Hello compadres,
Thanks for taking the time to check back with my blog. I have to admit that writing these mothers is tougher than I thought and I really appreciate the efforts that so many of you put into this.
Now –
Last time the bottom line of my post was that giftedness takes away quite a bit of the virtue other people gain as part of studying and that giftedness significantly lessens the necessity to sit down and invest in learning whilst getting by with no effort at all.
This can easily be transferred into a professional environment. Unfortunately, the effects ain’t candy.
I graduated from university in 2009. I was able to get an entry level position right away and moved up the ladder since. Currently, I am working at a university designing academic intensive programmes for MBA students amongst others. It’s a full-on project management position and would likely be described as challenging, demanding and desirable by others.
I do like my job. It’s a pleasant environment and it provides for a very comfortable lifestyle.
Coincidentally, I have my annual appraisal coming up tomorrow. Whilst I’m not at all worried about the level of satisfaction at my manager’s end, I feel this to be another great opportunity to pinpoint the effects giftedness – the effects on the emotional return of professional achievement, or PA.
I think we can agree that PA is a relative currency. We all differ in personality, character and skills and we all have different hurdles to jump and challenges to overcome on a daily basis.
One thing I notice more and more, however, is the sensation that to me my PA is meaningless and empty for the same reason as the AA in my previous post.
This is real bad news. Especially, as I still have to work for the next 40 years to come!
I envy the people – my colleagues for instance – that feel satisfaction when a project goes well after they really invested thought into it. When all the efforts pay off at the end. They are proud and feel like they have achieved something.
Of course, it’s not at all about the recognition by others. It’s about how they themselves feel about this.
For me, this feeling just doesn’t exist. Not because I am an arrogant bastard – because it’s too easy to do a good job. It comes naturally.
This doesn’t mean I can do everything. Quite the opposite. However, the stuff I can do comes naturally. It comes like an emotion. There is nothing you need to do for it.
I do feel that the demand on the job may be high, I feel that I need to think a lot, yet I feel like there is still room for more in my head and that growing challenges only help grow this room in my head exponentially.
During the mentioned appraisal, my manager will commend my achievements and tell me how smooth everything is going. This is great of course.
Unfortunately, it will again feel like he is praising me for being able to spell my own name!
Giftedness offers a lot. It has many benefits. You can literally see a universe in a rice grain. I would not want to live a day without this.
However, giftedness takes away so much, too. Especially, as we all live and need to get by in one society. The problem in my opinion is compatibility.
The higher the arithmetic distance to the norm, the more of a whackjob you are (made out to be?). The less compatible your way of thinking is – the more unconventional you think – the more solitude you need to be comfortable with.
The older I get, the more I can see that there is a clear purpose of a normal (in a math. sense) intelligence. Even above average is fine of course. As long as you have more commonalities with the norm than with the extreme.
In case of the latter you are boned.
The bottom line of this post?
If a capacity that we define as say IQ 150 was useful in the long-term for the evolution of mankind, nature would have implemented this for all of us.
Extremes in terms of IQ are just like a disability as ultimately all is about compatibility in our world.
A one legged persons merely is at a disadvantage as most of us have two. Three working legs might be better, but may not be in a world that is constructed by and for two legged people.
I mean seriously, try buying some pants that way! You’re boned!
Let me know what you think!
All the best for you! Back to work for me!