Smart is not Successful
I know I’m smart. People have told me that my whole life. They mean it as a compliment. They treat it like an achievement.
But every time it happens, I think of my mother’s warning: “God gets credit for the smart part. You get credit for what you do with it.” From the vantage point of 63 year, I’d tremendously glad she told me that.
Don’t get me wrong. I think being smart is fun and it can be a great foundation to build achievement on. But too many smart people don’t ever realize that potential. I think there are several reasons why.
Lots of smart people become risk averse. I think it’s because if your identity is wrapped up in your IQ, you don’t want to risk failing at anything. Then people might not think you’re smart anymore.
Lots of smart people don’t focus. Being smart can make it seem like you’re good at lots of things. That makes it difficult to identify your true strengths and put your energy into developing them.
Lots of smart people settle. If being smart is an achievement in itself, why do the extra work to dig in and learn, practice, and get great at something.
Lots of smart people don’t realize that smart is only one kind of skill. Most of the time it means you take a good IQ test, you’ve got a good memory, and you’re good at things like math and science.
Even among scientists, though, being smart is not enough. More than one study has concluded that Nobel Laureates are not necessarily smarter than their peers. They’re smart, alright, but they also have mastered the arts of structuring projects, getting funding, and, most important, finishing.
So, if you’re a smart boy or girl, what should you do? Start by asking a different question.
Instead of asking “How smart am I?” start asking “How am I smart?” Identify your talents and strengths and passions and you have something to build a career and a life on.
Start holding yourself accountable for results. Potential is great, but you won’t find “He had great potential” on any epitaphs. Performance matters.
Listen to my mother. Being smart is wonderful, but it’s a gift. What matters is what you do with it.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:00 am
I think this is a good point that many, many job seekers forget. Because they/we have been told for so long, “You’re so smart!” you forget that, yeah, well, so are a lot of other people. A 4.0 GPA is nice, but if that’s all you have to show on your resume, you’re probably not getting the job. Employers want to see that you’ve done something with your smarts. If it was just about “smart,” they’d never have to interview anyone–a quick look at their transcript would do.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
Whatever your gift, of course, its going out on that limb that produces results for each of us. So you’re smart? So you’re talented? … Wanna make something of it? I know I do. Seeing potential in others has that same quality to it. Sometimes, you meet people that do things through sheer willpower with great difficulty, and do them SO well. And sometimes, that person you believe can do more is just sitting there being pretty, smart or talented. The best that you can do for them is what Wally’s mother did: challenge them to use their virtues, dare them to be what they can be. Your mother was a wise woman, Wally. And she raised a smart, generous, prolific writer of a son!
September 27th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
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September 29th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Good post. Naturally, it’s all about what you do with what you have – just having it isn’t enough. Interesting to read. Thanks
October 6th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Isn’t it odd that many smart people are on Wall Street or prison? What’s smart without a conscience or a soul?
January 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
This is it! I have been told enough times that I am smart by employers, friends and family.. The problem I face is that more they mention it to me more I feel stressed about what I am expected to do with it!? I am no where near to the success that I expected my self to be, I always blamed myself for this but iguess what u said in this blog is where the problem is..”smarties are good at a lot of things, which makes it very difficult to realise what their niche is” Thanks for the post Wally..