Why Intelligent People Fail

Posted by Jeff on July 28, 2010 · View Comments

1. Lack of motivation. A talent is irrelevant if a person is not motivated to use it. Motivation may be external (for example, social approval) or internal (satisfaction from a job well-done, for instance). External sources tend to be transient, while internal sources tend to produce more consistent performance.

2. Lack of impulse control. Habitual impulsiveness gets in the way of optimal performance. Some people do not bring their full intellectual resources to bear on a problem but go with the first solution that pops into their heads.

3. Lack of perserverance and perseveration. Some people give up too easily, while others are unable to stop even when the quest will clearly be fruitless.

The complete list is here. The author lists twenty items. H/T to Matt Mullenweg. And thank you, Matt, for developing WordPress.

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Filed under Career, Latest ADD-Related Posts · Tagged with self-knowledge

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http://addmsorboth.blogspot.com/ Scott Hutson

The link to the complete list is unfortunately, an accurate desciption of how I have been not so “smart” in my life. So many “What If’s” to remember.
Jeff

While the list may seem more painful for an ADHDer to read, still, this list applies to people in general. We are all confronted by the same obstacles…ADHDers just have a slightly more difficult time overcoming those challenges.
http://addmsorboth.blogspot.com/ Scott Hutson

Yeah Jeff, I was thinking about that when I read the list. Some were things I have seen and am irritated by the people that do some of things that I am myself guilty of. Then there are the obvious ADHD symptoms that I take into account. That’s when it starts to hurt me to look at myself. All of these “special traits” that our teachers in school,for example,pushed us to act upon…and the things we missed. It’s never too late they say….but “they” are not us.
http://addmsorboth.blogspot.com/ Scott Hutson

Sorry to sound so negative in that last comment. That was not my intention. I have good days also, when I push that giant rock closer to the top.