poor performers grossly overestimate their performances because their incompetence deprives them of the skills needed to recognize their deficits.
That’s from this paper (via).
The great question about Steve Jobs and other accomplished leaders is what on earth they do that’s so valuable. More and more I’m thinking they are simply unsatisfied with results others find acceptable. And they have the power to demand more of people.
Society has developed ways of policing us. Gossip is such a device and people who are more sensitive to social pressure are better off.
But unlike simple morality games psychologists study, knowledge of how to make great smartphones or Initial Public Offerings or open field tackles is concentrated among very few. If your friends can’t do it, you won’t either:
The groups you associate with often determine the type of person you become. For people who want improved health, association with other healthy people is usually the strongest and most direct path of change.
Not Unreasonable 