Comments on: Smart-people traps

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:01:25 +0000

Hi there. I am a smart person caught in at least one, if not more, of these traps. My question to you, though, is why have you perpetuated the system? You seem to have issue-spotted all the problems with the paths smart people embark upon without any insights as to alternatives? Where is your creative thinking and focus on solutions rather than pitfalls? Would welcome an inspiring “way-out.” Thanks.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:21:53 +0000

A big trap I see smart people fall into is believing that thinking is the same as doing.

By: aaronb

aaronb — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:00:43 +0000

Maybe I’m taking #2 too personally but isn’t the whole concept of smart people traps an example of #4? ; )

What is a not-trap for smart people to fall into? Some other common smart-pursuits not named are the career arts, serial entrepreneurship, constant traveling… I’m sure we could come up with sour-sounding descriptions of the traps inherent in each of these.

Maybe the real generating idea behind this trap idea is conducting oneself too cautiously or taking oneself too seriously. You can do pretty much anything - even banking! - with passion or at least a feisty irreverence, and if you’re of that mindset then it’s hard to do it any other way, let alone fall into a ‘trap.’ To me, it’d feel more constructive to focus on ways to achieve that, if it is even the sort of thing you can teach.

By: smartypants

smartypants — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:13:29 +0000

I remember as a kid saying to my Dad, “I want to get paid for what I know, not what I do.” I didn’t know anything then. Now I think I do, and all I do is question it…

By: Axel Albin

Axel Albin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:38:53 +0000

@ Tina

I agree with your point. And I don’t mean to give Critical Thinking short shrift. As you describe it, it’s an amazing tool.

What I was trying to get at in this section of the post is that smart people are often rewarded for showing off, for being arrogantly critical. I’ve seen people make whole careers in this way. But they are not happy, and nobody likes them, and they don’t put their smarts to good use.

By: amy.leblanc

amy.leblanc — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:17:02 +0000

i’ve definitely been trapped by all of these, and the more i think about it, the dumber i feel.

By: Tina

Tina — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:41:59 +0000

Your description of critical thinking is not quite right. It’s about figuring out the less obvious, subtle meanings and implications in something, NOT “thinking like a critic/focusing onthe negative.” That’s what critical thinking is to arrogant lazy people who want to show off, not think.

By: Alrenous

Alrenous — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:37:41 +0000

On the other hand, the whole getting attention things works.

By: Albert

Albert — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:28:33 +0000

Tamer Salama: you are smart by definition (read first paragraph). Redefine your context and just be smart.

By: Tim Harris

Tim Harris — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 08:29:35 +0000

Another variant on #4:
Debate
Smart people often like to debate ideas/details for long past what is a useful discussion. Being able to “Get Things Done” is half the mantra: “Smart and Gets Things Done”.

I actually think the other traps boil down to this one above. A lack of focus on the end goal is what causes #1, #2 and #3 to be traps…