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Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

tuckermax.me

1–10 of 71 posts

Re: Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

#2
I find this particularly tingling because Tucker himself is a perfect example of doing things. He gets a lot of flak from people calling him a poor writer and lambasting him for writing about some of the "finer" topics in life. Yet, he is a New York Times bestselling author, and his detractors are not.

Re: Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

#3
The other day I saw a "looking for technical partner" ad in craigslist by someone who listed "I'm creative" as one of the assets they would be bringing to the partnership.

It made me think about the word "creative". I thought to myself, if I was considering teaming up with this person I would asked them:

"What have you created?"

Re: Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

#5
I like to ask people about what they do in their private life. What are their hobbies. Do they have a lot going on? People who keep themselves busy tend to have a strong motor and usually apply that to their work life as well. Similarly, people don't do much of anything outside of work can bring this habit into the workplace.

Re: Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

#6

The other day I saw a "looking for technical partner" ad in craigslist by someone who listed "I'm creative" as one of the assets they would be bringing to the partnership. It made me think about the word "creative". I thought to myself, if I was considering teaming up with this person I would asked them: "What have you created?"

Often, people confuse swirling ideas seeking form in their head for creativity.

Re: Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

#7
post #4

> Don't look for talent Isn't talent the ability to do things well? Or maybe I lack a nuanced definition of "talent". Or maybe the headline is trying to be sensational.

I think his point is even more basic, but perhaps more depressing: Finding people who are decent and competent can be hard enough, so you have to cover that minimum bar before you can talk about "talent".

Given his industry and as he cites in the post, he probably faces the problem of lots of people who claim to be "writers" more than the average HN user finds people who claim to be "programmers".

Re: Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

#9
post #8

I read this whole post before realizing it was written by that prick, Tucker Max. I wish I could unread it.

I do agree with your sentiments on Tucker Max, but I think the message is worthwhile no matter the messenger.

A lot of people need to have this idea hammered in over and over until it sticks. Ironically most of them probably don't read HN.

Re: Don't Look for Talent, Find People Who Do Things

#10
post #8

I read this whole post before realizing it was written by that prick, Tucker Max. I wish I could unread it.

What gave it away? Was it tuckermax.me domain before you got to the website, after it loaded, the sidebar bio, or the huge banner at the top?
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