
2. You’re Taking Advice from the Wrong People
Chanakya advised, “Before you start any work, ask yourself three questions: Why am I doing it? What might the results be? Will I be successful?” Most people stay average because they take advice from people who are not qualified to give it. A person who has never built wealth will tell you to "play it safe." Someone in a miserable marriage will tell you "love is about sacrifice." A friend who never takes risks will say you’re being "unrealistic."
Look at who you’re listening to. Are they where you want to be? Have they achieved what you seek? If not, why do their words hold so much weight? Wise people question everything. They think before they act. They filter advice through results, not opinions.
3. People Operate on Self-Interest—Understand This or Be Used
Chanakya warned, “There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interest. This is a bitter truth.” Most people believe relationships—whether personal or professional—are built on selfless goodwill. But in reality, people act based on their needs, desires, and interests. This isn’t a bad thing. It just means you need to stop being blind to how the world works.
Those who remain mediocre assume people will help them because they’re kind. But those who rise understand that everything is an exchange. Whether it’s time, value, influence, or loyalty—people give when they receive. So, be aware. Pay attention. Don’t assume everyone has good intentions. Look at patterns, not promises.
4. If You Wait for the “Right Time,” You’ll Never Move
Chanakya stated, “The world’s biggest power is the youth and the beauty of a woman.” Strip away the surface meaning, and what he’s really saying is this: Power is temporary. Momentum fades. If you don’t act while you can, you will miss your moment. Most people delay. They wait for “the right time.” They think one day, life will magically align, and then they’ll take action.
But reality doesn’t work that way. There is no perfect moment. There is only now. Those who succeed make decisions even when they’re uncertain. They act when others hesitate. They understand that waiting is just another form of fear. If you don’t move, life moves on without you.
5. Cut Off What No Longer Serves You—Without Guilt
Chanakya warned, “A person who is aware of future troubles and fights against them with his intelligence will always be happy. But the one who remains inactive, waiting for good times to come, perishes.” Mediocre people hold onto things—out of habit, nostalgia, or fear of change. They keep draining friendships, stay in dead-end jobs, and entertain conversations that lead nowhere. They hope things will get better on their own. But they won’t.
The truth is, if something is holding you back, it will not fix itself. It is your responsibility to let go. And this isn’t about being cold or heartless. It’s about survival. Success isn’t just about what you gain—it’s about what you remove. The unnecessary, the toxic, the things that dull your energy and waste your time. If you want to move forward, you must learn to let go.
The Choice Is Yours
Most people stay average because they don’t question the life they’re handed. They follow the patterns set before them. They choose comfort over growth, security over possibility, and wait for change instead of creating it. But here’s what Chanakya understood: Reality does not reward the passive. It rewards those who see the world as it is and act accordingly. If you don’t want to be like most people, stop thinking like them. Stop waiting. Stop assuming things will work out on their own. Start questioning. Start making deliberate choices. Because in the end, the difference between those who rise and those who remain stuck isn’t talent or luck. It’s awareness. It’s action. It’s having the courage to live by wisdom, not by habit. So—will you?
1. Comfort Is a Trap, Not a Reward
Growth
( Image credit : Pexels )
Chanakya said, “A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first, and honest people are screwed first.” This doesn’t mean you should be deceitful. It means you should be smart. Most people think success is about working hard and following the rules. But the truth? Hard work alone doesn’t guarantee anything. People who blindly play by the rules often become pawns in someone else’s game.
Mediocre people crave comfort. They take the safe job, avoid risks, and follow what’s familiar. They call it being responsible. But really? It’s fear disguised as logic. Those who rise above mediocrity understand that comfort should be earned, not chosen by default. Growth demands discomfort. Success comes from stepping into uncertainty, making difficult decisions, and refusing to settle when the world pressures you to.
2. You’re Taking Advice from the Wrong People
Conclusion
( Image credit : Pexels )
Chanakya advised, “Before you start any work, ask yourself three questions: Why am I doing it? What might the results be? Will I be successful?” Most people stay average because they take advice from people who are not qualified to give it. A person who has never built wealth will tell you to "play it safe." Someone in a miserable marriage will tell you "love is about sacrifice." A friend who never takes risks will say you’re being "unrealistic."
Look at who you’re listening to. Are they where you want to be? Have they achieved what you seek? If not, why do their words hold so much weight? Wise people question everything. They think before they act. They filter advice through results, not opinions.
3. People Operate on Self-Interest—Understand This or Be Used
Exchange
( Image credit : Pexels )
Chanakya warned, “There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interest. This is a bitter truth.” Most people believe relationships—whether personal or professional—are built on selfless goodwill. But in reality, people act based on their needs, desires, and interests. This isn’t a bad thing. It just means you need to stop being blind to how the world works.
Those who remain mediocre assume people will help them because they’re kind. But those who rise understand that everything is an exchange. Whether it’s time, value, influence, or loyalty—people give when they receive. So, be aware. Pay attention. Don’t assume everyone has good intentions. Look at patterns, not promises.
4. If You Wait for the “Right Time,” You’ll Never Move
Time
( Image credit : Pexels )
Chanakya stated, “The world’s biggest power is the youth and the beauty of a woman.” Strip away the surface meaning, and what he’s really saying is this: Power is temporary. Momentum fades. If you don’t act while you can, you will miss your moment. Most people delay. They wait for “the right time.” They think one day, life will magically align, and then they’ll take action.
But reality doesn’t work that way. There is no perfect moment. There is only now. Those who succeed make decisions even when they’re uncertain. They act when others hesitate. They understand that waiting is just another form of fear. If you don’t move, life moves on without you.
5. Cut Off What No Longer Serves You—Without Guilt
Let go
Chanakya warned, “A person who is aware of future troubles and fights against them with his intelligence will always be happy. But the one who remains inactive, waiting for good times to come, perishes.” Mediocre people hold onto things—out of habit, nostalgia, or fear of change. They keep draining friendships, stay in dead-end jobs, and entertain conversations that lead nowhere. They hope things will get better on their own. But they won’t.
The truth is, if something is holding you back, it will not fix itself. It is your responsibility to let go. And this isn’t about being cold or heartless. It’s about survival. Success isn’t just about what you gain—it’s about what you remove. The unnecessary, the toxic, the things that dull your energy and waste your time. If you want to move forward, you must learn to let go.