The Myth Of The Last Minute Genius!

There's this myth that I believe continues to sustain in many elite educational institutes, at least in India, despite much evidence to the contrary:

"The real deal, the evidence of genius and natural flair, is if you smash your exams without working hard."

Here's how I addressed it in class once :). I hope you'll see the cuteness of the argument :):

Me: So, ummm, did you test this hypothesis when you took the joint entrance examination, or did you basically slog your heart out then to be able to get admission here?

(I kept the question rhetorical in spirit and tone because the answer is obvious.)

Me: Ok, so, ummm, assuming you discovered this possibility only after getting here, are you willing to test its truth when you prepare for your job interviews or write your GRE or CAT or appear for the Civil Services entrance examination? Or will you temporarily put this hypothesis in abeyance then and basically trust the tried and tested approach of working hard?

Not one of the brilliant souls, the creme de la creme of the country I was talking to, seemed agreeable to test their "studness quotient" at such junctures :).

Very wisely so :). No one, absolutely no one, has achieved success by lolling around doing nothing. Not Einstein, not Feynman, not Shankaracharya, not Rahul Dravid, not Saina Nehwal, not Ustaad Zakir Hussain...

It does not and cannot work that way.

Such mindsets are just ways to bullshit oneself :). If you are not working hard towards what you want to do and become, you are only wasting your only tangible shot at success: the effort you put in "now".

And here was the final nail in the coffin of this theory, at least for the students in that class :):

Me: Ummm, so the folks who passed on this wisdom to you, some of your illustrious seniors that is, has the wisdom worked for them? Do you see any signs of mastery of anything or any subject in those seniors who haven't been working hard? Or, ummm, once again, do you see that basically only those who have been putting in the effort have actually succeeded?

Pin drop silence.

Me: Ah, so, ummm, then you bought into this theory because...?