Anonymous
04/14/2014 18:50
Subject: How do you deal with being average or below average?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Most people who are very successful and rich, compensate being average or below average, by being incredibly lucky!
Have u tried that?
I disagree mostly because I don't believe in luck. Most average people (not the top 25% for being brilliant, innovative, or insanely efficient/hard working) who are very successful (power, influence, and/or money) are really great with relationships. They are people people, sales people, good friends, and good listeners. They are good with names and they always follow up. They might not always have the best idea or do the most work, but their the person who people think of for new and interesting assignments because people like spending time with them.
I disagree. Sometimes a lucky break of being at the right place at the right time, changes the trajectory of the career of very average or below average people. Sometimes it is networking (old boys club) that gets you ahead. The biggest example of less than average person with an impressive resume was George W Bush.
I see tons of smart, overqualified and hard working people - in mediocre careers. Where a person reaches in life has nothing to do with how above average they are but how luck favors them. We try and hedge our bets with the best private education, best college, most sought after degrees. And then at work, we keep looking at the person who is our boss and marveling at how inept and inefficient they are.
Just because Bush is bad at public speaking doesn't make home below average. I think all modern presidents are clearly at least one std deviation above normal intelligence. As for good schools, the network only gets you in the door; drive, determination, and passion are how you get ahead.
He didn't even read. He was an in incurious person. Oh and oops, he got a lot of people killed needlessly.
Your opinion; likely based on BS the media has fed you on the war being pointless. Just because Americans died doesn't mean others weren't saved. Ask the average Iraqi if they were grateful of our presence. Not having a sound exit strategy was/is the issue. The current situation is all the Iraqi politicians fault, they voted to kick us out.
Anonymous
04/14/2014 16:55
Subject: How do you deal with being average or below average?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. I forgot about this thread and haven't been around here much for a few weeks. Thanks for all of the support. It really helps to know I am not alone. As bad as DCUM can be sometimes, there can be a lot of benefit. Thanks for giving me permission to be acceptable at my job. I also appreciate the reminder that I am doing great for having a happy life and a good relationship with my husband and children.
OP, I'm good at my job (not lawyer), but I was better before kids, and had way more ambition before kids. Job, status, career growth, etc.. don't do much for me anymore. After kids, my happiness is defined by a happy family. Sometimes it's not enough, but on the whole, my family is the most important thing. But then again, I think I achieved quite a bit career wise before I had kids, even a bit after. So I don't get caught up in the "I need to do something with my life" paradigm. Your colleagues that don't have children have other priorities. I would not compare yourself with them.
I like the motto "I work to live, I don't live to work."
Anonymous
04/14/2014 16:36
Subject: How do you deal with being average or below average?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Most people who are very successful and rich, compensate being average or below average, by being incredibly lucky!
Have u tried that?
I disagree mostly because I don't believe in luck. Most average people (not the top 25% for being brilliant, innovative, or insanely efficient/hard working) who are very successful (power, influence, and/or money) are really great with relationships. They are people people, sales people, good friends, and good listeners. They are good with names and they always follow up. They might not always have the best idea or do the most work, but their the person who people think of for new and interesting assignments because people like spending time with them.
I disagree. Sometimes a lucky break of being at the right place at the right time, changes the trajectory of the career of very average or below average people. Sometimes it is networking (old boys club) that gets you ahead. The biggest example of less than average person with an impressive resume was George W Bush.
I see tons of smart, overqualified and hard working people - in mediocre careers. Where a person reaches in life has nothing to do with how above average they are but how luck favors them. We try and hedge our bets with the best private education, best college, most sought after degrees. And then at work, we keep looking at the person who is our boss and marveling at how inept and inefficient they are.
Just because Bush is bad at public speaking doesn't make home below average. I think all modern presidents are clearly at least one std deviation above normal intelligence. As for good schools, the network only gets you in the door; drive, determination, and passion are how you get ahead.
He didn't even read. He was an in incurious person. Oh and oops, he got a lot of people killed needlessly.
Anonymous
04/14/2014 16:09
Subject: How do you deal with being average or below average?
OP here. Wow. I forgot about this thread and haven't been around here much for a few weeks. Thanks for all of the support. It really helps to know I am not alone. As bad as DCUM can be sometimes, there can be a lot of benefit. Thanks for giving me permission to be acceptable at my job. I also appreciate the reminder that I am doing great for having a happy life and a good relationship with my husband and children.