An IQ test is different than a mechanical aptitude test or good ol common sense. I know VERY smart people that wouldn't know which end of a shovel to hold and I know VERY good farmers that know very little other than farming. I find nothing wrong with either people because it is up to me to decide on what I believe from either person.
A smart person learns from your own mistakes while a wise person learns from other's mistakes.
I am amazed by how much difference there can be between IQ and mechanical aptitude. As a young adult in college, I was quite frustrated by any mechanical process. I could do the math, physics, chemistry, and computer programming, but if I tried to change the oil in my car, I would screw it up. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME!!!!
I got to the point where I just stopped trying, and I would just pay people for any mechanical work I needed done.
About twenty years ago, my wife and I bought some land and a tractor. The dealership was about 45 minutes from our house, and I would have paid some significant transportation costs to take the tractor in for service, so I decided to give it one more shot.
It seems that I had developed more patience and a genuine interest in learning to develop mechanical skills. In my younger days, I was just trying to save a few bucks, and I wanted to finish the unpleasant job ASAP, which ironically made it take longer.
I am pleased to say that I'm now reasonably competent at basic fluids and filters maintenance and I've done a ton of projects around the farm, such as building fences and horse stalls and installing automatic waterers in the barn. Sometimes it just takes more time to grow up.
