If I were in the shoes of the business owner facing the decision between hiring Avery or Jaime, I would ultimately choose Jaime. While Avery’s position is exciting, the reality is that consistent day-to-day performance is what keeps a business going smoothly. Reliability, even without bursts of performance, can build trust with clients, support team collaboration, and allow for better planning. A below-average worker most days, even one who can occasionally shine, is a risk I would not want to take, especially if it is an essential role.
There are many jobs where someone like Avery would succeed and be a better fit. An example would be in a creative industry similar to advertising or product design, where occasional flashes of brilliance can help the company win big or set them apart from their competitors. Avery could be more valuable there. Those types of roles often blossom in breakthrough moments rather than everyday steady output. Having someone capable of producing “brilliant” work, even when inconsistent, could be worth the trade-off for them.
However, Jaime would be the clear choice for the roles that require dependability and routine. Things like customer service, accounting, or operations management are best for these attributes. In these jobs, companies rely on employees to meet official standards consistently. Mistakes or errors, even if rare flashes of brilliance follow, can cost time, money, or customer trust. Someone like Jaime, who can be counted on to deliver solid results every day, would be the best asset.
Ultimately, both Avery and Jaime provide unique strengths, but consistency often wins when the health and stability of a business are on the line.
2 replies on “Typical vs. Maximal Performance”
I totally agree with you. Consistency is so important for keeping things running smoothly, especially in essential roles. Jaime’s reliability would be a huge asset for any position where steady performance is key. Avery’s potential could be great for creative roles where those “big moments” matter, but the unpredictability of her work could be risky in more routine jobs. In the end, I think Jaime’s consistency would be the better choice for most business needs.
Yazeli- I agree with your position. I think Jamie would be best for a typical job. The other jobs I think of that Avery would be good for in the healthcare field would be emergency medicine- as they are required to perform in high stress situations (such as codes, or traumas).