I often joke about my lack of intelligence, saying things like, "I'm never the smartest guy in the room."
I often speak out loud about my 2.3 college grade point average, proving I barely passed college to earn my degree. I also like to mention from time to time that I barely scored high enough on my SATs to even get into college.
I don't believe that I'm smarter than anybody. But I do believe that I'll try harder than anyone. I believe I'm willing to take risks that others won't take, and I believe I'm willing to say yes while others say no.
That belief? It's been the foundation of my career. Not IQ. Not a polished résumé. Not fancy credentials. Effort. Relentless, gritty, consistent effort. It's the one trait that keeps punching above its weight class. Every promotion, every pivot, every breakthrough moment in my career has come from effort, not brilliance.
Hunger Outpaces Intelligence Every Time
We live in a world obsessed with optimization. Everyone's looking for the hack, the shortcut, the one move that changes the game. The truth nobody wants to hear is that there is no hack for hard work. The person who just keeps showing up — especially when it's inconvenient — is the one who ends up getting the opportunity.
People overvalue skill and undervalue stamina. But talent without effort is just wasted potential. You can teach someone to use a system. You can train someone to write better emails. But you can't teach hunger. You can't coach someone to give a shit. And in the long run, hunger outpaces intelligence every time.
I've walked into several interviews knowing I was the underdog. I've walked into conference rooms knowing I didn't have the highest-rated credentials. I've taken opportunities knowing I had more to learn than I had to give. I've never cared. I've never been worried about my lack of intelligence or skills — it's always been a "fuck it, let's go" mindset that has worked.
The market rewards effort. Leaders notice who's in the trenches, not just who's tweeting wisdom from the sidelines. If you want to move forward in your career, adopt the mindset that nothing is beneath you. The little things — staying late, asking the follow-up question, offering help when it's not your job, saying yes to opportunities — those stack up over time. People start to trust you. Rely on you. Bet on you.
So if you're sitting around worried you're not smart enough, not qualified enough, not connected enough — stop. None of that matters if you don't try. Start with effort. Make that your edge. Because when you consistently outwork the room, you don't need to be the smartest. You just need to keep showing up.
The genius doesn't always win. The person who works the hardest usually does.