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