@fmf saidWhy are so many complete morons successful?
Sorry, forgive me for contemplating my navel and lamenting the pitiful circumstances of my life. Indulge me, please. Why do so many people with very high IQs amount to nothing?
Maybe it's connections. Morons like small talk, and small talk, however vacuous, greases the gears of the job market, establishes connections, and so on. "It's not what you know, but who you know."
Now, the high-IQ folks are disproportionately averse to small talk. Or so the received wisdom frames it. And though they may be brilliant in many things, it's often uninteresting to them to attempt to monetize their ideas or discoveries.
There. I've taken a stab at it.
@fmf saidI asked something like this a few months ago.
Sorry, forgive me for contemplating my navel and lamenting the pitiful circumstances of my life. Indulge me, please. Why do so many people with very high IQs amount to nothing?
A young lady I knew in school had perfect grades and was one of only 2 students out of 650 to ace her SAT test, scoring a perfect 1600, and she did it as a sophomore competing against senior students 2-3 years older than her. She could have been a doctor, lawyer, award winning mathematician etc. but her only priority was to get married and raise children. Today she is a twice divorced grandmother living in a single wide trailer in a mobile home park. Perhaps these people simply have different plans for their life-
I'm inclined to agree with Ghost of a Duke's quote from Edison: “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” It takes more than talent and IQ to amount to something.
A great piece of work on this subject is Angela Duckworth's book. Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance. 🙂
@soothfast saidYou make some valid points here. Also a ruthless ability to trample over folks helps.
Why are so many complete morons successful?
Maybe it's connections. Morons like small talk, and small talk, however vacuous, greases the gears of the job market, establishes connections, and so on. "It's not what you know, but who you know."
Now, the high-IQ folks are disproportionately averse to small talk. Or so the received wisdom frames it. And though they may ...[text shortened]... sting to them to attempt to monetize their ideas or discoveries.
There. I've taken a stab at it.
04 Apr 23
@mchill saidDifferent plans? Maybe. Different priorities, for sure.
I asked something like this a few months ago.
A young lady I knew in school had perfect grades and was one of only 2 students out of 650 to ace her SAT test, scoring a perfect 1600, and she did it as a sophomore competing against senior students 2-3 years older than her. She could have been a doctor, lawyer, award winning mathematician etc. but her only priority was to get ...[text shortened]... of work on this subject is Angela Duckworth's book. Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance. 🙂
Everyone has different ideas about what it means to "amount to something".
- Joined
- 09 Sep 18
- Moves
- 20590
04 Apr 23
@the-gravedigger saidA total lack of empathy Like Bojo & trump
You make some valid points here. Also a ruthless ability to trample over folks helps.
- Joined
- 09 Sep 18
- Moves
- 20590
04 Apr 23
@suzianne saidmy Mam was really proud of all her kids, we all had a better life style than my parents ever had, 3 of us opened our own companies all bought our own homes, now our kids are out performing us, both my kids have degrees and both teach.but we all lack that killer instinct that would take us up to the next level.
Different plans? Maybe. Different priorities, for sure.
Everyone has different ideas about what it means to "amount to something".
- Joined
- 14 Mar 04
- Moves
- 186286
04 Apr 23
@badradger saidSome folks aspire to “greatness”, some to “mediocrity”, some just don’t. 🤔
my Mam was really proud of all her kids, we all had a better life style than my parents ever had, 3 of us opened our own companies all bought our own homes, now our kids are out performing us, both my kids have degrees and both teach.but we all lack that killer instinct that would take us up to the next level.
- Joined
- 09 Sep 18
- Moves
- 20590
04 Apr 23
1 edit
@great-big-stees saidAnd some are great but others just smell like one.
Some folks aspire to “greatness”, some to “mediocrity”, some just don’t. 🤔
04 Apr 23
@mchill said - "I'm inclined to agree with Ghost of a Duke's quote from Edison: “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” It takes more than talent and IQ to amount to something."
----------------------------------------------
I read a funny (but true) story about this a long time ago. Yeah, on *paper* lol
Anyway, A doctor quit his practice and spent his life's savings developing a life-saving medical device.
The doctor soon went out of business, as he lacked marketing and advertising skills and ability to get investors.
Meanwhile, a man went into business selling pet rocks and quickly became a millionaire.
lol
06 Apr 23
@earl-of-trumps saidLife is funny like that Earl!
@mchill said - "I'm inclined to agree with Ghost of a Duke's quote from Edison: “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” It takes more than talent and IQ to amount to something."
----------------------------------------------
I read a funny (but true) story about this a long time ago. Yeah, on *paper* lol
Anyway, A doctor quit his practic ...[text shortened]... eanwhile, a man went into business selling pet rocks and quickly became a millionaire.
lol
My boss knew nothing about the job but had a management degree in business and became a millionaire.
-VR
06 Apr 23
@very-rusty saidOne prof in a local college would tell his students for assignment,
Life is funny like that Earl!
My boss knew nothing about the job but had a management degree in business and became a millionaire.
-VR
"your company sells 12 oz. cans of air. make a marketing scheme."