If someone came to lesswrong and asked: “I’m an average student, I don’t know what to do with my life. What should I do?” Then I would probably recommend studying hard, getting a good job, and trying to figure out what they enjoyed/were good at so they could specialize. Good general advice if I don’t know about the person.
On the other hand, if Young Pratchett had asked the question: “I’m a bad student, but I love writing and I’m obsessed with the news. What should I do?” I would probably recommend concentrating on his writing classes and getting a job that involved the news and writing, like the newspaper job he got. Advice tailored to the person.
You don’t win by competing with people who are better than you at something you are bad at. You win by finding what is important to you, what you enjoy, and what you are best at and doing that as well as you can. Giving the same advice to everyone seems like the way to lose at giving good advice.
If someone came to lesswrong and asked: “I’m an average student, I don’t know what to do with my life. What should I do?” Then I would probably recommend studying hard, getting a good job, and trying to figure out what they enjoyed/were good at so they could specialize. Good general advice if I don’t know about the person.
On the other hand, if Young Pratchett had asked the question: “I’m a bad student, but I love writing and I’m obsessed with the news. What should I do?” I would probably recommend concentrating on his writing classes and getting a job that involved the news and writing, like the newspaper job he got. Advice tailored to the person.
You don’t win by competing with people who are better than you at something you are bad at. You win by finding what is important to you, what you enjoy, and what you are best at and doing that as well as you can. Giving the same advice to everyone seems like the way to lose at giving good advice.