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You are right, you can learn by being a good listener. But you have to be able to recognize when the person you are listening to is impressing you with intelligence or dazzling you with bull sheet.
And while some say to learn from your mistakes, I believe in learning by other peoples mistakes so that I will not make them.
Oh, but those who actually think they are intelligent don't impress me a bit. Not the tiniest bit.
No, I'd rather listen to someone who doesn't realize how intelligent he/she really is.
Not sure if this can be quantified. Is 'smartness' about being able to answer test questions? If so I'm in the top 10% based on my SAT scores a while back. However, how many could take apart and reassemble an engine? Or how many could lead a group of 20 people to safety in a highway snowstorm, or during a storm at sea? Is smartness based on experiences or the ability to learn from them...in which case maybe you were not smart the 'first time' with a given situation.
Not sure if this can be quantified. Is 'smartness' about being able to answer test questions? If so I'm in the top 10% based on my SAT scores a while back. However, how many could take apart and reassemble an engine? Or how many could lead a group of 20 people to safety in a highway snowstorm, or during a storm at sea? Is smartness based on experiences or the ability to learn from them...in which case maybe you were not smart the 'first time' with a given situation.
You just verified my point about seperating book smart from street smart.
But you also just added another ingregient when you mention the person who can lead a group of people to safety. For lack of a better term lets call that having a survival instinct. Exceptional survival instinct could be a learned skill but most people lose it when they are very young despite being born with it.
One person might put themselves in the top 25% because they have good common sense. Another might put themselves in the top 25% because they are well educated. A third might put themselves in the top 25% because they are a successful entrepreneur. A fourth might put themselves in the top 25% because they are good at standardized tests.
Obviously there will be a lot of overlap in the above categories, but not everyone will excel in all areas.
Edit: Oops, others have already made this point, sorry.
One person might put themselves in the top 25% because they have good common sense. Another might put themselves in the top 25% because they are well educated. A third might put themselves in the top 25% because they are a successful entrepreneur. A fourth might put themselves in the top 25% because they are good at standardized tests.
Obviously there will be a lot of overlap in the above categories, but not everyone will excel in all areas.
Edit: Oops, others have already made this point, sorry.
I had a formal IQ test done quite awhile back and I tested in something like the 84th percentile. Therefore, I put myself in the top 25% (since I would have been 16% from the top).
Also...I understand that most people have not been tested. I should have phrased my post differently. What I meant was what people either know their IQ is OR what they perceive it to be in relation to everyone else's.
You just verified my point about seperating book smart from street smart.
But you also just added another ingregient when you mention the person who can lead a group of people to safety. For lack of a better term lets call that having a survival instinct. Exceptional survival instinct could be a learned skill but most people lose it when they are very young despite being born with it.
To be clear, being book smart and being street smart are not mutally exclusive positions. But, most of the street smart folk I know are educated.
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