No Stupid Questions 32. Which Gets You Further: Talent or Effort?
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Jul 27, 2025 Explore the tug-of-war between talent and effort in mastering skills, with entertaining anecdotes that showcase how dedication fuels growth. Dive into the humorous chaos of acronyms and initialisms, highlighting the struggles and social pressures they create in workplaces. Discover the evolution of shorthand in journalism, balancing practicality with clarity. Finally, unpack the emotional nuances of effort versus talent amid the rise of artificial intelligence, ensuring the conversation stays engaging and insightful.
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Achievement as Physics Equation
- Human achievement can be understood using the equation distance = rate x time, where distance is achievement, rate is skill, and time is effort applied.
- Both skill and the amount of effort spent applying it are necessary to maximize what one accomplishes.
Scientist's Skill Growth Example
- Angela outlines a scientist's career growth in skill from high school to graduate school and beyond as an example of skill accumulation.
- She praises Will Smith for not only growing skill but also for applying it consistently to achieve more over time.
Elite Achievers Push Through
- Highly successful people see each marginal unit of success as meaningful and keep working even on good days.
- They increase skill over time and often work as much or more, defying the tendency to stop after early successes.