What's it like - to be a clever man

One of the users Quora I asked an interesting and in many ways a provocative question: "What's it like - to be a clever man, and how did you realize that you're smarter than most people?".

The question provoked a lively discussion, the most interesting ideas from which we will share with you today.

Do not hang tags

According to generally accepted standards, I can be called a clever man. I easily climbed the corporate ladder, while most of my colleagues have experienced significant difficulties. I have received many awards, won dozens of competitions. Many people I characterize it as "intelligent and successful man."

At some point, I truly believe that an intelligent, well or at least smarter than most people. And because of this I began to look down on the family members, friends and acquaintances.

I began to feel a crazy mixture of giftedness, confidence, loneliness, gluttony and are heavy laden. And then I realized that was wrong.

I started to hang labels on all others. I talked with others rather superficially, and soon realized that I envy the people in my life who have simple friendships. And such a relationship, by the way, were precisely those people I felt dumber than himself.

I realized that divide people into "smart" and "unwise" - this is a very stupid way to live. Now I try to look deeper. Each person has their own story, their own strengths and weaknesses, triumphs and failures.

Each person has their own point of view and dismiss or despise him for what his point of view is different from yours, it is at least silly. Each person in your life - this is an opportunity to look at the world in new ways. Each person in your life will allow you to see yourself in a whole new light.

Today, my friends would describe me as a nice and caring person, and I was completely satisfied.

Do not compare yourself with others

In his university years, I often faced with situations that made me feel stupid. I could deal with the theorem for two hours and did not think of how to prove it. Of course, these problems are quite normal, but feeling like a clever I can certainly not felt.

The people who surrounded me at the university, were not stupid, and many even smarter than me. Many of them have won international competitions and could beat me at chess blindfolded. But I do not give up, and try to constantly evolve. I try to go their own way and do not compare yourself with others. The latter does not always work, of course, but I try.

The only person with whom you have to compare ourselves, is that you in the past. And the only person, it is better that you should be, this is who you are now.

Sigmund Freud

A smart person knows ...

If you are a smart man, you:

• You know the answer when it does not know anyone else.
• You know the answer when everyone knows him, but to think out before him fastest.
• You know what would be the best solution, and are willing to take the initiative in their hands.
• You know the answer because you read it.
• You know the answer because it tells you the experience.
• You do not know the answer, but do you know where to find it.
• You do not know the answer, but you know who you can ask.
• Only know part of the answer, but for you it's enough to move forward.
• You know what you do not know the answer.
• You know that persistence solves many problems.
• You know how to make people believe in you.
• You know how to turn the situation to their advantage.
• You know, how to attract people to the solution of other problems.
• You know how to explain the problem to others.
• You know how to hide the problem, if circumstances so require.
• You know how to decompose a complex problem into its component parts.
• You know, how to attract others to your side.
• You know how to prevent the problem.
• Do you know when the best time to start to solve the problem.
• You know how the problem will affect you and others.
• You know that to lose, and that will gain in the process of solving the problem.
• Do you know how to visualize the problem.
• You know how to manage a group of people, which will solve the problem.
• You know how important you are to people, if you can solve the problem.
• Do you know who can help you solve the problem.
• You know what the problem is solved, and what - no.

If you can subscribe to the majority of these statements, then you can consider yourself quite clever man.

Be smart - a gift or a burden?

Be smart - it's an incredible gift, but at the same time it is a heavy burden.

In high school at the Mathematics Olympiad I took the 25 th place among all US high school students. Given that I overtook about 15 million school, I could not help but feel capable and intelligent man.

I also copes with other school subjects, has won many prestigious competitions and contests. Of course, some thought I was boring, but, unlike the stereotypical nerds, I was sociable and quite popular among their peers. And, most importantly, my victories have helped me to believe in yourself and your abilities.

I went to a prestigious college and after graduation got a place in the well-known company. I have built a successful career (and continue to build it until now).

Let's talk about the shortcomings:

1. I assumed that intelligence and academic success - is the most important thing, and things such as friendship or sport, it is, of course, great, but not so important. As I found out, it was quite a biased judgment. I think that people tend to overestimate it, what they are good, and underestimate what they are not so successful.
2. I tried not to communicate with people who are considered more stupid than themselves. This is not surprising when you consider how important I had rankings in school time. Eventually this led to the fact that I had a lot less friends than my classmates. I try not to regret what has passed, but still regrets that at the time I was caught in the trap of stereotyping, which he himself created.
3. Be smart - it's a big responsibility. People think that you can solve any problem, that is, you see almost a magician. If you are trying to dissuade them in his omnipotence, then you start teasing phrases like "Hey, I thought you were smart." To be on top and do not take the position - is hard work, which is not everyone's strength.

In general, due to their abilities I have achieved many awards in my piggy bank is very respectable achievement. But at the same time, I worried a lot, and the fear of failure he could get me to quit the job. Now I am 31 years old, and I try to work on themselves and on their attitude to the problems and objectives.

What does a smart man

A smart man knows when to speak and when to listen.

Smart people can change their opinion if realizes that he was wrong.

Smart people know they do not get their own way.

Smart people know how important it is to overcome your fear and see what is actually there is nothing to worry about. Stupid people never on such a venture is not.

A smart person knows that there is always someone smarter than him.

On the advantages and disadvantages

I have a lot of achievements, a student, I was a winner of many competitions and has always shown excellent results in the tests. I was an intern at the world-famous companies.

Thanks to my achievements I am proud of myself and I'm happy when I see that my parents are proud of me, too. I like it when others put me as an example. But, despite this, there are a few things that upset me.

• People quickly get used to everything. At that time I started to make the first significant success, my family was ready to throw a party on this issue, and now just smile and nod.
• True friends will be able to share with you the joys and sorrows. And if the first of many to cope, ready to listen to you for hours, comforting and giving life advice, here's the second deal the strength is not for everyone. Envy - constant companion of all human relationships, even friendships.
• Knowing your reputation "superumnika," many people are baptized you are arrogant and cocky.

I find it difficult to communicate with many of my friends, sometimes it seems that I'm a loner. I would like to often be easier to be like most people. Sometimes I would like once again become a teenager, whose head is constantly spinning the same phrase: "No one understands me."

Of intelligence are not judged on the estimates

I consider myself an intelligent man, but I do not have heaps of different diplomas, cups and other things, like the answer above. I've never chased after it, simply because they do not see the point.

At school and university, I always asked more questions than my peers and always expected a more detailed answers.

I try to surround yourself with smart people, but they do not necessarily have to have a doctorate. A man may have a hundred paper confirmation of his intellect and still be incredibly boring for me. I like people who have an inquiring mind, who are open-minded and not afraid to express his opinion. With such nice people to talk, it is interesting to listen to their arguments.

In our time, the intelligence measured by IQ-tests and the university estimates. I believe that this is very misleading. Thirst for knowledge, a passion for everything new, the propensity to the analysis - that is what distinguishes a truly intelligent man.

Be smart - it means to be sane

I believe that an intelligent man - is primarily a sane person. Common sense helps him cope with various obstacles in life. He knows what is worth and what not to do in a given situation.

Own little game

I studied in a private school, but my family was forced to move to a small town, and I continued his studies in the less prestigious institutions. Due to the base, I was in a private school, I was a good student, not putting much effort.

Then I went to college on the way out, I had to become an engineer. By entering preparing diligently since everyone said that would be very difficult to learn and you need a good preparation. But in the first few weeks at university, I realized that it is easy to learn and to me because of it pretty boring. I quickly fell in cheerful company and began to pass the pair.

I went to about 10% of the classes, and all exams prepared for one night. My assessment, respectively, have never been particularly brilliant.

I can not call myself an intellectual, but I won own little game: in one night could learn what others have been taught a semester. I proved to myself that I am capable person.

Be smart - it's ...

What's it like - to be smart? So:

• It's offensive. You're talking to people about what they can not comprehend, and because of this they look at you like you're an alien from another planet. You a few days reading vocabulary, getting to know new words, but anyone can not talk about it (because everyone thinks that it is very strange and boring). No one can answer most of your questions. If you are a child, all by default you are not serious, you are buying toys and picture books, and nobody cares that you have already started reading science fiction in his library. If you are a teenager, your arguments do not take seriously. Any dispute with the teacher ends up not in your favor.
• It's lonely. Sometimes you really just do not have anyone to talk to. All the talk of peers that you feel empty. And at the same time you are suffering from a lack of communication.
• It's boring. School and university programs that you feel are incredibly simple. Teachers and professors are always based on the average of pupils and students, and that the talk on the lessons and vapors, you feel boring, boring, boring.
• It's embarrassing. Classmates, and after classmates complain to you that they spent three hours doing homework and still have not been able to prove all theorems. And you coped with it for 20 minutes and feel uneasy: you feel that your teammates are normal, and you are not of this world.
• It teaches you to adapt to others, people love you, when it suits them, and hate it when it suits them. If you are clever, in the opinion of others, is not the case, or permanent answer to those questions, the answers to which are not can find most of the people that hate you, you look like a cockroach, which was unexpectedly cake. And if you help people solve a problem or task that you all love and admire you.

Effect Dunning - Kruger

I believe that no one can objectively assess their capabilities. This is called the Dunning - Kruger. Its meaning is that talented and smart people tend to underestimate their abilities, while less competent people, on the contrary, inflated ideas about their abilities and capabilities.

What do you think about this?