Abandon Your Big Idea. But Don’t Give Up Your Big Ambition.

Re:Abandon Your Big Idea. But Don’t Give Up Your Big Ambition. by nickpinkston on Friday December 09, 2011 @01:38AM (#3332870)

While agree that this must be filtered for his audience of students, I have to take issue with his tone that seems to boil down to what most of academia does: very unambitious incremental research. Sure - this schlep is needed, but I think his cadre our too biased in this direction. The system dislikes risky research, and that's a shame.

Also, a glance at his books looks exactly like the grade-grubbing BS that leads to kids becoming valedictorian and then failing to do anything of significance after. These zombie achievers miss the point of education, and I feel like this guy is only encouraging them.

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Re:Abandon Your Big Idea. But Don’t Give Up Your Big Ambition. by mcshaner1 on Saturday December 10, 2011 @12:37AM (#3337037)

Regarding his books, he explicitly states the valedictorian approach is probably wrong for most students in one of his books (The High School Superstar one). He recommends almost the opposite approach, which seems to be close to what you are saying, do well enough to get your foot in the door grade wise and go deep in something interesting.

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Re:Abandon Your Big Idea. But Don’t Give Up Your Big Ambition. by psyklic on Friday December 09, 2011 @02:32AM (#3332967)

The article merely says that to make progress in a field, your best bet is to become an expert in it first.

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Re:Abandon Your Big Idea. But Don’t Give Up Your Big Ambition. by Ankur84 on Friday December 09, 2011 @07:44AM (#3333516)

I think he's saying, to make progress in a field, find a place where there are experts and work with them.

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