Posted on 12/10/2013 6:00:35 AM PST by SeekAndFind
When academics use the word “smarts,” they usually mean general intelligence, or “g” for short. This is the ability to learn, think and apply. For decades scientists have sought to measure g by using IQ and similar cognitive tests.
But smarts is something different in the real world. It isn’t defined by 800 math SATs. It’s more about the importance of hard work, perseverance and resilience. Call it grit. Call it courage. Call it tenacity. Because these are old-fashioned concepts, they’re easy to miss.
In business the questions are: Who can get things done? Who can achieve, endure and succeed? The oil wildcatter in North Dakota or the top insurance salesman in Kansas City may not be a mathematical genius like Google's Sergey Brin, but they’re both wily, clever and capable. They’ll survive good times and bad. They’ll adapt to changing markets and win more than they lose.
While discussing smarts, CEO Tom Georgens of NetApp, the $6.3 billion data storage company, made a very interesting observation: “I know this irritates a lot of people, but once someone is at a certain point in his or her career–and it’s not that far out, maybe five years–all the grades and academic credentials in the world don’t mean anything anymore. It’s all about accomplishment from that point on.” About his own hires, Georgens offered, “I don’t even know where some members of my staff went to college or what they studied.”
To him and other CEOs, at a certain point it just doesn’t matter anymore.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
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