How We Kill Geniuses

I'll go out on a limb (especially since this is HN! run by YC!!): entrepreneurship is killing genius. In my lifetime I've witnessed the slow slide from blue sky research being rampant in corporate America around the time I was born (early '80s), to being found only in academia ('90s), to even academia being expected to turn a profit ('00s). My university even has a vice-Provost in charge of turning research into new businesses.<p>Not every good idea can make a profit. When you demand that all ideas do, you'll be missing out...

I dunno. I think it's wrong to view genius as being an inherent quality of a person. I think it's equally wrong to view it as an external force that just happens to visit people at certain times.<p>In my experience, genius is the result of turning over a problem in your head over and over, learning all the angles, and then relaxing and forgetting about it for a while. While you're forgetting about it, your brain can make subconscious connections between everything you've learned that seem to come from nowhere. But <i>you have to have the background knowledge</i>.<p>I find that I have tons of creative ideas when I'm just starting out a project. They almost all turn out to be bad ones. Then once I explore a bit, learn everything there is to know about the area, I'll <i>occasionally</i> get a decent idea. If I don't think too hard about it.

From the amazon reviews of her book: "I could not finish this book. When the author burst into sobs yet again in the middle of prayer, or a conversation, or walking down the street, or (more likely) on the floor of yet another bathroom, I gave up. This is the type of person you meet at a cocktail party and RUN in the other direction after a few minutes when she starts spewing out all her problems at you with no end in sight."

This article reminded me of the story of Robert Oppenheimer. In that case, at least, I think the story of how we destroy our heroes rings true.<p>If any of you enjoy biographies, stories of scientific and engineering heroism, and haven't read "The Making of the Atomic Bomb," please do. It is an extraordinary story.

Briefly: based on anecdotes, some may be more creative if they psychologically attribute their creativity outside their ego

Interesting starting point to a real problem with "genius," but not a great strategy. If she's arguing that internalizing blame for not being constantly brilliant or being able to maximize your brilliance puts undue stress on amazing people, then maybe learning to live with that fact rather externalizing the blame to something imaginary would be a better idea. That way, you will at least be comfortable enough with your own mind to maybe begin exploring real ways to improve your genius productivity (see also: <a href="http://nomediakings.org/time_management_for_anarchists/free_anarchomic_released.html" rel="nofollow">http://nomediakings.org/time_management_for_anarchists/free_...</a>).

Much of achievement is circumstantial: a product takes off because people need it (which is something outside the product). You notice a connection between two things, because you knew about them both and happened to be thinking about them. You can't <i>arrange</i> to discover things that are unknown - by definition. All you can do is be out there looking, doing things, trying things. <i>Inspiration strikes he who is at the typewriter</i>

Talk about superstition.

What exactly the hell is a "quantum equation"?

I'll take two 16 ounce Mystical Fairy Juices and a two cookies, please.

Everyone here on HN is genius, so even if a few get knocked off there are plenty to step up and replace them.