Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#1

Post by SworDsy » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 1:00 AM UTC

Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)
jamiebegin.com

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#2

Post by DiabloD3 » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 1:59 AM UTC

As someone with a high IQ, I can't help but agree with this in its entirety. For those who thought this was too long, I can summarize it as thus: "Don't overthink things, and refine your brain power. An unrefined brain is a useless tool, no matter how smart you are."

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#3

Post by adamzerner » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:05 AM UTC

1. It would have been helpful to be more specific about what is meant by "intelligence". I get the sense that it is referring to knowledge and/or aptitude.

2. I think the message is, "Intelligence isn't enough. You also need perseverance to succeed." I don't know if the implication is if those two conditions are necessary, or that they're sufficient, but it sort of felt like it was saying that they're sufficient. The examples seem like they were making the point that, once you add perseverance on to the intelligence, you get success.

Anyway, success is obviously more complicated than "intelligence" + perseverance. I'm sure the author knows this, but the article seemed to oversimplify things, and didn't try to really break success into its components.

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#4

Post by korzun » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:09 AM UTC

Plenty of people are not 'intelligent' and have no motivation.

Dinner with 'vice president at one of the top 5 consulting companies in the world'.

That sounds like something out of:

"Intelligent?!?! Read TOP 10 things that you are doing wrong right now!"

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#5

Post by paulhauggis » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:13 AM UTC

I'm s glad to see an article like this on HN, as opposed to articles that attribute success to massive amounts of luck.

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#6

Post by NotVerySmart » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:15 AM UTC

To sound intentionally arrogant and possibly ignorant, this whole write-up is captain-obvious material.

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#7

Post by fizz_ed » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:16 AM UTC

This reminds me a bit of a steve yegge quote.

"Having a good memory is a serious impediment to understanding. It lets you cheat your way through life."

This also reminds me quite a bit of the famous conversation between Eric S. Raymond and Linus Torvalds about "the curse of the gifted."

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#8

Post by girvo » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:16 AM UTC

paulhauggis wrote: post #5

I'm s glad to see an article like this on HN, as opposed to articles that attribute success to massive amounts of luck.

As far as I've experienced, both are required.

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#9

Post by ammon » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:18 AM UTC

Choosing to fight a man with a knife who is trying to rob you is stupid and dangerous, regardless of your training. I'm not sure what this says about the thesis.

Re: Your high IQ might kill your startup (2010)

#10

Post by funkyy » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 2:18 AM UTC

I like how some people do this IQ tests and brag how smart they are. The intelligence do not come from how you solve a test, or what degree you got. The intelligence is art of using a brain in a smart way in my opinion. Your tool is your brain. You can put it in to the rest, you can let it do the job, or you can actually test drive it and push it as hard as you can.