you know I recently read an article in the Atlantic and it really struck me it
the Atlantic and it really struck me it
the Atlantic and it really struck me it was called the war on stupid people when
was called the war on stupid people when
was called the war on stupid people when I saw that title something inside me
I saw that title something inside me
I saw that title something inside me immediately cringed but then I thought
immediately cringed but then I thought
immediately cringed but then I thought about it
about it
about it it’s true the way things are right now
it’s true the way things are right now
it’s true the way things are right now culture is telling us you need to be
culture is telling us you need to be
culture is telling us you need to be smart or you’re a failure a lone genius
smart or you’re a failure a lone genius
smart or you’re a failure a lone genius is better than a roomful of average
is better than a roomful of average
is better than a roomful of average people isn’t it strange that we say
people isn’t it strange that we say
people isn’t it strange that we say average like it’s something to be
average like it’s something to be
average like it’s something to be ashamed of and if average is a curse
ashamed of and if average is a curse
ashamed of and if average is a curse anything less is an anathema but I
anything less is an anathema but I
anything less is an anathema but I digress regardless it’s undeniable that
digress regardless it’s undeniable that
digress regardless it’s undeniable that America is obsessed with intelligence
America is obsessed with intelligence
America is obsessed with intelligence just take a look at our entertainment
just take a look at our entertainment
just take a look at our entertainment Tony Stark dr. house
Tony Stark dr. house
Tony Stark dr. house Sherlock Holmes Walter White the list
Sherlock Holmes Walter White the list
Sherlock Holmes Walter White the list goes on and on all of these characters
goes on and on all of these characters
goes on and on all of these characters are deeply flawed individuals with one
are deeply flawed individuals with one
are deeply flawed individuals with one shared trait and one Redeemer
shared trait and one Redeemer
shared trait and one Redeemer intelligence no matter how arrogant
intelligence no matter how arrogant
intelligence no matter how arrogant grading or even immoral we love them
grading or even immoral we love them
grading or even immoral we love them because they’re wickedly smart and we
because they’re wickedly smart and we
because they’re wickedly smart and we don’t just want brains in our
don’t just want brains in our
don’t just want brains in our entertainment we want them in our love
entertainment we want them in our love
entertainment we want them in our love lives too according to research from the
lives too according to research from the
lives too according to research from the University of Iowa people now rank
University of Iowa people now rank
University of Iowa people now rank intelligence and academic success above
intelligence and academic success above
intelligence and academic success above traits like domestic skills financial
traits like domestic skills financial
traits like domestic skills financial success sociability looks and health
success sociability looks and health
success sociability looks and health when listing desired qualities and a
when listing desired qualities and a
when listing desired qualities and a mate
mate
mate this goes for business as well according
this goes for business as well according
this goes for business as well according to CEB the world’s top provider of
to CEB the world’s top provider of
to CEB the world’s top provider of corporate assessments the number of
corporate assessments the number of
corporate assessments the number of people who report being tested during
people who report being tested during
people who report being tested during their application process has doubled
their application process has doubled
their application process has doubled between 2008 and 2013 and if your
between 2008 and 2013 and if your
between 2008 and 2013 and if your employer doesn’t give you a test of
employer doesn’t give you a test of
employer doesn’t give you a test of their own they might ask you for your
their own they might ask you for your
their own they might ask you for your SAT scores instead The Wall Street
SAT scores instead The Wall Street
SAT scores instead The Wall Street Journal says that prominent companies
Journal says that prominent companies
Journal says that prominent companies like Goldman Sachs de Shaw Group and
like Goldman Sachs de Shaw Group and
like Goldman Sachs de Shaw Group and Bain & Co all asked for their applicants
Bain & Co all asked for their applicants
Bain & Co all asked for their applicants SAT scores so at this point you might be
SAT scores so at this point you might be
SAT scores so at this point you might be thinking everyone loves intelligence
thinking everyone loves intelligence
thinking everyone loves intelligence much there must be something to all the
much there must be something to all the
much there must be something to all the hype disregarding the fact that that’s
hype disregarding the fact that that’s
hype disregarding the fact that that’s actually a logical fallacy it’s also
actually a logical fallacy it’s also
actually a logical fallacy it’s also just wrong sorry to burst your
just wrong sorry to burst your
just wrong sorry to burst your hypothetical bubble but in all
hypothetical bubble but in all
hypothetical bubble but in all seriousness America’s ongoing love
seriousness America’s ongoing love
seriousness America’s ongoing love affair with intellect it not only causes
affair with intellect it not only causes
affair with intellect it not only causes issues for individuals but for society
issues for individuals but for society
issues for individuals but for society as a whole now I know going from hero
as a whole now I know going from hero
as a whole now I know going from hero worship to healthy skepticism in the
worship to healthy skepticism in the
worship to healthy skepticism in the span of 10 minutes is a bit much to ask
span of 10 minutes is a bit much to ask
span of 10 minutes is a bit much to ask but I’m willing to give it a try
but I’m willing to give it a try
but I’m willing to give it a try I hope that you are as well so let’s
I hope that you are as well so let’s
I hope that you are as well so let’s start by breaking down why intelligence
start by breaking down why intelligence
start by breaking down why intelligence isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be
isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be
isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be prevailing wisdom says that in order to
prevailing wisdom says that in order to
prevailing wisdom says that in order to succeed you must be smart hand in hand
succeed you must be smart hand in hand
succeed you must be smart hand in hand with that notion is the idea that to do
with that notion is the idea that to do
with that notion is the idea that to do well in life you must first do well in
well in life you must first do well in
well in life you must first do well in school but that’s not quite right
school but that’s not quite right
school but that’s not quite right according to William Deresiewicz a
according to William Deresiewicz a
according to William Deresiewicz a former Yale professor of 10 years and
former Yale professor of 10 years and
former Yale professor of 10 years and the author of novel excellent sheep
the author of novel excellent sheep
the author of novel excellent sheep academic success by itself doesn’t mean
academic success by itself doesn’t mean
academic success by itself doesn’t mean much the way our education system is
much the way our education system is
much the way our education system is structured we tend to produce students
structured we tend to produce students
structured we tend to produce students who are quote content to color within
who are quote content to color within
who are quote content to color within the lines that their education has
the lines that their education has
the lines that their education has marked out for them or as a New York
marked out for them or as a New York
marked out for them or as a New York Times article so kindly puts it a
Times article so kindly puts it a
Times article so kindly puts it a generation of polite striving praised
generation of polite striving praised
generation of polite striving praised addicted grade grubbing nonentities ouch
addicted grade grubbing nonentities ouch
addicted grade grubbing nonentities ouch although we constantly stress over our
although we constantly stress over our
although we constantly stress over our school stats it turns out that they
school stats it turns out that they
school stats it turns out that they don’t actually have a concrete effect on
don’t actually have a concrete effect on
don’t actually have a concrete effect on our work lives a human resource is exact
our work lives a human resource is exact
our work lives a human resource is exact from google sums it up pretty well GPAs
from google sums it up pretty well GPAs
from google sums it up pretty well GPAs are worthless as a criteria for hiring
are worthless as a criteria for hiring
are worthless as a criteria for hiring test scores are worthless Google
test scores are worthless Google
test scores are worthless Google famously used to ask everyone for
famously used to ask everyone for
famously used to ask everyone for transcripts and GPAs and test scores but
transcripts and GPAs and test scores but
transcripts and GPAs and test scores but we don’t anymore
we don’t anymore
we don’t anymore unless you’re just a few as years out of
unless you’re just a few as years out of
unless you’re just a few as years out of school we found that it doesn’t predict
school we found that it doesn’t predict
school we found that it doesn’t predict anything all right so it looks like your
anything all right so it looks like your
anything all right so it looks like your SAT scores are irrelevant once you’ve
SAT scores are irrelevant once you’ve
SAT scores are irrelevant once you’ve been admitted to college and your GPA
been admitted to college and your GPA
been admitted to college and your GPA doesn’t have a true connection to your
doesn’t have a true connection to your
doesn’t have a true connection to your success
success
success in later life but what about
in later life but what about
in later life but what about intelligence in general surely being
intelligence in general surely being
intelligence in general surely being clever is the unalloyed advantage that
clever is the unalloyed advantage that
clever is the unalloyed advantage that we’ve portrayed it to be wrong again
we’ve portrayed it to be wrong again
we’ve portrayed it to be wrong again apparently a high IQ and greater verbal
apparently a high IQ and greater verbal
apparently a high IQ and greater verbal intelligence that is the kind of
intelligence that is the kind of
intelligence that is the kind of intelligence that has to do with speech
intelligence that has to do with speech
intelligence that has to do with speech and words correlate positively to more
and words correlate positively to more
and words correlate positively to more stress throughout the day
stress throughout the day
stress throughout the day Alexander penny of McEwen University has
Alexander penny of McEwen University has
Alexander penny of McEwen University has research that shows people with greater
research that shows people with greater
research that shows people with greater verbal intelligence are more prone to
verbal intelligence are more prone to
verbal intelligence are more prone to anxiety and not just about brainy
anxiety and not just about brainy
anxiety and not just about brainy existential questions either it’s not
existential questions either it’s not
existential questions either it’s not that their worries were more profound
that their worries were more profound
that their worries were more profound says penny they just worried more often
says penny they just worried more often
says penny they just worried more often about more things not only that but
about more things not only that but
about more things not only that but intelligence is also no guarantee of
intelligence is also no guarantee of
intelligence is also no guarantee of wisdom or rationality Keith Stanovich a
wisdom or rationality Keith Stanovich a
wisdom or rationality Keith Stanovich a researcher from the University of
researcher from the University of
researcher from the University of Toronto has conducted numerous studies
Toronto has conducted numerous studies
Toronto has conducted numerous studies that show a high IQ does not mean that
that show a high IQ does not mean that
that show a high IQ does not mean that you’re any less biased in fact people of
you’re any less biased in fact people of
you’re any less biased in fact people of greater than average intelligence are
greater than average intelligence are
greater than average intelligence are often more prone to ignoring their own
often more prone to ignoring their own
often more prone to ignoring their own flaws and singling out the flaws of
flaws and singling out the flaws of
flaws and singling out the flaws of others now let’s pause for a moment all
others now let’s pause for a moment all
others now let’s pause for a moment all of this is not to say that we simply go
of this is not to say that we simply go
of this is not to say that we simply go where the winds of fate will like sad
where the winds of fate will like sad
where the winds of fate will like sad little sail boats floating on an ocean
little sail boats floating on an ocean
little sail boats floating on an ocean of failure although I’ve probably spent
of failure although I’ve probably spent
of failure although I’ve probably spent the last five minutes convincing some of
the last five minutes convincing some of
the last five minutes convincing some of you that you don’t need to do anything
you that you don’t need to do anything
you that you don’t need to do anything in school that’s not really the point of
in school that’s not really the point of
in school that’s not really the point of this talk unfortunately or perhaps
this talk unfortunately or perhaps
this talk unfortunately or perhaps fortunately you really do need to try as
fortunately you really do need to try as
fortunately you really do need to try as trite as it is it’s not really the
trite as it is it’s not really the
trite as it is it’s not really the brains or the grades that matter as much
brains or the grades that matter as much
brains or the grades that matter as much as your motivation now I know that
as your motivation now I know that
as your motivation now I know that you’ve heard that before but unlike most
you’ve heard that before but unlike most
you’ve heard that before but unlike most long-winded motivational speakers I have
long-winded motivational speakers I have
long-winded motivational speakers I have real science to back me up a study done
real science to back me up a study done
real science to back me up a study done by the National Institute of Health
by the National Institute of Health
by the National Institute of Health reveals something quite interesting it
reveals something quite interesting it
reveals something quite interesting it shows that the amount of motivation
shows that the amount of motivation
shows that the amount of motivation demonstrated by students taking an IQ
demonstrated by students taking an IQ
demonstrated by students taking an IQ test had a direct impact on their IQ
test had a direct impact on their IQ
test had a direct impact on their IQ score and more importantly
score and more importantly
score and more importantly when researchers checked in with those
when researchers checked in with those
when researchers checked in with those students years later the ones who showed
students years later the ones who showed
students years later the ones who showed greater motivation also had greater
greater motivation also had greater
greater motivation also had greater financial and interpersonal success in
financial and interpersonal success in
financial and interpersonal success in life now at this point you may be
life now at this point you may be
life now at this point you may be wondering where is she going with all
wondering where is she going with all
wondering where is she going with all this
this
this I mean first it was everyone loves
I mean first it was everyone loves
I mean first it was everyone loves smarts
smarts
smarts then it was grades are worthless and
then it was grades are worthless and
then it was grades are worthless and smarts are terrible then it was
smarts are terrible then it was
smarts are terrible then it was motivation I guess now I’m sorry about
motivation I guess now I’m sorry about
motivation I guess now I’m sorry about that I know that I’ve taken you down a
that I know that I’ve taken you down a
that I know that I’ve taken you down a lot of rabbit trails
lot of rabbit trails
lot of rabbit trails if rabbit trails consists entirely of
if rabbit trails consists entirely of
if rabbit trails consists entirely of scientific studies but let me break it
scientific studies but let me break it
scientific studies but let me break it down for you there’s nothing wrong with
down for you there’s nothing wrong with
down for you there’s nothing wrong with valuing cognitive ability the problem
valuing cognitive ability the problem
valuing cognitive ability the problem arises when we allow ourselves to
arises when we allow ourselves to
arises when we allow ourselves to worship it our cultural obsession with
worship it our cultural obsession with
worship it our cultural obsession with cleverness has led us to glorify a trait
cleverness has led us to glorify a trait
cleverness has led us to glorify a trait that by itself doesn’t even isn’t even
that by itself doesn’t even isn’t even
that by itself doesn’t even isn’t even close to achieving perfection we
close to achieving perfection we
close to achieving perfection we misrepresent what it truly takes to
misrepresent what it truly takes to
misrepresent what it truly takes to succeed and by doing so we harm people
succeed and by doing so we harm people
succeed and by doing so we harm people all along the spectrum of intelligence
all along the spectrum of intelligence
all along the spectrum of intelligence if you don’t fit the classical mold of
if you don’t fit the classical mold of
if you don’t fit the classical mold of smart then you’re told you either need
smart then you’re told you either need
smart then you’re told you either need to force yourself to fit or prepare for
to force yourself to fit or prepare for
to force yourself to fit or prepare for failure for young people especially
failure for young people especially
failure for young people especially there is the constant pervasive threat
there is the constant pervasive threat
there is the constant pervasive threat that if you don’t do well in school if
that if you don’t do well in school if
that if you don’t do well in school if you don’t get into a great university if
you don’t get into a great university if
you don’t get into a great university if you don’t reg rate with a four-year
you don’t reg rate with a four-year
you don’t reg rate with a four-year degree you’ll spend the rest of your
degree you’ll spend the rest of your
degree you’ll spend the rest of your miserable existence scrubbing floors a
miserable existence scrubbing floors a
miserable existence scrubbing floors a fast food chain on the other hand if you
fast food chain on the other hand if you
fast food chain on the other hand if you do happen to be classically intelligent
do happen to be classically intelligent
do happen to be classically intelligent you’re told you’re the best and the
you’re told you’re the best and the
you’re told you’re the best and the brightest so act like it
brightest so act like it
brightest so act like it now people expect a great deal of us but
now people expect a great deal of us but
now people expect a great deal of us but at the same time they funnel you through
at the same time they funnel you through
at the same time they funnel you through this hyper competitive academic system
this hyper competitive academic system
this hyper competitive academic system that doesn’t even teach you how to
that doesn’t even teach you how to
that doesn’t even teach you how to function in the real world we brutally
function in the real world we brutally
function in the real world we brutally stigmatize the non-smart but at the same
stigmatize the non-smart but at the same
stigmatize the non-smart but at the same time we’re often cruel to those we
time we’re often cruel to those we
time we’re often cruel to those we consider too brainy and we hold everyone
consider too brainy and we hold everyone
consider too brainy and we hold everyone to impossible expectations Society loves
to impossible expectations Society loves
to impossible expectations Society loves to say to each according to its own
to say to each according to its own
to say to each according to its own merit but we vitally misunderstand what
merit but we vitally misunderstand what
merit but we vitally misunderstand what traits are truly meritorious
traits are truly meritorious
traits are truly meritorious raw brain power is nothing but a blunt
raw brain power is nothing but a blunt
raw brain power is nothing but a blunt weapon until you temper it with other
weapon until you temper it with other
weapon until you temper it with other virtues a quote commonly attributed to
virtues a quote commonly attributed to
virtues a quote commonly attributed to Socrates goes like this the wise man
Socrates goes like this the wise man
Socrates goes like this the wise man knows that he knows nothing I think that
knows that he knows nothing I think that
knows that he knows nothing I think that in order to repair the damage done by
in order to repair the damage done by
in order to repair the damage done by our smarts obsessed culture we have to
our smarts obsessed culture we have to
our smarts obsessed culture we have to take that to heart we have to understand
take that to heart we have to understand
take that to heart we have to understand that smarts doesn’t mean a perfect
that smarts doesn’t mean a perfect
that smarts doesn’t mean a perfect resume or a great GPA or even a high IQ
resume or a great GPA or even a high IQ
resume or a great GPA or even a high IQ it means intellectual humility
it means intellectual humility
it means intellectual humility motivation practical wisdom and unlike
motivation practical wisdom and unlike
motivation practical wisdom and unlike the usual definition of intelligence
the usual definition of intelligence
the usual definition of intelligence those things are not doled out randomly
those things are not doled out randomly
those things are not doled out randomly by the whims of nature they have to be
by the whims of nature they have to be
by the whims of nature they have to be taught no one should be able to rest on
taught no one should be able to rest on
taught no one should be able to rest on their laurels saying I’m clever so I
their laurels saying I’m clever so I
their laurels saying I’m clever so I don’t need to listen no one should be
don’t need to listen no one should be
don’t need to listen no one should be pushed aside because some number GPA IQ
pushed aside because some number GPA IQ
pushed aside because some number GPA IQ SAT score says that you’re not worthy of
SAT score says that you’re not worthy of
SAT score says that you’re not worthy of success so next time you’re feeling
success so next time you’re feeling
success so next time you’re feeling especially stupid or especially smart
especially stupid or especially smart
especially stupid or especially smart ask yourself this do I know how to admit
ask yourself this do I know how to admit
ask yourself this do I know how to admit that I’m wrong do I learn from my
that I’m wrong do I learn from my
that I’m wrong do I learn from my mistakes can I talk to people or
mistakes can I talk to people or
mistakes can I talk to people or persevere or adapt to a new situation if
persevere or adapt to a new situation if
persevere or adapt to a new situation if you do and if you can then you’re well
you do and if you can then you’re well
you do and if you can then you’re well on your way and if not you can always
on your way and if not you can always
on your way and if not you can always learn thank you
learn thank you
learn thank you [Applause]
”
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