Why was I afraid to wear my own clothing brand?

When I first started my brand, Average Athlete, I was pumped. The name, Average Athlete, made me laugh and was meant to celebrate athletes at all levels. Living in San Francisco, I was surrounded by entrepreneurship and had endless athletic adventures available to me in my own backyard. I dove into Average Athlete, creating shirts and hats that proudly displayed the name. When I wore them, I started to get stopped by people to ask about the brand. There’s something indescribably fulfilling about having someone ask where they can buy what you’ve created. 

But with the good came the not-so-good, and that's when I started to question myself.

My husband, my biggest supporter and walking billboard for Average Athlete, wore the brand alongside me. Together, we’d run through the city with the big block letters across our chests and foreheads. He’d get smiles, nods, and enthusiastic comments like, “Dude, that’s awesome!” Meanwhile, I’d get a very different reaction. “No, you’re not! You’re better than average!” one person said. Another man insisted that by wearing the Average Athlete shirt, I was “bringing myself down.” And perhaps the most shocking experience was when a woman, a complete stranger, yelled pretty aggressively at me on the street for wearing it. If you know anything about me, an Enneagram 9 (the peacemaker), getting yelled at by a stranger is a real gut punch.

It was a baffling experience. Why was me, a woman, wearing “Average Athlete” so triggering to people?

I started to feel embarrassed when I wore my Average Athlete gear in public…so for a while, I stopped.

The Connection to Motherhood

It wasn’t until I became a mother that I started to unpack my feelings around those experiences, and that’s when it all clicked. The feeling I had about wearing Average Athlete had striking similarities to the pressure I felt as a mother.

As women, we are constantly expected to be more than average. When it comes to motherhood, society and social media bombard us with contradictory expectations: Work. Don’t work. Breastfeed. Formula feed. Do it all, but somehow, also be present. Before motherhood, these pressures existed too—be beautiful, but not intimidating; be smart, but not too smart; be funny, but not quirky. And always, always, be above average.

There is a relentless pressure to be “above average” for women. There’s a standard of perfection to live up to, and when you can’t—or worse, when you’re okay with just being “average”—you’re criticized.

Women Are Badasses, But We’re Also Allowed to Be “Average”

Don’t get me wrong. Women are badasses. I’ve birthed and am raising two children, I’m running a business, and trying to juggle all that life throws at me. But here’s the thing: Why is “average” something I should feel ashamed of? What even is average? 

Average doesn’t mean lazy or unambitious (but don’t get me wrong, I love a good lazy day). Average just means showing up and doing the work without chasing perfection. I like to say that everyone has their own average. 

The moment I started to realize that I felt embarrassed to wear my Average Athlete shirt because society has told me that I need to be “above average”...I got mad! Mad at myself and mad at this pressure.

I now wear my Average Athlete gear proudly again, knowing it represents more than just my fun entrepreneurship journey. I see it as a movement that’s about celebrating the everyday athlete—the one who works hard, stays consistent, and does their best without chasing perfection or comparison to others. 

So, yes, I am an average athlete, and I’m freaking proud of that. Today, I wear my Average Athlete apparel confidently, like a badge of honor.