Excerpt of Buccaneer-Scholar
The Daily Beast has published an excerpt of my book.
However, they embellished my record, and I need to set it straight.
First, they called me a genius. If I were a genius it would undermine my message. You do not need to be a genius to do what I did. I’m an intelligent guy, sure, but so are you. Unintelligent people don’t read blogs. I prefer to say that I’m “guaranteed not stupid” (most days), but the word “genius” is used to separate people. It’s what you call those special magical people who think in ways you can’t imagine.
Second, they said I have an eighth grade education. What I have is an eighth grade diploma. It’s the only diploma-like thing I have. They didn’t give out diplomas for 9th and 10th grade, but I did sort of finish 10th grade (not sure if I passed it, because I don’t know how to interpret my transcript, but I tried NOT to pass 10th grade). So, I have a 10th grade formal education.
Pretty much no one thinks they are a genius, even geniuses, whatever that means. Except people who think they are geniuses, who are quite unlikely to be geniuses.
I think you are unusually intelligent, which does actually compromise your message. Isn’t that true of anyone who is very successful at some endeavor, trying to tell everyone else that they can accomplish the same thing?
[James' Reply: I'm unusually intelligent, as measured by a standard intelligence test. I also have various disabilities, both intellectual and emotional. It all comes out in the wash. Learn to see the unique set of qualities you have as a unique advantage in SOME context. Then go excel in that context.
You did read my book, right? You did read the chapter called "Guaranteed Not Stupid" right? If so, then I specifically worked through the whole intelligence thing, and explained why it shouldn't be an issue for anyone, including me. Unless you simply don't take that part of the book seriously, then I don't quite see how you could say that my intelligence compromises my message.]
Comment by Danny Faught — September 19, 2009 @ 11:12 pm