Hard-worker vs. Genius

[Greki]

I was just washing the dishes when this thought occurred to me. Who would be most likely to get better, a hard-working guy with no smarts, or a lazy genius?

[Angela]

Get better at what? Doing the dishes, or thinking?

[Trezker]

The best is obviously a genius of hard work.
Being a Genius Is Due to Hard Work, Not High IQ - In fact, some geniuses have average IQ - Softpedia

[Brutha]

It really depends on what you mean by "hard work" and by "lazy".
Steve Godin makes a good argument that hard work isn't what it used to be.

In general you need at least invest ten years (or 10.000 hours) to build expertise in an area.

On the other hand there are people who succeed without expertise by taking smart risks and a bit of luck.

[Greki]

Originally Posted by Angela

Get better at what? Doing the dishes, or thinking?

Lol, I meant get better on their life. I was doing the dishes when I thought of that question, it was just a random comment. What I mean, is who is most likely to have a greater personal development?

Originally Posted by Trezker

The best is obviously a genius of hard work.
Being a Genius Is Due to Hard Work, Not High IQ - In fact, some geniuses have average IQ - Softpedia

I agree on that one, but what I'm trying to find out is that between those two specific cases, who is most likely to succeed in their lives. For example, the hard-working guy with no smarts may indeed work hard and do everything correctly, but will he get the mentality that he has the capacity to get a better life?

Originally Posted by Brutha

It really depends on what you mean by "hard work" and by "lazy".
Steve Godin makes a good argument that hard work isn't what it used to be.

I agree with that article. What I meant is person who tries to do his work as best as he can, but he may not have the knowledge that he could better his quality of life, just like many farmers. What I meant to a lazy genious, is a very intelligent person who understands things easily (I am not talking about someone with high IQ, just someone who is essentially bright), but doesn't like to work. He is simply lazy. I would like to know who is most likely to get a better style of life.

[Trezker]

Both the hard worker and the lazy are relying on pure luck.
A hard worker needs to stumble upon good jobs and the lazy guy needs the right inspiration to hit. Neither is working towards success, it's pure chance who gets a better life. I don't think there's a difference between the two.

[Adrian]

It sort of depends what skill is trying to be learned, to what extent, and the types of people involved (what're their personalities?)

Though I would bet the hard worker would outdo the genius every time - one is constantly learning and trying his or her best to succeed, the other is not.

What It Takes to Be Great, a really fascinating article on how talent is irrelevant to success.

[Greki]

Originally Posted by Trezker

A hard worker needs to stumble upon good jobs and the lazy guy needs the right inspiration to hit.

Hmm, but if the lazy guy is a genius then inspiration would hit very frequently, the only problem would be that he would most likely not work on it, no? And well, I think I agree on the hard-working idea.

Originally Posted by Adrian

It sort of depends what skill is trying to be learned, to what extent, and the types of people involved (what're their personalities?)

Well, the hard-working guy wouldn't know what skills he would want to learn, wheareas the genius would most likely know that he has to learn more stuff, but not do anything about it.

Originally Posted by Adrian

Though I would bet the hard worker would outdo the genius every time - one is constantly learning and trying his or her best to succeed, the other is not.

That's the problem. The hard-working guy just does what he does because he has to, not necessarily because he wants to. His goal is to do his work, but further than that he has no vision. So would the hard-worker really outdo the lazy genius?

[Adrian]

That's the problem. The hard-working guy just does what he does because he has to, not necessarily because he wants to. His goal is to do his work, but further than that he has no vision. So would the hard-worker really outdo the lazy genius?

I think so, depending on what the hard-worker is doing the work for. If he's going down a one way street, how can he get lost? He'll continuously keep making some progress doing hard work.

[Greki]

Yep, problem is, what's the end of the road?

[Adrian]

When's the end of the road? Whenever the harder worker becomes a non-hard worker. I think it's kind of subjective, anyways.

[shivraj]

Geniuses are intuitive and take fewer steps to accomplish same objective than hard working guy using trial and error approach.

[Brutha]

What I meant is person who tries to do his work as best as he can, but he may not have the knowledge that he could better his quality of life, just like many farmers.

It's not about doing your work the best you can, but about doing your work and learn something and become better at your work the next time.

In addition someone who works because he is passionate for the topic will outdo someone who finds that his work is a chore.

There mathematicians who think about mathematical problems all day long. That mathematician might not call the math problems that he solves in his free time "work" but they still help him to sharpen his skills.

The "hard working" guy might also not persue certain opportunity's because he focus to much on meaningless work.

[Greki]

When's the end of the road? Whenever the harder worker becomes a non-hard worker. I think it's kind of subjective, anyways.

I think so too. xD

Geniuses are intuitive and take fewer steps to accomplish same objective than hard working guy using trial and error approach.

Problem is, this is a lazy genius. Will he make the fewer steps? But yeah, I understand what you're trying to say.

There mathematicians who think about mathematical problems all day long. That mathematician might not call the math problems that he solves in his free time "work" but they still help him to sharpen his skills.

Well, they don't call it that, but it is still work. But yeah, I get what you mean, but would a lazy person that is passioned about something, do it?

[astra]

Can you really call someone a genius if they are smart enough to have good ideas, but don't act on it? Sounds pretty dumb to me. Many great ideas don't reach their full potential because the genius with the big idea doesn't put the effort in to make it work. On the other hand, working hard is pretty smart because even if you don't have the big ideas to work towards, theoretically you're working towards something.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Brutha

It really depends on what you mean by "hard work" and by "lazy".
Steve Godin makes a good argument that hard work isn't what it used to be.

In general you need at least invest ten years (or 10.000 hours) to build expertise in an area.

On the other hand there are people who succeed without expertise by taking smart risks and a bit of luck.

I agree with the taking risks. This is vital. You must come out of your comfort zone and do the opposite of what your well meaning but ill informed family and friends think is right for you. When you do take those risks, you suddenly find they werent such 'risks' after all. One of the biggest non-risks that people think are risks is leaving paid employment, to work for yourself. Little do the hoi polloi know, that the insecurity belongs with them (being at the whim of an employer is risky) and not with those who leave it behind.

I dont agree with the 'luck' part. There is no such thing. Really there isnt.