Multiple Intelligences (Writing III, 2008, males) (Photo credit: pabeaufait)

Technology has changed so much of our lives that it is hard to make a living without it.  Even a simple activity like jogging is not immune from the tangles of technology.   Devices that monitor the amount of miles run, calories burned, and speed are standard equipment for today’s runners.  This is a small example of the many ways we use these tools to assist us in our lives.  But, have these strides helped or hindered us from being reaching our true potential?  Thinking is no longer necessary.  There is no need to learn a foreign language when it is much easier to use an iPhone language app which automatically converts English to Spanish, German, Italian, etc.  Is all of this progress making us brilliantly smarter or lazy underachievers?

With all of this in mind, it makes you think of the type of person you may want to work for you:  the teenager who can code virtually anything but may take forever to do it, or the kid who can code anything, but lives in a pig stye?  There is also the person who has many ideas but spins out of control before completing any of them.  There have been many studies conducted about human behavior, but this case points to two types of people ranging between intelligent to less intelligent (we’ll keep it politically correct), and diligent to lazy.  We have seen many of these types manifested in our children or friends’ behaviors: the intelligent and physically energetic worker and the brilliant but physically lazy worker.  Those who are bright and energetic may be obsessed with perfection and micromanagement and although they can be excellent workers, sometimes can not finish a project because they think TOO much.  Then there are the bright but physically lazy individuals.  These folks are smart enough to see what needs to be done but will find the easiest way to achieve that goal.  These are the people who know how to re-use code, outsource when necessary, and use whatever means necessary to efficiently get a job done with the least amount of effort (such as the aforementioned language apps).  Although I do not agree with cutting corners, I do believe there is always an easier way of doing things.  There will always be someone who will find the easier way and leverage it to their advantage.  Which type are you and what type of programmer would you hire?

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