The Curse of the Highly Capable
The most capable person in the room is usually the most resentful.
Quick note before today’s post: My free course, Cowork Mondays. Zero to Claude Cowork in Six Weeks, is up and running! The feedback has been positive, and I’m so glad it’s helping people dip their toes into the waters of agentic AI. You know, AI that “does stuff” for us. If you’re curious, check it out!
Readers will have three reactions to this newsletter:
For some, this will be a completely foreign concept.
Some of you will think, “Check out the ego on this guy.”
For a few of you, it’ll land, and you’ll think, “Yes. He gets me.”
If you study anything about growing a Substack, it’ll tell you to absolutely not write a post like this. Keep it broad. Keep it accessible. Keep it targeted at your audience.
Alas, I am what I am. Here goes.
Introducing the “HC”
There’s a certain subset of people who are highly capable. HCs, let’s call them.
Now, most people will raise their hand and say, “That’s me.” But I’m sorry, it’s not most people.
I’m talking about people who will stop at nothing short of death to fulfill a commitment, keep a promise, and accomplish a goal. They may not be fast, but they are unstoppable.
They’re also crazy good at most things.
Not “jack-of-all-trades, master of none.” No. I’m talking broad and deep knowledge. Skilled and capable across the board.
You wouldn’t call them “unicorns,” exactly, but you’re also not passing them on every block down Main Street.
Here’s the irony: HCs often have one glaring weakness. They resent when others expect them to be highly capable.
I know. Completely illogical. Exceptionally annoying. All of it wrapped up into a lousy predicament for the people closest to them.
To know an HC is useful. They jump into action before most people even notice there’s a problem. They think three steps ahead. They identify and solve things quietly, without making a whole thing of it.
They’re also exhausted most of the time. There’s no such thing as being an HC and being “off.”
So what do people around HCs do? They step back and let them handle it. Why wouldn’t they? It works!
The problem is, HCs also resent having to “handle it.” Even the things they “gladly” volunteered for. They get stuck in a loop: “Why am I always the one to solve, fix, and do everything?”
Handling an HC
What’s the point here?
If you’re an HC, know this about yourself: You’re not alone.
Also, know that you’re being a little unfair to the people around you. You can’t blame them for expecting you to behave exactly as you’ve always behaved.
Sometimes just being aware of the pattern is enough to start working through it.
And if you’re a normal, well-adjusted non-HC, and you have an HC in your life, do them a favor: release them from duty once in a while.
Even if they volunteer to handle something, give them a pass. “That’s kind of you, but I’ve got this.” It doesn’t sound like much. It helps more than you’d think. It gives them permission to take themselves off the hook for a minute.
Wrap Up
It’s impossible to write a post like this without coming off like a jerk. But some of you needed to hear it. And I needed to hear it.
You’re not alone, and yes, you’re a little crazy.
But we love you.
As always, if you’d like to chat about topics like this, I’m here for you: scott@scottmonday.com.
Last week’s YouTube video is a fascinating look at why Toys R Us, that merchandise mecca for so many of us 70s, 80s, and 90s kids, went from toy powerhouse to liquidation in just a few short years. Check it out!
Things I've Enjoyed Lately: Google’s Notebook LM is, in my opinion, an under-the-radar AI tool. Probably because it’s really hard to describe. I’ll put it like this: it takes large volumes of data (PDFs, documents, website links, etc.) and turns them into a searchable, interactive dataset. But for me, my favorite use case is having Notebook LM create custom informational “podcasts” from the information I give it. Load it up with a 100-page PDF, then click “Audio Overview.” A few minutes later, you have an audio synopsis built just for you. It’s magic!