Motivation versus intelligence?

I think this is tough to decide!

There's no guarantee that high motivation will always lead one to success without necessary skills. I feel it will take longer time for such a person to achieve success in any field.

I have seen intelligent people coming from behind and winning over while others slog and slog. They need just a little motivation or persuasion! That's why they are tolerated more than others...valued for their intelligence!

I guess people here are thinking of 'The Tortoise and The Hare' while answering. I am not saying a highly motivated person will not achieve his set goals only that it will take much longer.

Motivation will win every time. Intelligence, by itself, only means one has the ability to do something - or rather, to learn something. Motivation means one applies every possible effort towards achieving a goal. And that's what pays off.

To provide a slightly different look at the question - I work with adaptive adults - people who, as a result of injury or congentical complications - are limited in their capabilities. I also worked with groups of teens in a school setting. I would far rather work with the adaptive adults than the young, fit teens, who were often a pain in the neck. Each of them was capable of becoming a good athlete, but their main cry was :"Do I have to? I'm tired. I already did that etc."

The adaptive adults' most common comment was "Can I try that again? Let's do a few more. I think I can do better than that etc."

Here the question is not motivation vs. intelligence, but ability versus motivation. The adaptive adults were motivated to work their hardest, and their success rate was formidable. The teens had tons of ability, youth, strength, etc, but little or no motivation and their success rate was minimal, to say the least.

The one with the average IQ and high motivation will be the first to reach success. The fable - The Tortoise and The Hare - should suffice with the reasoning.

I would like it if intelligence led the way towards success quicker but I fear that highly motivated people currently achieve a lot of success without necessarily having much intelligence which is troubling. Especially in an arena such as politics. If you get somebody who is not very intelligent but highly motivated in a position of power the consequences could be disastrous. Although, this is not to say that the consequences of intelligent people are any less damaging.

The world needs people who are intelligent in the positions of power.

I think those with average intelligence but high in motivation will succeed more than high intelligence with average motivation because no one can beats to the most inspired person. Once you are high in motivation you will do everything,try anything and be at your self just to get your goal to succeed; this will help and guide you to conquer all, we all have intelligence its defend on us on how we use it and how we are boost with motivation. While those with high intelligence with average motivation most of them are very good but low in patience, easily destructed that leads to unsuccessful outcome.

You look at many who are successful but they are not intelligence as far as their academic grades have shown. Bill Gates is one. And many who are intelligence but did not achieve success. One good exampIe would be the Oxford prodigy who later became a prostitute. And we have highly intelligence people who went one to become doctors and lawyers. Guess it is hard to deduce who will reach success faster. But one thing for sure - Highly intelligence people who are highly motivated will reach success in no time.

I Think motivation, determination and the sheer will to

succeed are the key words here Poppet.

Plus a lot of hard work and time.

Emotional intelligence is better for work IQ just states how good you are at math and english puzzles. Cant compare the two, but both are over hyped.

...motivation...

...the individual will research all the how to's...and what it means...

...to help overcome the mental shortfalls to pursue, try, dare, risk...

...to achieve the impossible dream...

...one day at a time...

...thanks for asking...