I wouldnt consider myself particularly intelligent, but I definitely don’t think anywhere near the box at times. People around me are sometimes astounded at the tangents my thought processes take, particularly with verbal communication and to a greater extent via e-mail. Certain nuances which seem blindingly obvious to me are definitely lost on a number of other people (particularly colleagues).

In particular my work environment is not at all challenging and I find myself totally unmotivated as a result of proposing an almost relentless string of ideas, that are generally apathetically received. I have even “done the side project thing”, in fact its what I spend most of my time doing. When I complained recently that I have nothing to do (in a less than literal sense) a list of projects were reeled off, of which I had already completed them in one for or another in the previous 18 months, but all the ideas and code sat unused due to managerial inertia. I feel that I am always ahead of the curve and when things don’t happen fast enough I become disinterested and projects die. I really cant focus my energies on something I know is going to be passed over without a thought. I used to spend a lot of time doing projects that were actually used and ended up having business value … alas that ended when I was transferred into my current job (against my wishes, but at the end of the day I still needed to earn a roof and sustinence).

I honestly believe that my current job has killed all motivation that I used to have and I can almost feel the intellect draining out of my ears as I become ever more dispondent and disillusioned with the value of hard work.

I have completed the odd IQ test and usually hit somewhere between 145-150 mark, but I really don’t see its accuracy when I believe that intelligence is measured by more than a series of logic problems. An example would be relational intelligence, pure intelligence without communicative intelligence is pretty negligable and bordering autistic. Incidentally its only writing this that I have actually looked up to see what my IQ score means and I have to admit I am stunned, I never actually went beyond getting a score to find out what it meant. It was a series of problems that got solved and I moved on to the next.

I also have added insanity issues.
I can never stop thinking or processing everything I see all of the time in every aspect possible which usually leads to talking to myself, sleep deprivation, spontaneous laughter, rocking and frankly self harm as a way to deal with what I think of.
Being intelligent is a curse for the person it is imposed upon but a benefit to everyone else.

As many comments have mentioned….it is more common to work within parameters and “go with the flow.” Thank you, Rob, for sharing your experiences with us. I agree with the comment that side projects help. I have recently exceeded the limits of my current position, and learning and experiencing how to create fulfilling projects of my own has helped end some of the frustration.

Thanks!

It sounds like youve been scared to make the jump into something that would really change your life. I think you need to start busting down doors to get your intelligence working on things that really make you feel alive. It is hard for us because we are so introverted and focused on whats in our own minds. But if you make a concentrated effort to toot your own horn and without fear of making mistakes you could maybe get a job at NASA, who knows!

Good Luck
Mallory

I think you can simply start learning emotional intelligence and simply apply the analytical and decision intelligence on people. You will be able to achieve great success with people the same way you are able to achieve it in logic and learning. I am the same way and just realized I can apply this to people and this is much m ore devine than logic only. People are included in what we analyze, calculate and decide.

One other possibility is the manager or small business owner who recognizes your potential and tries to capitalize on it for themselves. I had to deal with that for years before I finally struck out on my own.

I am so much happier now, I fix computers, design websites, wire houses (Sometimes it is nice to not have to think) and offices, and keep a very diverse skillset. I have learned how to work a 20 hour week and make enough money to live on.

I just love to learn, and once I do I get bored of the subject.

I do not think I am any more special than others, I just think differently, and it is sometimes a very lonely existence.

My wife tells me that I have my “obsessions” I will get completely immersed in a subject for months and then suddenly I abandon it completely.

Like Bryan I constantly soul search, I have no idea what my scores are and whether I would qualify for MENSA, lately I just want to understand this elusive thing called happiness.

Thank you again for the article.