Attitude or IQ: Which is the most important?

Some people simply have talent, while others need to work hard to achieve the success they desire. This opposition between intelligence and initiative is apparently not just a maxim of motivational speakers.

Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck has spent her entire life studying the relationship between performance and attitude.

Among other things, Dweck found that people's core attitudes fall into one of two categories: a fixed mindset or a growth mindset .

Do you know that story that mediocre people do not see that they are not competent? The reasoning is even very similar. What she realized was that the fixed-minded group believes it is what it is, that it cannot change - it sees its own limitations, but it stops there.

Meanwhile, growth-minded people believe that if they work hard enough, they can improve.

In other words, those who have what she classified as a fixed mindset believe that the challenges that arise are more than the subject can handle. It's not quite a matter of arrogance, it's almost the other way around.

On the other hand, the other group is more likely to go further because it is not limited to a particular point. Even with lower IQs, these people open themselves to challenges, and for them, every time an opportunity arises, it is a chance to learn something new.

Basically, those who rely too much on intelligence end up settling.

Another important point, according to Travis Bradberry, who wrote a research article on LinkedIn, is the effect of the error on each of the types of people. Failure for someone with a growth mindset is accepted as part of the process.

How to keep growing?

By now, according to experts, this division means that the intelligent are doomed to failure.

Among the strategies that can be used to maintain an upward career, they suggest: Don't Settle! Go where you think you can and don't stop there. Taking the initiative, turning the idea into action even if you distrust your skills and knowing the limitations are all part of the attitude-making process.

And when that feeling of despair and weakness comes in, breathe, ask for help and don't let the feeling overwhelm you. Thinking about something positive and remembering what you are capable of - and how much you want to dedicate - helps a lot!

To believe in yourself is to expect results from your actions - including the bad ones. Those with a growth mindset know that they will eventually fail, but learn to count on those failures and be prepared for them, to be flexible with the changes in plans that happen.

And don't complain! As cliche as it may sound, complaining is a sign that you are not seeing the bright side of things. And growth minded people can really see!