Sadly I see the point but also I ask this, what is a world where everyone is dumb but doesn't doubt themselves ? When a system rewards that and understands how powerful that can be we end up with the current landscape of extremist takes for the sake of rage bait, radical content and misinformed idols ?
It definitely shed light on one of the biggest problems most academic achievers experience, the pressure of always staying on top and the fear of making mistakes which will never take someone somewhere.
It doesnt mean that the desire has been implemented into you by society or biology that it's necessarily bad.
This could be another long form post in itself. Looking for what you like doing when no one knows about it, and things you would want to do even if you weren't paid.
I've always been attracted to books since a young age, and I'll never stop reading and learning (and writing) even if I had all the money in the world.
Really resonated with this article, especially as a woman from a minority background. This quote in particular hit: “Intelligence without execution is just entertainment. You’re consuming information to feel like you’re making progress while actually staying completely stuck.”
So true that often times I feel myself comparing myself to other, often more successful men in my field of work. It can be intimidating to not see yourself in the environment you want to be in. So then you just stay stuck.
Having a mind that constantly over analyses and over thinks everything, and weighs every decision on potential risk/failure truly paralyses a person. This spoke to my soul.
great read. the river analogy is great and i love the "honesty about your nature" bit.
i do think there is a bit of harm in associating "actually getting it" with intelligence though. it makes sense only when you assume that everyone is on a level playing field -- but some face more barriers in life than others.
there are very intelligent people out there who may want the right thing + are willing to fail, but lack the same access to resources because of racial and socioeconomic inequalities.
agreed that it shouldn’t be used as an excuse — as a poc it motivates me to succeed and lift others up. i understand where you’re coming from, but i feel that acknowledging handicaps matters especially because they will always exist in society.
are people who don’t succeed inherently unintelligent because they don’t want it enough? or are there other issues within our system?
I know they will always exist, but they are out of our control. Where you are born and how you are born is not determined by the individual. But he has the power to change it.
We have much more power to change our circumstances than we think. It may not be your fault, but it's your problem.
Ownership, always.
What is success anyway? It's going to be something for one person, and a different thing for another. This I what wanting the right thing defines, and it will be different for everyone.
Well said! What intrigues me is how one can get to the breaking point - where they are willing to hop out the flowing river permanently… what triggers it? how long does it take? can it be sped up?
High-Testosterone shows people to be more independent minded. Other than that, education (and self-education as well, lots of reading), proximity to other people who've done it, and mentors.
It's unique to everyone. Some will prefer to stay on the river forever and will never look at another option, even if they know the existence of it.
This post is a illustration of “Someone with half your IQ is making 10x as you because they aren't smart enough to doubt themselves." -Ed Latimore
Great quote
Sadly I see the point but also I ask this, what is a world where everyone is dumb but doesn't doubt themselves ? When a system rewards that and understands how powerful that can be we end up with the current landscape of extremist takes for the sake of rage bait, radical content and misinformed idols ?
Thank you for this well-written post.
It definitely shed light on one of the biggest problems most academic achievers experience, the pressure of always staying on top and the fear of making mistakes which will never take someone somewhere.
Thank you for reading.
This. It can very well be the difference between a life of resentment and a fulfilling life.
Every paragraph I read I wanted to highlight it and send to a friend. Very well written thank you, almost want to save it for my future kids to read.
Appreciate that a lot, thank you for reading
Thank you for writing
Love the title of the article.
Solving problems with what you’ve got in your gray matter—that’s intelligence.
If you’re poor financially, then your intelligence has to be about figuring out how to become rich.
What is your test to identify what "you " really want. Cause as far as i can see all desires are either memetic (given by the society) or biological.
My question is simple, on what instrument do you measure a desire to consider it as yours.
It doesnt mean that the desire has been implemented into you by society or biology that it's necessarily bad.
This could be another long form post in itself. Looking for what you like doing when no one knows about it, and things you would want to do even if you weren't paid.
I've always been attracted to books since a young age, and I'll never stop reading and learning (and writing) even if I had all the money in the world.
Amazing post brother.
Loved reading this river perspective - one I didn't even know about.
Thank you brother
Really good article, I recommend it
Good read, a lot of truth in there. 👍🏼
Damn, you just addressed the real problem. Being afraid to look dumb to MYSELF. Wow. THANK YOU.
Thank you for reading Chara, glad it was helpful
what a wonderful read! thank you so much for your post!
Thank you for reading Natalie
It is so true…
Really resonated with this article, especially as a woman from a minority background. This quote in particular hit: “Intelligence without execution is just entertainment. You’re consuming information to feel like you’re making progress while actually staying completely stuck.”
So true that often times I feel myself comparing myself to other, often more successful men in my field of work. It can be intimidating to not see yourself in the environment you want to be in. So then you just stay stuck.
Having a mind that constantly over analyses and over thinks everything, and weighs every decision on potential risk/failure truly paralyses a person. This spoke to my soul.
I think it can provide some benefits if controled, but left unchecked it's destructive.
great read. the river analogy is great and i love the "honesty about your nature" bit.
i do think there is a bit of harm in associating "actually getting it" with intelligence though. it makes sense only when you assume that everyone is on a level playing field -- but some face more barriers in life than others.
there are very intelligent people out there who may want the right thing + are willing to fail, but lack the same access to resources because of racial and socioeconomic inequalities.
I don't think using these as an excuse or a crutch is wise.
Yes it's a reality that some people will start with a headstart and others with a handicap, but ultimately it doesn't matter.
It's part of wanting the right thing. And there are many many stories of people coming from very far who made it.
agreed that it shouldn’t be used as an excuse — as a poc it motivates me to succeed and lift others up. i understand where you’re coming from, but i feel that acknowledging handicaps matters especially because they will always exist in society.
are people who don’t succeed inherently unintelligent because they don’t want it enough? or are there other issues within our system?
I know they will always exist, but they are out of our control. Where you are born and how you are born is not determined by the individual. But he has the power to change it.
We have much more power to change our circumstances than we think. It may not be your fault, but it's your problem.
Ownership, always.
What is success anyway? It's going to be something for one person, and a different thing for another. This I what wanting the right thing defines, and it will be different for everyone.
Well said! What intrigues me is how one can get to the breaking point - where they are willing to hop out the flowing river permanently… what triggers it? how long does it take? can it be sped up?
High-Testosterone shows people to be more independent minded. Other than that, education (and self-education as well, lots of reading), proximity to other people who've done it, and mentors.
It's unique to everyone. Some will prefer to stay on the river forever and will never look at another option, even if they know the existence of it.
Life changing article.
more of this pleasee
I have other articles on intelligence and various other related subjects.