Who Are You Calling an Overachiever?

Who Are You Calling an Overachiever?

Have you ever been called an overachiever? Or, maybe you’ve called someone else that before, whether it was half-joking, half-serious, and not sure why it made you feel some kind of way.

Last week, I felt called to pause and peel back the word, Overachiever. We toss it around often, especially in the workplace or among family and friends, when someone’s pace or ambition starts to feel somewhat unrelatable. When we really look at it, though, what are we actually saying?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, to overachieve means to do better than expected or to achieve more than is standard or usual. That definition leads to an important question: Whose expectations are we talking about? Whose standards? Whose timeline?

These aren’t just harmless observations. Calling someone an overachiever can carry an edge of judgment. It implies that the person has stepped outside of a box that someone else feels comfortable in. That makes me ask, who is behind the person being called an overachiever?

We don’t usually label people who are behind us that way. We label those ahead of us; those moving faster, creating more, pursuing something deeply with a word that makes their fire feel like too much. Perhaps it is not too much. Perhaps they are simply walking in alignment with their purpose.

I’ve felt it myself. I’ve heard the whispers: “Slow down,” “You’re doing too much,” “Take a break.” I understand that those words sometimes come from a place of care and love. In other moments, they come from discomfort. That discomfort is often less about the person achieving and more about what they remind others of.

Many of us are carrying the weight of generations. We were raised to push harder, stay later, and be twice as good. We watched our parents juggle multiple jobs, rise early, stay up late, and still show up strong. We internalized that as normal. Excellence wasn’t optional. It was survival.

When I’m moving with intention, filling up my calendar, checking boxes, and reaching goals, I’m not trying to impress anyone. I am building a foundation. I am answering a call. I do get tired sometimes, but I am also aligned with something greater than comfort.

Here’s the truth: what looks like overachieving to someone else might simply be someone walking faithfully in their purpose or maybe those actions come with ease.

What we don’t see behind that “overachiever” label is the loss, the deadline, the divine timing, or the silent prayer behind the progress. We don’t see the practice, the failed attempts, or the preparation that finally brought them to this moment. What we see is motion. And motion can be intimidating when we are standing still.

Judgment doesn’t build bridges. Curiosity does.

Instead of asking, “Why are they doing so much?” try asking, “What am I holding back from?”
Instead of saying, “They need to slow down,” consider asking, “What are they racing toward, and what can I learn from that?”

Labeling people based on our own limitations is an outloud self-inflicting statement and says more about the person who says it.

Most of all, we need to talk about this.

When we open the door to deeper conversation, we don’t just learn more about others, we uncover more about ourselves.

That’s why I created Questions & Perspectives, a tool designed to spark meaningful dialogue, break the ice, and build connection without judgment. These conversation cards are perfect for the workplace, family gatherings, friend meetups, or even quiet moments of self-reflection. You can explore them at QandPcards.com.

So, tell me…

🗣 Have you ever been called an overachiever?
🪞 Or have you found yourself thinking that about someone else?

Let’s talk about it...in the comments, in your group chats, or even privately in your own reflections. How we see others is often a mirror of how we see ourselves.

If something in this message stirred you, pass it on. Share it with someone who needs a reminder that their drive isn’t a flaw, it’s a force for good.

Tune in to hear the full episode here.

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Until next time, Be Blessed.
Kim the SME