“I went to school on Tom’s ideas!”
Jeff Taylor, Founder, Monster.com
A Clear Eye.
On customers, brands and marketplace success
by Tom Asacker
“I went to school on Tom’s ideas!”
Jeff Taylor, Founder, Monster.com
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"To know and not to do is not to know."
I've been on the road presenting for the past week, during which time I've met some wonderful, spirited people. I've also met a handful of geniuses (so I've been told). The reason for my skepticism is simple: I didn't witness any evidence of said genius.
How do you know when you're in the presence of genius? You witness a passionate, wide-eyed maniac doing or saying something that looks or sounds a little strange. I've been in the presence of genius. It's impossible to miss. Dictionary.com describes genius this way (note: I've selected the one definition, out of nine, that best suits my rant):
gen·ius [jeen-yuhs] : a person who strongly influences for good or ill the character, conduct, or destiny of a person, place, or thing.
In my mind a genius is someone who "does," not someone who simply thinks. He or she is someone who risks, and not someone who critiques. Geniuses are guys like Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, Mohandas Gandhi and Richard Branson. But they are also people whom you've never heard of.
A genius is a grade school teacher who stretches the sensibilities and patience of the "system" and inspires her children to greatness. She's a middle manager who visualizes a radically new process and makes it come to life for the benefit of her risk averse organization.
A genius is a marketer who says, "Screw the Superbowl ad! Let's take that $2 million and hire one hundered passionate brand advocates to try some new, cool stuff." Do the math. He's a leader who says, "What corporate doesn't know won't hurt them," and moves forward with a skunk works project that ends up changing the direction, and future, of the company.
Geniuses are misfits. Like a pair of tight fitting pants, they make people uncomfortable. Embrace them. Cherish them. For it is discomfort that inspires change and insight. Insight seldom leads to change. Just ask the overweight, middle aged person who has just experienced a heart attack.
As Oscar Wilde has pointed out, "An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all." And a genius who does not take action in the face of said danger, despite his or her I.Q., is really not worthy of being called a genius. Stay passionate geniuses! Don't let the masses pull you down. They need you more than you know.
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Great post. It makes an often overlooked point about true genius. I'm tired of people being called geniuses because they have great test scores or graduated from Harvard. What you've said gets at the heart of the matter.
Posted by: John Wesley | May 20, 2007 at 12:06 AM
Well said. "While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." -Apple, Here's t te Crazy Ones.
Posted by: Bill Gammell | May 21, 2007 at 04:20 PM
Tom, you're on to something with the relationship between genius and passion. As you point out, genius most likely has less to do with intelligence and more to do with the ability to influence (usually in a way not previously thought of)
One of the things that I dislike about the Apple ads is that while they are entertaining, they dismiss the "Bill Gates" type as simply dorky and in some ways dispassionate (or at least very logical)
But the fact is that Bill Gates is both passionate and a genius. And to your point he has influenced greatly. And most recently for the very good through his humanitarian efforts.
So it would seem that passion, genius and maybe even strangeness are all in the eye of the beholder. :)
Posted by: David Armano | May 25, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Just to expand on it...
In Chinese, Genius is 天才. In direct translation, it means "heavenly gifted". It can be said to be a natural talent or something that surpasses the average.
As for Intelligence, it's 智能 or 智力. It has strong connotations of wisdom and courage/strength.
Posted by: KwangErn Liew | May 26, 2007 at 07:08 AM
I go by the indelible description of genius: 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.
Posted by: Sunil S Chiplunkar | July 29, 2007 at 11:58 AM