| In today's competitive world, it pays to be | | | | of finding the fun in the irony and the |
| smart. No matter how smart you are, I am sure | | | | comedy of everyday life. |
| there is something you could "get smarter" | | | | |
| about. Below are some qualities of smart | | | | 11. Take Risks |
| people. As you read the list, ask yourself: | | | | |
| Am I as smart as I could be in this area? How | | | | Smart people are willing to try out new |
| could I get smarter? | | | | things, knowing that if it doesn't work out |
| | | | as intended, failure is often cleverly |
| 1. Make Decisions Intuitively | | | | disguised as a learning opportunity. They |
| | | | "swing out there" often, and it usually pays |
| Smart people listen to and follow their | | | | off. |
| intuition. They know how intuitions and | | | | |
| insights come to them and are tuned-in | | | | 12. Trust Themselves |
| internally to make wise decisions. | | | | |
| | | | Smart people believe and trust themselves |
| 2. Are Self-Aware | | | | first and foremost. They don't have to check |
| | | | with others to make decisions, they |
| Smart people are aware of who they are--- | | | | instinctively know what is right for them and |
| strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, | | | | they go for it! |
| etc. As Confucious once said, "He who knows | | | | |
| others is wise, he who knows himself is | | | | 13. Write and List Things on Paper |
| enlightened," they know that the most | | | | |
| important (and interesting) thing to know | | | | Smart people have a well-developed life |
| about is "self." | | | | strategy that includes a written life vision |
| | | | mission, purpose, and goals statement. They |
| 3. Use Active Reflection | | | | also write lists---one for "have to's" and |
| | | | one for "want to's." |
| Smart people reflect on and learn from past | | | | |
| experiences, finding out what works and what | | | | 14. Are Productive |
| doesn't, and then adjusts their course of | | | | |
| action as needed. They think about things | | | | Smart people get things done, through |
| before jumping in, and also take the time | | | | whatever organizational/time management |
| after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully | | | | system that works for them. They make the |
| understand what happened or didn't happen. | | | | most of each day and take action on important |
| | | | life tasks each and everyday. |
| 4. Think Out-of-Box | | | | |
| | | | 15. Use Discernment |
| Smart people can easily entertain new ideas, | | | | |
| thoughts, and ways of doing things. They | | | | Smart people are able to discern (see |
| crave progressive and forward thinking | | | | clearly) other's reasons and motives, so they |
| information, concepts, and people. They often | | | | selectively choose who and what to align |
| come up with new and radical ideas on a | | | | themselves with. They surround themselves |
| regular basis. | | | | with only the highest quality people, |
| | | | programs, and places. |
| 5. Have An Open-Mind | | | | |
| | | | 16. Read, Read, Read |
| Smart people are open to different | | | | |
| perspectives and see potential where most | | | | Smart people tap into the collective brain |
| people don't. They would agree with what the | | | | power of others by reading books, magazines, |
| quote, "A mind is like a parachute, it only | | | | articles---anything that is helpful for their |
| functions when it is open." They are | | | | own development. They are also able to filter |
| comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to | | | | out the information that fits for them and |
| many sides of an issue or opinion. | | | | let the rest go. |
| | | | |
| 6. Are Responsive | | | | 17. Value Learning |
| | | | |
| Smart people recognize and respond quickly to | | | | Smart people value the process of learning |
| opportunities and people. They act and react | | | | for learning's sake. They do not just learn |
| fast, and take care of what needs to be taken | | | | for a specific end---to get a certificate, |
| care-of, well ahead of schedule. | | | | degree, title, etc. They learn because it is |
| | | | intrinsically rewarding for them. |
| 7. Are Resourceful | | | | |
| | | | 18. Teach Others |
| Smart people don't have to know it all, but | | | | |
| they do know where to go to get whatever | | | | Smart people are the teachers of the world, |
| information, resources, training, education | | | | who share their knowledge with other people. |
| that they need. They are well-networked and | | | | They put themselves out there so the rest of |
| have people to call on for resource | | | | us can benefit, and in exchange, their own |
| referrals. | | | | learning grows and develops because they are |
| | | | actively talking about, researching, and |
| 8. Question Authority | | | | understanding their subject. |
| | | | |
| Smart people think for themselves. They do | | | | 19. Reinvent Themselves |
| not blindly believe things so-called | | | | |
| "experts" say, in fact, they ask deep | | | | Smart people do not like to stay the same, |
| questions to discover their own truth. | | | | they love to grow and develop. They often |
| | | | play with their image, brand, company name, |
| 9. Upgrade Their Brain | | | | and expand or change it entirely. To stay |
| | | | ahead of the game, they often reinvent |
| Smart people stay smart because they are | | | | themselves time and time again. |
| committed to being a lifelong learner. They | | | | |
| continuously learn new things, and stay | | | | 20. Are Students of Life |
| current with their skills, attitudes, and | | | | |
| beliefs. | | | | Smart people not only know about specific |
| | | | subjects and topics, but also about what it |
| 10. Have a Sense of Humor | | | | means to be a human being at this time in our |
| | | | evolution. They are insatiably curious and |
| Smart people do not take themselves or life | | | | want to know more about becoming bigger and |
| too seriously. They recognize the importance | | | | brighter, as a result they naturally evolve. |