What Makes Smart People Smart

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I believe intelligence is not something purely innate. While some people may be born with slightly higher intellectual capabilities, intelligence is cumulative.

I’ve come to realize that having original thoughts isn’t as important as having valid thoughts that serve you well. In fact, it’s often more effective to adopt proven ideas rather than try to create entirely new ones.

What I mean is, smart people became smart by learning from others. They read books written by other intelligent people, communicated with them, and partnered with them.

It became even clearer to me when I noticed that every smart person quotes other smart people. They didn’t invent the principles they follow; they simply had the wisdom to recognize what works and what doesn’t, then applied those ideas. It’s that simple.

So, if you want to become smarter, start by finding a mentor—whether in real life or online. Surround yourself with people you look up to, identify key principles, and stick with the ones that prove effective.

Your network plays a significant role in shaping you. Every person you interact with influences you in some way. If your network consists of intelligent, driven individuals, imagine how valuable that can be compared to a network that only engages in trivial conversations.

Read widely and wisely. Don’t limit yourself to topics you’re already interested in or authors you’re familiar with. Explore different fields and new voices. The more diverse the ideas you expose yourself to, the more it will contribute to your overall intelligence.

The truth is, many of the people we consider smart didn’t necessarily have extraordinary abilities; they just found what worked, followed it, and stayed consistent.

Personally, I’ve never seen myself as exceptionally smart. I’d rather be described as disciplined than brilliant. By sticking long enough to the principles that we all know work, I believe success is inevitable.