# What talents and abilities actually matter for real world success **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-talents-and-abilities-actually-matter-for-real-world-success/545491 "2010-07-04T05:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-talents-and-abilities-actually-matter-for-real-world-success/545491/1 "2010-07-04T05:15:45Z")
Over in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=568851) people are talking about having high IQs and academic abilities in youth, but how for some that doesn’t translate into real world success. The definition of ‘success’ is varied too. How do you define it? I suppose it varies from person to person. One person might consider their life a success if they have a strong sense of inner contentment. Another might consider that unimportant unless they are a constructive influence in their community and society (an inventor, scientist, social activist, etc). Another might not consider either of those important, but be more concerned with academic and income achievements. To someone else strong interpersonal bonds might be more important. Or living a life in line with your own inner drives and personality even if it means living in your car and following bands across the country. etc According to [this](http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2010/01/10/working-memory-a-better-predictor-of-academic-success-than-iq/) working memory is a better predictor to academic success than IQ. According to [this](http://pss.sagepub.com/content/16/12/939.abstract) the ability to delay gratification is twice as important to academic success as IQ. But is academic success in and of itself even a good definition of success? I guess it depends on who you ask. But even with academic success, IQ is not the only or the biggest factor. The general line of reasoning we are given in society that high IQ = better grades/education = more money = success in general is a pretty flawed line of reasoning at every point. So as a WAG I am going to say: Self discipline and long range planning Good listening and communication abilities Curiosity and a willingness to try new things or reevaluate long held ideas The ability to repair relationships when something goes wrong Financial frugality The courage to step out of comfort zones Being reasonably compassionate, understanding and forgiving of self and others Understanding and accepting your weaknesses and vulnerabilities (rather than overcompensating for them or burying them) Being proactive about physical health Understanding your own needs and motivations and separating them from the wants and motivations others are putting on you Are there any generally agreed upon definitions of success or the skills needed to obtain success, or does it vary from person to person? ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-talents-and-abilities-actually-matter-for-real-world-success/545491/2 "2010-07-04T05:28:34Z")
I like your list but I’d add flexibility; the ability to modify your behavior and cope with changes according to the situation you find yourself in. People who can’t deal with changes waste a lot of energy thrashing around instead of getting back on their feet and moving forward. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-talents-and-abilities-actually-matter-for-real-world-success/545491/3 "2010-07-04T13:08:10Z")
I like your list too - FWIW all of them are abilities either that I have and that have benefited me greatly, or that I don’t have and found out to my cost that I better work hard at acquiring them. Also all of them things that you don’t need to be born with - I am currently working on #2, #3 and #6 which I am bad at, with some success. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-talents-and-abilities-actually-matter-for-real-world-success/545491/4 "2010-07-04T14:26:00Z")
I agree with the previous posters. Once you get above a certain basic level, things like social skills and determination are more important to success than raw intelligence or even talent. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-talents-and-abilities-actually-matter-for-real-world-success/545491/5 "2010-07-04T14:35:24Z")
I’ve always heard it something like this: Sincerity – once you can fake that you’ve got it made! ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-talents-and-abilities-actually-matter-for-real-world-success/545491/6 "2010-07-04T14:48:30Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Once you get above a certain basic level, things like social skills and determination are more important to success than raw intelligence or even talent. I agree. If you have a basic level of intelligence and aren’t totally inept, my view is that your social skills are really the most important thing. Likeable, easy to get along with people will go far in most careers.