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I assume I'm below average

sivers.org

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Re: I assume I'm below average

#31

Post by zackattack »

wheels wrote: post #18
sivers wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See the top of http://sivers.org/book/ArtOfLearning The fixed theory of intelligence versus the growth/incremental. You're right: no use to be an Eeyore and assume you're doomed. But if you're dedicated to learning, then assuming you're currently below average keeps you learning harder than if you assume you're most of the way there.

The approach I find myself taking is to keep moving the goal posts by putting myself in groups where I genuinely am below average, or at a minimum where there are prominent examples around me of people much better than me at the thing I'm trying to do. There's also something about approaching one's limits that helps distill genuine personal weaknesses and learn to either live with or work around them.

Excellent comment. I also try to put myself in groups where I genuinely am below average, and I think it accelerates my learning curve. But it's also good to be Top Dog from time to time; the teacher often can learn more than the student.

Re: I assume I'm below average

#32

Post by georgieporgie »

It seems to me that the benefit that the author describes comes from listening and seeking to learn, rather than by viewing oneself as inferior. I have a particularly hard time believing that you can sustain a successful career if you're not able to sell yourself, something you can't do effectively with a negative self image.

Re: I assume I'm below average

#33

Post by [deleted] »

wheels wrote: post #6

I doubt Derek really believes this. At least for me it would be paralyzing to think that I was below average at everything . I assume what he really means is, "below average in x , but I make up for that with y ." I think it'd be hard to have done as well as Derek if you honestly managed to convince yourself that you were below average intelligence, below average skill in your profession, below average ability to mot…

[deleted]

Re: I assume I'm below average

#34

Post by r3570r3 »

"Most people are so worried about looking good that they never do anything great.

Most people are so worried about doing something great that they never do anything at all."

That was wow! Though, thinking you are below average outs constraints in some people making them believe that certain bigger things are "not for me". That can be devastating.

Re: I assume I'm below average

#35

Post by billswift »

I don't really pay much attention to the average, or to what other people "know". I mostly compare what I know to what I don't know, or more accurately - What I can do to what I can't but want to do. That is a sure way to keep yourself fairly humble - no matter how smart I am, there is never time to learn to do all the things I want to do.

Re: I assume I'm below average

#36

Post by jeffffff »

wheels wrote: post #18
sivers wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See the top of http://sivers.org/book/ArtOfLearning The fixed theory of intelligence versus the growth/incremental. You're right: no use to be an Eeyore and assume you're doomed. But if you're dedicated to learning, then assuming you're currently below average keeps you learning harder than if you assume you're most of the way there.

The approach I find myself taking is to keep moving the goal posts by putting myself in groups where I genuinely am below average, or at a minimum where there are prominent examples around me of people much better than me at the thing I'm trying to do. There's also something about approaching one's limits that helps distill genuine personal weaknesses and learn to either live with or work around them.

agreed, deluding yourself into believing that you're below average is about as useful as deluding yourself into believing that you're above average. considering yourself below average at everything is indicative of low self esteem which is really bad for your mental health. a much better approach is to take things you want to be better at, subdivide them into skills that you can actually improve, and then improve those skills. really average has nothing to do with it, as average is usually pretty bad. the average programmer, where a programmer is defined as anyone who has ever written a computer program, is not cut out to be a professional programmer. it is way more important to know your strengths and weaknesses in terms of meeting your goals so you can improve your weaknesses rather than worrying about being average.

Re: I assume I'm below average

#38

Post by micrypt »

chasingsparks wrote: post #8
mahipal wrote: post #2

This article reminded me of this old gem from PG's "Great Hackers": "I've found that people who are great at something are not so much convinced of their own greatness as mystified at why everyone else seems so incompetent."

Tangentially related is one of my favorite Bertrand Russell quotes: The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.

Also in the same vein: "The best lack all conviction, while the worst, Are full of passionate intensity." - William Butler Yeats

Re: I assume I'm below average

#39

Post by robryan »

I like to think of myself as above average in my areas on strong interest. That being said though I love to meet people that are better than me, allows me to learn a lot.

I hate working with people and knowing that there is much point asking them a question because they will go through the same basic stuff I have already tried. Much prefer to be surrounded by really smart people and feel like a beginner than be the smartest person in the room and get some things done much more slowly.

Re: I assume I'm below average

#40

Post by lmaonade »

could we go one day on this site without a blog that contains the epiphany that being less egotistical results in better social skills?

not to mention the condescending, lecturing tone in the post makes me want to vomit

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