Importance of IQ

Summary

The speaker candidly shares their journey with a low IQ score of 70, highlighting its impact on their academic and professional life, particularly at McDonald's. They emphasize the importance of IQ for success, especially in intellectually demanding fields. Despite initial struggles, they managed to improve their cognitive abilities through consistent reading and learning, which led to better job performance. The speaker advocates for tailored educational approaches based on individual IQ levels and suggests that those with lower IQs should consider alternative paths or self-improvement before pursuing higher education.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The speaker emphasizes the importance of IQ in determining success, particularly in the workforce and areas requiring intelligence.
• 📉 The speaker shares a personal experience of scoring a low IQ of 70 at age 17, which put them in the bottom 2% of the population.
• 📚 Despite working hard, the speaker struggled academically, suggesting that the one-size-fits-all approach in schools can be detrimental to students with different learning needs.
• 🔄 The speaker believes they overworked themselves, which might have hindered their academic performance.
• 📈 The speaker has managed to improve their IQ by studying for shorter periods, highlighting the possibility of enhancing cognitive abilities.
• 🍔 Working at McDonald's was challenging for the speaker due to their low IQ, but they found it easier after working on improving their cognitive abilities.
• 🏆 The speaker suggests that both practice and IQ are necessary for success, and having a higher IQ can make learning new tasks quicker.
• 🎓 The speaker advises against pursuing university education if one's IQ is below average, recommending improving IQ first through activities like reading or creating content.
• 📊 Referring to Jordan Peterson's advice, the speaker suggests an IQ of at least 115 for university, as it's a more realistic threshold for academic success.
• 🚫 The speaker discourages university for those with lower IQs, arguing it can lead to stress and mental breakdowns, and suggests alternative paths for personal development.

Q & A

What is the significance of IQ in determining success in life, particularly in the workforce?

IQ is significant because it can make a difference in areas requiring intelligence. A higher IQ can facilitate better performance and adaptability in various tasks and challenges.

What was the speaker's IQ score at the age of 17, and how did it affect their academic performance?

The speaker scored a 70 on an IQ test at 17, which is lower than 98% of the population. This resulted in poor grades in school despite their hard work, indicating difficulty in keeping up with academic demands.

How did the speaker's low IQ impact their experience working at McDonald's?

The speaker struggled with the mentally demanding job at McDonald's, only mastering a couple of stations after a year and nine months, which was mentally exhausting for them.

What changes did the speaker make to improve their IQ, and how did it affect their work life?

The speaker began studying for half an hour a day and later increased it to 30 minutes. This effort led to an improvement in their IQ, making their work at McDonald's easier and allowing them to learn new tasks more quickly.

Why does the speaker believe that working too hard might not be beneficial for everyone?

The speaker suggests that working too hard can lead to overworking and not necessarily better results, especially for those with lower IQs. They argue that a more tailored approach to workloads based on individual capabilities would be more effective.

What is the speaker's opinion on the one-size-fits-all approach in the school system?

The speaker criticizes the one-size-fits-all approach in schools, stating that it doesn't account for individual differences in intelligence and can lead to students being overworked or underchallenged.

How does the speaker suggest improving one's IQ, and why is it important?

The speaker recommends reading for at least 30 minutes a day to improve IQ. They believe that a higher IQ opens up opportunities and makes learning new skills and tasks easier.

What advice does the speaker have for someone with a lower IQ considering university?

The speaker advises against university for those with a lower IQ and suggests improving their IQ first through reading, studying, or engaging in activities that stimulate the mind before considering higher education.

According to the speaker, what is the minimum IQ suggested by Jordan Peterson for university students?

Jordan Peterson, as mentioned by the speaker, suggests that university students should ideally have an IQ of at least 115 to succeed without excessive struggle.

Why does the speaker think that high IQ alone shouldn't be the sole criterion for attending university?

The speaker believes that while a high IQ can be beneficial, it shouldn't be the only factor in deciding to attend university. They emphasize that there are other options and paths to success that don't necessarily require a university education.