Intelligence v Hard Work
August 6, 2009
Have you ever wondered if having a high IQ, will guarantee your success in a particular venture? Well, according to Malcolm Gladwell, those who rely upon IQ alone, may be setting themselves up for failure.
In his best selling book, “Outliers”, Gladwell explains that intelligence has far less bearing on success, than factors which are down to pure luck.
And that’s great news for folk who were blessed with that kind of luck. But what about those of us who were born in the wrong decade to succeed in our chosen field? Or maybe we were born in the wrong month to do well at sport or school.
And if some disaster like war happens at the wrong time in our lives, we’re well and truly screwed – no chance of success for us ever. So what’s a smart but unlucky sort of person to do?
Some of the circumstances Gladwell mentioned could be changed to benefit future generations. For example, schools and sporting institutions could have more than one intake per year, to give a fair chance to everyone. But there’s also a glimmer of hope for those who want a bit of luck right now – the 10,000 hour rule.
According to Gladwell – it takes around 10,000 hours to excel in any field. And he gives some great examples of people who became successful through the 10,000 rule, including the Beatles and Bill Gates.
Wouldn’t life have been a whole heap easier if you’d know about this 10,000 rule while you were still at school?
10,000 hours isn’t a whole heap of time to devote to something truly worthwhile. With only ten hours a week practice, you’ll become a master in your field in just under twenty years. But if you’re knocking on a bit, or you simply want to live and breath your work; rack up 80 hours a week and you’ll achieve mastery level in 2 and a half years.
What do you think? Does the 10,000 hour rule make sense to you? Do you think we should be telling kids about the rule in school? Or is it better to keep telling them that they’re unlikely to achieve what they want in life, unless they’re born in lucky circumstances, or have some amazing natural talent?
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Hi Cath: I think it is important to explain to kids that the amount of time and effort they apply to their chosen field will have an enormous impact. I also think that luck is preparation meeting opportunity. So although you can’t force luck to come your way, by preparing you’re sort of meeting it in the middle of the road.
Marelisa’s last blog post..Need Fresh Ideas? Go Streetcombing
Hi Mare – I like the idea of preparing yourself to meet luck. I guess it’s a lot like making sure you’re in enough places to wind up in the right place at some point.
Thanks for recommending Outliers by the way – I really enjoyed reading it.
Hi Cath, I think you make your own luck. When you work hard you don’t always succeed up to your expectations, but still you never look back and think you could have done more.
Brad Shorr’s last blog post..8 Things I Learned about Sales from the Plant World
Hi Cath,
Definitely worth telling them! There’s an important lesson in hard work – one that Brad touched upon. You’re putting it all on the table – no regrets. Especially in something you’re deeply passionate about – I say go for it! Give it all you’ve got. Hopefully it will work out into what you dream it will – but even if it doesn’t, you’ll know that you’ve done what you could – and you WILL be better because of that.
Hi Cath – I don’t believe in setting kids up with a handy back-up excuse (as in, they’re unlikely to achieve unless they’re lucky – which implies that successful people don’t have to work hard).
One of the things my parents stressed was that we have the choice to do and be exactly what we want, but we’d damn well better bet the best at what we chose. The best garbage collector, the best teacher, or whatever.
The value in that message is that work well done is rewarding on the planes that matter most – the sense of accomplishment and pride. It’s a little more difficult to take on an empty stomach or if your house is being foreclosed, or you’re having to compete for a corporate salary, but I still believe more ultimate value is derived from striving in the way my parents recommended.
Betsy Wuebker’s last blog post..CHANGE DOESN’T COME FROM THE TOP
Cath — I don’t really believe in luck alone or in talent alone. I think the key to success in whatever you do is perseverance and flexibility.
I’m not opposed to telling kids about the 10,000 hour idea, but I’d rather help them believe in themselves and encourage them to put in the “sweat” equity to accomplish their goals without any limitation of time.
I like Albert Einstein’s quote: “It’s not than I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
Thanks for this thoughtful post:~)
Sara’s last blog post..Who is Your Target Audience?
Hi Cath. I think that if we just Do what we like, we can’t help but spend 10k hours at it and then some. Luck comes in many forms as I’ve been noticing over the last couple of months. Jobs and connections have been falling in my lap from out of nowhere. I’m doing what I enjoy.
Davina’s last blog post..Morning Muse: Writer’s Block, Pass the Windex
Hi Catherine,
If I’m doing the math right, and I follow the famous “Four Hour Work Week” formula, then it would take me over 50 years to accomplish that which I dream of. Hmmmmm.
Like Betsy, we were raised that we could do anything we set our mind to – and whatever we did to do our very best. In my adulthood that has paid off.
The 10,000 rule is all and good, however with parents knowing that, might some push their kids too hard and into a direction a kid really doesn’t want to go? With many parents wanting to live vicariously through their children, a child spend much of their childhood/teen and even adult years in activities they actually have no interest.
When I think back to one of my childhood “dreams”, what I wanted to be was a nurse. Why? Because the nurses looked so cute in their uniforms (that was when they wore white dresses and little caps on their heads). Thank goodness I didn’t spend 10000 pursuing that dream as it’s not something I even have an interest in.
P,S, Thank you for the link love.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Passing The Torch
I think that EVERYONE needs to know that the “overnight” success myth is just that – a MYTH! Despite what the “marketing hypsters” tell you – you CAN’T achieve instant wealth and success by sitting on your ass.
If you love what you’re doing – then 10,000 hours is easy peasy lemon squeezy. If you hate what you’re doing – then 10,000 hours can seem like four lifetimes!!!
By the way Davina has been working VERY hard for a VERY long time – she’s been very active in CREATING the circumstances surrounding her recent “good luck”.
Personally – I think there’s a point where intelligence is a hindrance to success.
Think 5lbs of shit in a 1 lb bag.
Most uber-successful entrepreneurs are usually not the brightest bulbs in the box. They have passion – they have drive – and usually they’re intelligent enough to make their venture succeed – but not so intelligent as to be able to clearly see all the reasons why it SHOULD NOT succeed.
Some of my “smartest” clients actually get paralyzed because they see ALL of the options instead of limiting themselves to just a few.
Kathy | Virtual Impax’s last blog post..When “work” is fun – more “work” gets done.
I think the 10,000 rule is just part of the equation. The other part is passion for your work, the driving blinding desire to pursue your interest. It’s this passion that sets the pace for growth and expertise. If you are investing hours in something that doesn’t pique you, then you might require a lot more hours that just 10,000.
We should definitely tell about this rule to kids. Might inspire them to put in hours in areas they like.
Avani Mehta’s last blog post..Tap Into The PowerHouse Of Negative Emotions
I think it’s extremely important to emphasize hard work. I grew up in a household that really focused on intelligence, and I do think there’s something crippling about this attitude, because what’s the point in working hard? You’re either smart or you’re not.
Vered – Blogger for Hire’s last blog post..Value of Social Networking
Hi Brad – that is true, it would make it far more difficult to feel disappointed in yourself.
Hi Lance – I like your idea that no matter what the outcome, you will still improve as a person.
Hi Betsy – That would be like telling them there was no point wouldn’t it? Being the best at what they choose no matter what it is sounds like good advice.
Hi Sara – I like that quote. As you say – putting a limit on time is dangerous too, as it could encourage people to give up once they’ve got so far.
Hi Davina – I’m glad your “luck” is improving. But I have noticed that you’ve been working really hard for a long time to achieve it
As you say, if you love what you do – 10,000 hours isn’t a lot at all.
LOL Barbara – That is a long time. I wonder how many people do choose a particular career because they like the uniform when they’re younger? These kids cartoons like Postman Pat and Fireman Sam have a lot to answer for.
Hi Kathy – that is interesting. I can see how seeing too many options might make life difficult. And I think another problem with IQ is that the higher yours is – the less you’re going to think like the majority of the population. That could make it harder to get into the heads of folk you’re trying to sell to.
Hi Avani – That’s a great point. It’s difficult to imagine something you dislike, requiring the exact same amount of learning time, as something you love.
Hi Vered – I can see how that would be really damaging. IMHO – IQ tests on children should be banned. It’s awful to make a child feel limited by a meaningless number.
Success can definitely be a wild card, so I think it’s important to have an effective frame. If you work at what you control, and let go what you don’t, that helps. You can then choose to focus on your strengths, which gives you an edge. You can also follow your passion and through deliberate practice, improve your ability exponentially.
If you want to master your craft, you can hone the skills you enjoy and use deliberate practice effectively. You can also make it a life long pursuit and enjoy the process.
If you want to make a living, that might be another thing. It’s important to know what the market wants. You can choose to compete by being better, or you can compete by being different, blue swan style. With the blue swan approach, you hone in on the differences that matter, and you stop competing in the red ocean, which becomes an efficiencies game. Then, instead of the 10,000 hr game, you’re playing the over-night game. Instead of dumb luck though, it’s using Blue Swan to create a strategic profile and put your bets where they count. Of course, there are still always Outliers, but hey, that’s life.
Personally, I see time and again, it’s not intelligence, it’s smart and gets results. It’s knowledge in action, and testing results. While luck happens, there’s a lot to be said for Edison’s 99% perspiration to go with the 1% inspiration.
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..A Language for Strengths
There was a recent article in MacLeans Magazine about this. Intelligence contributes to success, but only up to a certain extent.
Physicists, for example, eed IQ’s of about 120 to succeed. But a study was done. Above a certain IQ (whether it wsa 120 or 160) it didnt’ matter. What seperated the Nobel Prize winners from the rest, were the ones who put in those 10,000 hours.
Same as the Beatles. They were extremely creative, musical geniuses. But lots of groups were.
But people forget that the Beatles also put in over 10,000 hours of live performances in their early days, before they retired to the recording studio. Very few bands today would have that kind of exposure. Which may explain why we haven’t seen the equivalent of Lennon and McCartney for a while
No, I think the people who excel in their fields put in their time, and they earned it.
And we should tell our kids this.
If you want to be an NHL hockey player, famous rock star, or astronaut. whatever, you gotta put in the hours.
Friar’s last blog post..Brain Damage
@ Cath & Friar. I think it’s hilarious to see Friar’s comment on THIS subject with THAT post title — “Brain Damage” LMAO.
@ Kathy. You’re an awesome cheerleader!
Davina’s last blog post..Morning Muse: Writer’s Block, Pass the Windex
Cath,
I think it’s important for kids to know that success requires hard work. Perhaps the most intelligent kids are the ones who most need to know it because some really, really smart people never accomplish much because they think they don’t have to work hard because they’re smart.
Like the 10,000 hours of effort, I’ve heard writers have to write a million words before they become a good writer. Many writers actually write several books before they make their first sale and consider those earlier books “practice.”
Lillie Ammann’s last blog post..By: Nelson Enterprise » Blog Archive » more dofollows
Hi JD – The blue swan ideas do seem to happen overnight don’t they? A lot of them are like book titles – so long as they sound good, or different enough – it doesn’t matter if what’s inside is average.
Hi Friar – The Outliers book mentions the Nobel prize and the Beatles. It’s pretty good as he lists a whole bunch of sources he uses – I haven’t gone back to the original’s yet though.
Gladwell mentioned that the Beatles got those 10,000 hours in at Hamburg – apparently they were encouraged by the abundance of sex and drugs they got there. The book says they really sucked live before those 10,000 but afterwards they were awesome.
Ten thousand hours is a lot of live playing though – I wonder if any other band has actually managed to do that?
Hi Davina – I thought that too
Hi Lillie – I heard people mention the million words thing. I’ve thrown out a lot of partly completed books myself and it’s easy to imagine it being true. A million words would be about a dozen average size books, so it’s a lot of practise.
Intelligence minus common sense equals megaFailure.
In addition, Intelligence minus empathy with your customers equals megaFailure too.
And don’t forget, Intelligence minus “taking ownership of successes OR failure” equals “The light at the end of the tunnel is really a train coming at you” delightfulness.
Years and years of education from the School of Hard Knocks also helps too.
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach’s last blog post..6 Brilliant Squeeze Page Resources You’ll Want To Explore Part 1
Hi Barbara – LMAO at this: “The light at the end of the tunnel is really a train coming at you”
I used to think you couldn’t have intelligence without common sense until I read “Emotional IQ”. Turns out that some people with v high IQ’s wouldn’t see anything wrong with beating someone to death with a broom handle. Not good.
I do remember from a book I read once you need 2 hours a day for a hobby you want to get really good at, which would be about 12 years, 13 years to excel?
I think one could excel in 5 years for most anything.
Jannie Funster’s last blog post..46 Blogging Observations So Far
Cath, if I’m giving the choice, either to become a high IQ or ordinary person, I would 100 percent choose the latter one! As I knew, most of the high IQ people are always living in a pressure and stressful life. Hence, most of them are dying in a very young age…
wilhb81’s last blog post..Business one-liners 62
Hi Jannie – That is interesting – and a couple of hours a day doesn’t sound half bad at all. I’ve been wondering if it also depends on what you’re trying to excel at. Surely some things will be easier to master than others.
Hi Wilhb – What a cheerful thought to wake up to. At what IQ level does this early death thing kick in?
I agree with Lillie – success does depend on hard work but there is also an element of luck which can’t be ignored. However, I believe that you can make your own luck and people need to be able to make sensible, rational (and commercial where applicable) decisions through life, rather than just plugging away blindly, notching up the hours in the hope that success will just suddenly appear.
[...] Intelligence v Hard Work – Cath Lawson discusses the the “10,000 hour rule” for becoming an expert. [...]
I have to be quite honest and say to that intelligence is a hindrance in most every aspect of humanity. I am not arrogant in my intelligence, I do have downfalls….however, those who I have met who make up for my downfalls with their intelligence also seem to be lacking in some things (such as luck!). The more intelligence you possess, the more you can analyze and rationalize; sometimes life is not analytical or rational! But, I still keep trying!!!