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How much is a child's future success determined by innate intelligence? Economist James Heckman says it's not what people think. He likes to ask educated non-scientists -- especially politicians and policy makers -- how much of the difference between people's incomes can be tied to IQ. Most guess around 25 percent, even 50 percent, he says. But the data suggest a much smaller influence: about 1 or 2 percent.
So if IQ is only a minor factor in success, what is it that separates the low earners from the high ones? Or, as the saying goes: If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?
Science doesn't have a definitive answer, although luck certainly plays a role. But another key factor is personality, according to a paper Heckman co-authored in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last month. He found financial success was correlated with conscientiousness, a personality trait marked by diligence, perseverance and self-discipline.
Why aren't you rich? You obviously slept with the wrong people!
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday December 31 2016, @11:53AM
Luck has almost nothing to do with wealth, lotto winners aside. If I gave you a whopping pile of money, you would be no better off in 20-30 years because you fundamentally do not understand how to acquire wealth beyond your current means. Those working multiple jobs just to make ends meet are even more egregiously ignorant. This, not Shakespeare, calculus, chemistry, or history, is what needs to be taught in public highschools. It should in fact be taught in middle schools so that they can take a vo-tech class or two in highschool and get a leg up on having a marketable skill.
Put simply, we are currently flooded with unskilled labor far beyond demand. This makes unskilled labor all but worthless. Unless you want to be dirt poor, don't be unskilled labor. Make yourself valuable to someone or quit bitching.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.