The Pedestal Problem: Why No Human Deserves Perfect Status

The Growth Insight 🌱

The Pedestal Problem: Why No Human Deserves Perfect Status

Ever caught yourself thinking someone was absolutely perfect, only to be crushed when they showed their humanity?

We do this all the time. We elevate certain people—celebrities, bosses, partners, even historical figures—placing them on pedestals so high they can only disappoint us when they inevitably fall.

Take Steve Jobs. Brilliant innovator, visionary, changed technology forever. Yet when diagnosed with a treatable form of pancreatic cancer, this same genius delayed conventional medical treatment for nine months while pursuing carrot juice diets and acupuncture—a decision many doctors believe cost him his life.

This isn't about mocking Jobs. It's about recognizing that even extraordinary humans remain fundamentally human. When we put people on pedestals, two harmful things happen:

First, we set ourselves up for disappointment. The person we've idealized can never live up to our impossible standards. The higher the pedestal, the harder the fall—both for them and for our perception.

Second, we create an unhealthy power dynamic. We give away too much of our own judgment, becoming vulnerable to manipulation or heartbreak when reality doesn't match our fantasy.

This happens everywhere. The perfect romantic partner who turns out to be controlling. The flawless boss who takes credit for your work. The spiritual leader who preaches virtue while behaving badly behind closed doors.

The alternative isn't cynicism. It's something healthier: seeing people as whole beings with both strengths and weaknesses.

The most successful relationships—personal or professional—are built on this authentic understanding. When we accept someone's full humanity, we can appreciate their brilliance without being devastated by their flaws.

This applies to how we see ourselves too. Perfect people don't exist. You're allowed to be extraordinary in some ways and still make mistakes in others.

Next time you feel the urge to elevate someone to godlike status, remember Jobs and his carrot juice. Remember that greatness and fallibility coexist in the same person.

The most liberating rule for relationships might just be this: Love and respect people, learn from them, be inspired by them—but keep them off that pedestal.