The Courage to Be Average: Why Comparing Your TOEIC Score Will Make You Miserable
You check your friend’s TOEIC score.
They got 850. You’re still at 680.
Suddenly, your own score feels small. Weak. Not enough.
So you study harder, trying to catch up.
But instead of feeling motivated, you feel tired. Frustrated. Stuck.
This is called Score Stagnation — and comparing yourself to others is the fastest way to get there.
The Problem with Competing Against Everyone
The book The Courage to Be Disliked has a powerful idea:
“The Courage to Be Ordinary.”
It means this:
You don’t need to beat anyone.
You don’t need to be “the best.”
You just need to be you, moving at your own pace.
But when you start comparing scores with friends, coworkers, or random strangers online,
you create a race that never ends.
No matter how high you score, someone will always be higher.
That cycle will exhaust you.
MTC Truth: Your Only Rival is Your Last Score
At My TOEIC Coach (MTC), we say this clearly:
Stop comparing sideways. Start comparing forward.
Your goal isn’t to “win” against your classmates.
Your goal is to improve on your last performance.
If last month you were 650, aim for 660.
That’s it.
Progress is a quiet, personal game.
And it’s the only game where you will always win — if you keep going.
The “1% Better” Habit — How to Break Score Stagnation
Here’s a simple MTC drill to stop the comparison loop and focus on real progress.
✅ After every practice session, write down one small improvement.
Example:
“Today, I answered Part 2 questions faster.”
“I noticed more signal words in Part 7.”
“I reviewed yesterday’s mistakes.”
✅ Forget the score. Track the habits.
The score will follow.
This habit turns your attention away from others and back to where it belongs — on you.
Why This Works
It builds a success loop. Every small win counts, keeping you motivated.
It protects your energy. You stop wasting time on other people’s numbers.
It gives you control. You always decide your next move.
You Don’t Need to Be “Better Than Them.”
You Just Need to Be “Better Than Yesterday.”
The courage to accept being “average” isn’t weakness.
It’s freedom.
When you stop competing sideways, you’ll notice something powerful:
You’ll start moving forward, quietly, but surely.
That’s real success.
That’s MTC style.
