I’ve read a few lists of traits associated with exceptional people. One of my favourites is Alexey Guzey’s.

I wanted to write the opposite: a list of things that many people consider signs of exceptional talent, but which, in my experience, are more often signs of mediocrity.

This list is specifically about people who were born after 2002 and grew up in Western Europe or North America.

  1. X times hackathon winner
  2. “X times founder” or “Exited founder” on LinkedIn/X
  3. Y Combinator Startup School on LinkedIn experience/education
  4. Harvard CS50 or other online courses on LinkedIn profile
  5. Participates in startup, business, pitch or innovation competitions, including university ones or even ‘bigger’ ones like those during ‘Tech Week’
  6. Member or committee of a university club or society (e.g. quant trading, finance or consulting societies; niche societies are an exception)
  7. Claims to be an ex-pro esports player on LinkedIn, with things like “Top 0.1%”
  8. Writes long descriptions of past experiences on LinkedIn
  9. Lots of recommendations on LinkedIn
  10. Endorsed skills on LinkedIn
  11. Flexes Product Hunt rankings
  12. Features in public ‘founder’ showcases, e.g. ‘Entrepreneur/Business of the Year’
  13. Went to almost all lectures at university when not compulsory
  14. Focused & got perfect grades during high school
  15. Never offended people with their opinions
  16. Has no enemies
  17. Never got in trouble at school
  18. Never tried to exploit rules / cheat in games
  19. Was popular at school
  20. Up to date with mainstream celebrities, actors and TV stars
  21. Has a balanced life
  22. Scout at a fund but doesn’t allocate money
  23. Always had a good sleep schedule and routine
  24. Never embarrassed themselves in public or private settings
  25. Ambassador for Claude, Lovable, etc.
  26. They have a good ‘personal brand’
  27. They never say really stupid things
  28. They never say cringe things

Some important disclaimers

  • These are observations, not rules. I’m not claiming that having any of these traits makes someone mediocre. I’m claiming that, in my experience, these traits are often mistaken for signs of exceptionality, when they can actually suggest the opposite. This is subjective, not a scientific or statistical finding.
  • This is not a judgment of any particular person. Some of my close friends whom I consider exceptional have traits on this list. Having one, or even several, doesn’t automatically change my opinion of someone.
  • These are not recommendations or endorsements. I’m not encouraging anyone to do or avoid any of these things, including breaking rules or laws. The list is about my perceptions of talent, not about what is morally or legally right or wrong.
  • These are not statements about my own behaviour. Nothing on this list should be interpreted as a claim about what I personally have or haven’t done.
  • The scope is deliberately narrow. My observations are limited to people who were born after 2002 and grew up in Western Europe or North America. I’m not claiming they apply to other generations or regions.