How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
adaobi.substack.com
How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
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Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#2Dense, practical advice - well worth bookmarking.
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#3“Most people who are talented or smart are scared of doing things”
I have noticed this a lot in my career, I think it’s because these people self identify as smart/talented and every time you attempt some task, there is the possibility of failure - and for the “smart” person, failing at a task takes a stab at the heart of their identity. Self cushioning in a cloud of rationales “well, I can’t do X but at least I’m smart” means that if “being smart” is ever questioned, the possibility of them failing terrifies them.
This causes a paralysis.
Its total nonsense of course - the path to any success is littered with failures - failures are prerequisites of success, and are not optional.
I was an A student in school but I wasn’t naturally an A, I had to work for it, and I watched myself pass all of the “natural As” who snickered at me, told me my ideas were impossible, and then tried to join in when I showed them they weren’t. This went on throughout my career and is even happening now, there are people MUCH smarter than me at work, but through sheer willpower, grit and never giving up I have already achieved what they were telling me was impossible a year ago. This includes people like heads of departments at top tier universities - I was told my one that my idea on catalysis prediction was crazy and wouldn’t work - this man was the head of a certain department at an A-Tier US university, working in catalysis for 20 years, 6 months later, I have achieved it. Just keep working, asking questions, and adjusting course every day. If you’re gritty enough you can do it.
I often wonder if this kind of “identity bounding” as well as “fear permutations” are the downward pressures on intellect in the Darwinian sense
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#4“Most people who are talented or smart are scared of doing things” I have noticed this a lot in my career, I think it’s because these people self identify as smart/talented and every time you attempt some task, there is the possibility of failure - and for the “smart” person, failing at a task takes a stab at the heart of their identity. Self cushioning in a cloud of rationales “well, I can’t do X but at least I’m sm…
Can you share what you achieved? Your prose makes a lot of sense. I’m curious if it’s from experience or just sounds good.
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#5I think most of the tips outlined in this article make sense for anyone wanting to succeed at something regardless of their talents or intellect.
I think the working hard mentality should be approached with gumption and attention to detail as this can lead to high quality results.
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#6Summary of the text: "How to herd a heard of nerds?"
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#7This is good advice, but I think it is for people who think they are not smart, but are actually just inexperienced. I feel like someone who was actually not smart would have trouble executing on these steps
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#8“Most people who are talented or smart are scared of doing things” I have noticed this a lot in my career, I think it’s because these people self identify as smart/talented and every time you attempt some task, there is the possibility of failure - and for the “smart” person, failing at a task takes a stab at the heart of their identity. Self cushioning in a cloud of rationales “well, I can’t do X but at least I’m sm…
I think the key difference is about adjusting course. The smart people make better adjustments.
But you can make up for it by making more adjustments than they do.
I've been lucky in that I've always loved experimenting, tinkering. The solution eventually presents itself.
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#9[dead]
Re: How to do things if you're not that smart and don't have any talent
#10“Most people who are talented or smart are scared of doing things” I have noticed this a lot in my career, I think it’s because these people self identify as smart/talented and every time you attempt some task, there is the possibility of failure - and for the “smart” person, failing at a task takes a stab at the heart of their identity. Self cushioning in a cloud of rationales “well, I can’t do X but at least I’m sm…
As one of those 'naturally smart' types, part of the trouble there for me is that everything is easy right up until it isn't. I was well into college before I ever had to actually study or prepare or do second drafts on anything at all to succeed, and for obvious reasons I sucked at it and crashed and burned completely with several subjects before I got any kind of grip on things.