‘Everyday’ Intelligence: Aim High; You Can Take It

Link to podcast:

<< http://www.mixcloud.com/antonipeychev/everyday-intelligence-aim-high-you-can-take-it/ >>

To begin with, I would like to point your hopefully undivided attention to the fact that I had referred to ‘taking it’ rather than ‘making it’.

By the above, I simply mean that if you happen to fall down whilst climbing up, you will most definitely survive the fall.

There is, naturally, a reason for my apparent cynicism and it is not, rather unbelievably so, the horrid, ghastly and gloomy weather outside or the fact that I have just spilt my drink on my keyboard.

The reason behind my bluntness is the fact that I have fallen down many times on my way up; and the only thing that such falls have achieved is making me stronger, more pragmatic and (arguably so) smarter.

For one, you must never forget that there currently exist two ways to climb to the top, without falling, from the first attempt.

The first way of doing so is to know the people along the way so that they can give you a hand when you start slipping and tripping; to pull you up, if you will.

The second way is by having a bag- full of luck; i.e. being at the right place and at the right time.

Contrary to common belief, being skilled and incredibly talented does not get you up from the first attempt; even though that could have happened in the past, it has become highly unlikely today.

I shan’t go into any detail; suffice to say that you can’t show people how skilled and talented you are until you get an interview which will allow them to meet you in person. To do that, of course, you have to go through administration as well as my most favourite thing in the whole wide world- the recruitment software. (do look at my article on the matter, it’ll…refresh your gloomy Friday afternoon,

<< http://myveryownhell.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/academic-intelligence-recruitment.html >>)

A good many skilled people have failed, and still fail, to do that because they are skilled in what they DO and not in choosing the correct font size or keywords to include in their CV.

The only way, then, for skilled and talented people is to keep trying to climb further up whilst falling down several times along the way.

You know the old clichéd saying ‘whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’?

Sure you do; all you have to do is apply it to the circumstances.

The questions is, however, how can you possibly know how high is ‘too high’? (and, no, I am not making a cannabis joke…)

Well, the simple answer is: nothing is too high if you are ambitious enough and you know what you want because, believe it or not, zeal and determination act as deterrents to pain as they make every fall seem rather harmless and trivial, no matter the height.

Also, as you keep falling down whilst climbing up, in time, you start realising your mistakes such as, for instance, trying to climb a very high mountain with low oxygen levels instead of using the elevator in a skyscraper in New York, reaching an equally impressive zenith.

 In the light of the above, I should like to note that, in order to begin your journey up, you must first sit down and think about the height that you are willing to fall from, measuring up your aspirations and ambitions.

You must always remember that although a fall will not be lethal, it can, if sufficiently painful, deter you from attempting to climb up for awhile.

Do your math; would you rather climb Mount Olympus or take the elevator to the 30^th floor of the Gherkin…?