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Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

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Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#31

Post by lotsofpulp »

rasz wrote: post #19
kryptiskt wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One would think that being smart should be an asset when playing politics, though.

Politics require social skills, being smart is detrimental because it lets you see thru all the bullshit.

People who succeed at politics are able to do so because they can see through the bullshit, but also because they can pretend it’s not bullshit. Politics is war without the violence. You need you be able to signal to potential allies what you’re willing to give and take with plausible deniability.

Many smart, principled people aren’t able to sufficiently lie to themselves or feel comfortable using ambiguous terms and/or outright lying, and that hampers their ability to covertly send and receive signals to others, so others who are successful at politics would do well to stay away from them. You have to compromise in order to get things done, but it doesn’t behoove you to lay out all of your cards for everyone to see.

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#32

Post by loriverkutya »

Another post about success is only measured by position at work and money and "following your dreams", where usually the dream is get rich and/or famous.

According to my 10 years old me, I'm the most successful person in the world, because I wanted to learn to play the bagpipe (in my original country it was pretty impossible), now I'm moving to Scotland and learning to play the bagpipe.

Please don't buy this bullshit, that success is measured in job titles and whatever you can do at work. (Dont get me wrong, my job is important part of my life, I have a nice and IT fulfilling job, which buys my family food, a roof over our head because Scotland is pretty rainy.)

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#33

Post by collyw »

bdavisx wrote: post #17
collyw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you agree that working hard will generate more opportunities to be lucky?

I would agree that having wealthy parents generates a lot more opportunities to be lucky.

I'll take that as a yes.

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#34

Post by [deleted] »

michelpp wrote: post #4

> But as I grew older, I realized that’s not necessarily the case. A few people I know who are intelligent and have a strong work ethic have gone on to do notable things, while many others are doing fine. Unfortunately, there are some that drift along, unsure about what to do. Not all who wander are lost. This post is terrible advice, it's like a sermon from the Church of the Silicon Bubble. Smart but not successful?…

[deleted]

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#35

Post by abrichr »

jandrewrogers wrote: post #16

There is a more basic reason missed by the article: many smart, hardworking people don't know how to sell. Almost everything in life, regardless of what you work on, is selling and no one is born with this particular skill set. You learn it like any other. It was likely the single most valuable skill I (eventually) learned, as a "smart hardworking people" by nature.

How did you go about learning it?

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#36

Post by samlevine »

This is good advice, especially for folks who entered the workforce during the Great Recession.

You have to take risks and be uncomfortable to grow. But you also have to accept that your choices have opportunity costs and it takes time to make them come to fruition.

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#37

Post by tonyedgecombe »

harimau777 wrote: post #27
herio wrote: post #7

I always found the notion that we have to climb upwards and always make more money to be a bit weird. As long as I have enough to live comfortably, stash some away and not worry I'm good, I don't need more. As such, I don't really get involved in most of the things that this post is about nor do I particularly care to do so either. Work is what I do in order to sustain myself, it's not my life. The minute I walk out…

I think that the issue is that most people do not make enough money to live comfortably, stash some away, and not worry. For example, if someone wants to own a home in a major cosmopolitan city in the United States, then they must be extremely wealthy.

If you can't afford a home in "a major cosmopolitan city" then you probably shouldn't be there.

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#38

Post by mamon »

rasz wrote: post #19
kryptiskt wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One would think that being smart should be an asset when playing politics, though.

Politics require social skills, being smart is detrimental because it lets you see thru all the bullshit.

Smart, nerdy people tend to spend a lot of time alone with books/computers/hobbies, so they simply do not spend enough time with other people to properly develop their social skills.

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#39

Post by EliRivers »

collyw wrote: post #33
bdavisx wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would agree that having wealthy parents generates a lot more opportunities to be lucky.

I'll take that as a yes.

Indeed, we all interpret in favour of our preconceptions.

Re: Why smart hardworking people don't become successful (2018)

#40

Post by CarelessExpert »

bdavisx wrote: post #17
collyw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you agree that working hard will generate more opportunities to be lucky?

I would agree that having wealthy parents generates a lot more opportunities to be lucky.

Which is itself just another form of luck.
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