Does being smart matter?

[MrOverheadpress]

I've always considered myself below average when it comes to academics. I've always gotten C's and B's when report card time rolled around. One day, during lunch in high school, I was looking through my friend's calculus book and I saw all these funny looking symbols. For some reason I wanted to know what they meant, like an archeologist looking at hieroglyphics. So I decided to pay more attention in math class. I even starting doing my math homework. Then something magical happened, I got an A in math! I then decided I wanted to use math to solve problems in the real world, so I decided to study Mechanical Engineering. I had an insatiable apatite when It came to math and engineering; I wanted to learn everything about it. It was still super hard, I spent about 4 hours a day studying for it (I didn't have a choice; I also found the time to go out with my friends). People saw that I knew all the answers and labeled me as "smart". They said, "Damn Mr. Overheadpress (Yes, that is my real name), you're lucky your smart".

Which brings me to my point (finally!): Being smart means nothing. Being smart is the equivalent of being a genetic freak in the weightlifting world. Sure being a genetic freak helps, but a genetic freak with a crappy program and a lack of dedication can be outperformed by a average dedicated lifter. Anyone who works hard and has passion and dedication can beat someone with natural talent (genetics) if the work harder than them, with few exceptions (Competition in the elite level requires genetics and dedication)

I was just wondering what everyone else thought about this topic.

[Love_Deadlifts]

Very smart people can coast through what other people might have to work hard to get through. However someone who is of average intelligence but is very motivated can accomplish much more than an unmotivated smart person.

[icenine]

The brain, like the human body will grow if worked. For me, working it may mean repeated bouts of late night video games. Getting under the bar is a good way I've found also. All of those neural connections being formed, repeated over and over. Kinda like back a few years ago when I trained Mantis KungFu. Learning forms, stances, repeating them over and over. At one point I realizing that my left arm/hand could not manipulate things nearly as well as my right arm could. This wasn't a big shock, but I was a little disturbed at how much I'd slipped over the years. Just for fun, to see if the old grey matter was still able to learn a new trick, I tried experimenting with modifying my daily tasks. Things like moving the mouse to the left hand on the computer. Just to see how easily my brain would adapt. Trivial, but it seemed like such a brain drain at first. Too fscking hard. Now it's simple. I get a kick out of someone who comes into my office and uses my computer. Usually they comment that I'm a lefty. Nope. Right handed. A look confusion is usually what I get. heh, good for a laugh. Hard work pays off in almost anything in life. Any improvement is good and contributes to the betterment of one's self.

heh, I tried teaching myself Calculus and found the preliminaries very interesting, but just didn't have the motivation to stick with it.

[Mehdi]

Smart people tend to over analyze things. There are many areas where this can work against you.

[ricepower]

Smart people tend to over analyze things. There are many areas where this can work against you.

Smartness made me the most indecisive person ever. Plus I was always so stifled and unchallenged at school that I eventually got expelled.

The indecisiveness gave me real problems with life direction and getting frustrated/depressed about things out of my control. Which also kills enthusiasm for things.

Furthermore, although I am technically 'smart' I have a whole heap of learning difficulties too (many smart people do) and I am particularly bad at mathematics. Despite this I love to create & invent and also decided to study and engineering based subject. Because I enjoy challenging and improving my weaknesses (the same way as training) and also understand the importance of mathematical & engineering knowledge to Designing and refining things. I study Engineering Product Design - A good mix of creativity and engineering/manufacturing science.

[holvoetn]

You have to use the gifts you have been given.
I find it a shame to see someone smart who doesn't want to study.
Someone young/strong who plays couch potato all day long.

That, I do not like at all...
Guess my age is showing here

[Dada]

@ OP
To an extent what you say is true but there are limitations. Some people who aren't super smart naturally can overcome this by working their ass off. On the other hand, some below average intelligence people work very hard and still fail at certain things b/c they just couldn't learn it no matter what. Not that they didn't have other kinds of smarts - i.e. street smarts & people smarts. And a few people are born smart and can pretty much learn anything without really trying.

How successful they become is another matter. For example, I know someone who barely got through HS and college but worked his ass off who is raking in a six figure income. And I know someone else (let's call it me) who didn't have to try at all in HS and was drunk the entire time in college, never studied until senior year, and barely went to classs but still graduated easily. Doing OK now, although no where as well as the first example. Last, I know a couple of people who seriously lacked the intelligence to learn a particular task even though they worked really hard that can only handle menial tasks.

[mjh]

I was the student at high school that goofed off a lot, but still got good grades and the teachers liked me. My report cards were always "he could do really well if only he put in some effort". Many years later and I've done some work as a teacher, I've gained a new perspective on this (bear in mind this is teaching English overseas, but I think still relevant).

• the ones that do amazingly well, do so because they have a gift, but also because they study/practice their asses off.

• there are those that do well with little effort, but have the charm and personality to make up for their shortcomings in class. Many of my favorite students were those whose English wasn't the best, but who were fun to talk to.

• some have obvious potential, but don't put it any effort, and so suck. They also make a really poor impression on people because theirs is pure laziness and ambivalence.

• the vast majority are just average.

• the heart-breaking ones are the ones that study/practice extremely hard, pay attention in class and try try try... but have never got it, and never will.

[thunderdownunder]

Smartness made me the most indecisive person ever. Plus I was always so stifled and unchallenged at school that I eventually got expelled.

Smart people tend to over analyze things. There are many areas where this can work against you.

I heard a rumour that the average I.Q. of US presidents was xyz (doesn't matter). I think this may have been a hoax but anyway the idea was that if someone was too smart they would "over-analyze" a given situation rather than being swift and decisive as a given situation could require (think imminent nuclear strikes). So there's one in the bag for us less smart peeps.

Secondly I have found that the individual who is perhaps not as intelligent as his counterpart, but has indeed a great deal of confidence and self belief, can in fact achieve at a higher level than his smarter but howbeit less confident peer.

There's my two bobs worth....for what it's worth.

[MikeD]

I might be kind of cynical, but I never equated good grades with intelligence, at least in the high school level. I always pictured it as a mark of how well you did what you were told.

Information is just dropped in front of you and you're told it's important, so like a good student you study it and commit it to memory, and then when test time is over you wipe it out and make room for more crap you're told is VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU MUST BE READY TO RECITE IT.

I'm not discounting higher level classes (I couldn't picture myself in an AP Calc class), but the majority of high school is like that.

[TheUniqueOne]

I am smart, but unfortunately it ruined me.It teached me being lazy and putting in a effort once in a while is enough, and I am still trying to recover from it

[helm]

I am smart, but unfortunately it ruined me.It teached me being lazy and putting in a effort once in a while is enough, and I am still trying to recover from it

hmm, that's quite an insight I haven't had yet, but suits me perfectly. thanks for that, explains a lot

[nburge]

I can back up what TheUniqueOne says - I was always top of the class at pretty much everything, mainly because I was interested in a lot of the subjects, but put in no work at all to get where I was. This left me with the impression that "everything works out fine in the end" because I could go to an exam without really looking at the material and still score much better than anyone else in the class. I still worried that I'd fail it (who wouldn't if you'd done no work) but then I'd be the top pupil again, and wonder just how little I had to do in order to fail. I spent most of my university career deliberately trying to go out drinking and partying, skipping lectures and handing in rubbish, but still got a damn good grade. It's only been since i've been working that I realised other people out there have a point to prove, and are motivated to beat me, and that in the real world they will trump me pretty much any time (because now I just assume I'll do well, and don't try at all).

It's an interesting point the OP makes - I wouldn't swap my academic ability for the world (it makes life much easier imo) but I do envy those who are able to leverage their skills (whether they have plenty or none) by working hard and going the extra mile. I'm not sure whether I'll ever change - I can try hard for short periods of time but boredom gets the better of me eventually...

[hazmat]

Depends on what type of "smarts" you're talking about. I know several masters degree holders that I'd rather drop kick across the room than have an intelligent conversation with. I know quite a few folks who hold only high school diplomas who are some of the smartest people I associate with in areas where it really matters. I think it's pretty much relative when it comes to real life situations.

[tenkev]

Yes, being smart matters. Duh.