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The link between personality and success (2021)

economist.com

41–50 of 58 posts

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#41
post #32

If we put together every study and opinion piece on what makes success and combined them into one genetically modified ideal human it would be like watching a twitching, drooling maniac trying to do everything all at once. I don't think there is success formula for an individual - just that if the termites nest of humanity throws enough bodies at the wall, one will bounce through. It's not purely luck. But I think th…

"But I think the only predictor of success, is to be in the game." I don't think this is true. In my experience, the most successful people are overwhelmingly good at social skills. Without those you won't be a manager, won't hit the C-suite, won't make the big bucks (with a few exceptions, but even the best engineers have to have the social/comms skills to work in a team or lead a project).

Socialization is absolutely the same?

Do, exactly, what Roosevelt said.

Give 100% of your attention to pulling your socks up.

Most introverts I meet are merely frozen with terror.

They're paralyzed by fear of their weakness.

Most highly successful people, are highly successful because they've worked bloody hard at it. Cocktail parties are a nightmare, sadly it's like going to the gym.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#42
post #22

One of the most mind blowing thing I learnt recently is that there is not introvert, extrovert and these kind of traits present within a person. They are equivalent to the typing we use in Computer Science/Mathematics defined by psychologist to study behaviors. As certain objects can fall under multiple type, each individual do not have a type but exhibit certain behavior of so defined type. As a result, it allows ps…

I share your opinion. I know few salespeople that are calm and introvert during our private gatherings and actively talk non stop while selling. Like two personalities in one body.

People can be different in different roles. I chatted to a famous comedian who just did a gig. Very outgoing on stage. Very calm / private in person.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is attributing success to a single individual. Tesla and Amazon have thousands of employees but people only remember Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Yes. Plus the capital structure massively over emphasises this. I am definitely not for throwing out the industrial revolution baby with the Victorian capital structure bath water, but looking at the robber barons that crop up with each generation I wonder if there is a different way of allocating capital, decentralised decision making that can more properly / equally reward effort and contribution. Giving almost all…

The issue is that, to some extent, it really is on the leader/icon's shoulders.

Jeff and Elon might not do much now.

But, it was their work at the start to kick things off. That was a difference maker.

Most of the outright evil in the world isn't committed by well known public figures.

It happens in the dark, via anonymous socialites.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#44
post #26

If we put together every study and opinion piece on what makes success and combined them into one genetically modified ideal human it would be like watching a twitching, drooling maniac trying to do everything all at once. I don't think there is success formula for an individual - just that if the termites nest of humanity throws enough bodies at the wall, one will bounce through. It's not purely luck. But I think th…

Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, according to the legend, would skip computer science classes to later ace the tests. So, by all accounts, they are brilliant - and driven, but if you look at their background, they are also the people who won the birth lottery. Bill Gates was an impossible child who was shoved into an ultra-lux boarding school that happened to have a computer. Zuckerberg does not know the life outside…

It's still undeniable the common trait is drive.

Focus and drive is the ticket to even get into the ballpark.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#45

>[extrovert] children who grow up in more prosperous homes are less likely to face the kind of stressful events that undermine self-confidence. Is extrovert synonymous with confident or that strongly correlated? Why should an introvert not be confident in themselves and their abilities? >Extraversion [...] is the state of primarily obtaining gratification from outside oneself. >Introversion is the state of being pred…

With these devotions, I’d happily pick to be an introvert.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is attributing success to a single individual. Tesla and Amazon have thousands of employees but people only remember Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Reminds me of "A Worker Reads History" by Bertolt Brecht: ------------------------------------------------------ "Who built the seven gates of Thebes? The books are filled with names of kings. Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone? And Babylon, so many times destroyed. Who built the city up each time? In which of Lima's houses, That city glittering with gold, lived those who built it? In the evening…

No post body was provided.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only thing that really works is being at the right place, at the right time, knowing the right people… and/or sheer luck.

Being tall and having hair also helps quite a bit. I've never known a manager or executive who wasn't tall and with a full head of hair.

Totally true for dudes. I’ve noticed that women in similar roles are often noticeably shorter than average.

It’s funny that the exceptions I can think of really stand out. One sales exec team I worked with consisted of short bald guys with similar names. It stands out a decade later! Even then, their boss was a Ivy League bro with a beard and good hair.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#48
post #38

I never read these 'how to be successful' articles or studies, whenever i do i always have the same story pop into my head and they always line up with it to a large extent; Imagine some people on some open landscape, blindfolded and all following the same rules; Pick a direction, step forward, if higher stay and repeat, if lower step back and try again. After a time most people will be stuck on small hills, a very s…

I don't think this is quite fair. Certainly there's a great deal that comes down to the hand you're dealt, but over the course of your life you can move a great distance by your own effort, own decisions, and own attitude.

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#49

If we put together every study and opinion piece on what makes success and combined them into one genetically modified ideal human it would be like watching a twitching, drooling maniac trying to do everything all at once. I don't think there is success formula for an individual - just that if the termites nest of humanity throws enough bodies at the wall, one will bounce through. It's not purely luck. But I think th…

-- comment reminds me of Roosevelt: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but w…

“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” — Winston S. Churchill

"I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It's because of them I'm doing it myself."

― Albert Einstein

From: https://moviewise.substack.com/p/there-is-no-bad-news-there-...

Re: The link between personality and success (2021)

#50
post #38

I never read these 'how to be successful' articles or studies, whenever i do i always have the same story pop into my head and they always line up with it to a large extent; Imagine some people on some open landscape, blindfolded and all following the same rules; Pick a direction, step forward, if higher stay and repeat, if lower step back and try again. After a time most people will be stuck on small hills, a very s…

I don't think this is quite fair. Certainly there's a great deal that comes down to the hand you're dealt, but over the course of your life you can move a great distance by your own effort, own decisions, and own attitude.

..just step forward, and if your in a higher place..

I know you think you are saying something different but to me you just sound like a blind guy on a mountain.

I'm not trying to convince people to give up, just don't kill yourself because you are not on top of a mountain, it had very little to do with you.

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