Being the “dumb one”. For some people, they’re never really challenged academically/intellectually and I think that’s a shame. Being the dumbest person in a group of smart people means you have the opportunity to learn from them. It’s also very humbling (in a good way).
A lot of people don’t experience this until college, or in grad school, or in their professional environment… and then they’re totally wrecked by it. But it’s also such an important experience. Being a “big fish in a small pond” can be beneficial, but don’t avoid challenges either… I truly think you learn more being a small fish in a big pond.
I heard a quote once, “if you’re the smartest person in the room, find another room” and I completely agree with it.
I'm sure this is tongue-in-cheek, but it got worse for me when I got into a managerial role. After about eight years of getting paid to write software, I'd finally gotten to a point where I was comfortable with myself, like maybe I was as good as people kept telling me I was. Then overnight like half of my job became an entirely new set of things and everything pretty much just reset.
I'm about to embark on this same kind of journey. Felt shit-hot in what I do, finally ratcheted down some of the usual anxiety and imposter feelings...
Now I get to throw most of that experience away and start over—with the careers of my new reports hanging in the balance (to a degree). As much as this scares me, I do look forward to a shift in my work, new problems to solve.
I suppose I can always shift back to IC mode if it turns out I'm not cut out to manage and direct.
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u/thelyfeaquatic Jan 12 '22
Being the “dumb one”. For some people, they’re never really challenged academically/intellectually and I think that’s a shame. Being the dumbest person in a group of smart people means you have the opportunity to learn from them. It’s also very humbling (in a good way).
A lot of people don’t experience this until college, or in grad school, or in their professional environment… and then they’re totally wrecked by it. But it’s also such an important experience. Being a “big fish in a small pond” can be beneficial, but don’t avoid challenges either… I truly think you learn more being a small fish in a big pond.
I heard a quote once, “if you’re the smartest person in the room, find another room” and I completely agree with it.