You Gotta Be the Dumbest Smart Kid I Know

Why Existence The Smartest Person in The Room is The Dumbest Affair You lot Can Be

I have never been the best at anything. I would spend a lot time growing up, imagining myself as someone I wasn't. I would picture the talk shows and the interviews, and the inspiring stories my fictional self would share.

I grew up playing a lot of sports. Ever okay, but never great.

I wasn't unintelligent, only I've never been what y'all would consider academic.

Moving into adult life, I connected this mediocrity (decent education, decent job, decent books…). I've never been bad at anything, but I've never been great or the best.

So I would imagine it, and play out these 'dream interviews' in my mind.

I hoped to be the 'smartest' and 'best' in the room, but now I appreciate how impaired this is.

Why Being 'Smart' is Not That Smart

They say "if you're the smartest person in the room, y'all're in the incorrect room."

I've heard this quote a lot over the years, but I never really appreciated it.

It seemed like the sort of thing you say to make yourself experience amend (and to justify your mediocrity). It seemed similar a cop-out, only I now know it'due south one of the wisest mantras y'all tin can live by.

I began to realise this when I interviewed 150+ people for my latest book. I met folks like Jayson Gaignard who literally lives and dies by this motto (information technology's the slogan for his epic briefing, Mastermind Talks).

It didn't click into identify direct away, but that'south how life often goes — yous hear something a lot, but it takes a while before it makes sense (before information technology's relevant to 'you').

So why is being so smart and so dumb?

Well I enquire yous to imagine what life would be like, if yous entered every room knowing you were the best-of-the-best. Would this fulfil you? Would this make you happy? Would such superiority brand yous complete, and better than everyone else?

Or would it massage your ego into an unstoppable force?

Would it make you complacent and forcefulness yous to take your eye off the ball?

After all, isn't this how the likes of Blockbuster and Kodak slipped into oblivion subsequently dominating their industry for decades?

Is this not how the talented sporting wonderkid of their generation burst onto the scenes, just to fizzle into nothing (I look at you, Freddy Adu)?

How Ego Really is Your Enemy

The smartest person in the room is the just one in it incapable of learning.

Equally the smartest person in the room, you are 'it'.

What comes later 'information technology'… how are yous supposed to motivate yourself to exist better, if you're already the best?

Because if there's one thing I've learned over the final few years, it's how unsafe complacency can be. Almost people make mistakes (and fail), not when they're taking gamble and pushing the boundaries, but when they sit back and relax.

Worst of all, yous're blinded from the fact considering you're the 'best'; you've already made it.

And while you're saturday on your throne, enjoying the view, someone below you (learning from yous, motivated and inspired past you) is ready to knock you off information technology.

That may accept been you once, simply not anymore.

At present, you're blinded by your ego, protected in a bubble yous created for yourself.

I didn't think I had much of an ego, personally. I'm rather private, shy, and reserved, so you lot don't associate ego with a guy like me. You look at the confident person; the outspoken one.

But and so I read 'Ego is Your Enemy' by Ryan Holiday, and I realised how egotistical I am.

All those hours I wasted picturing myself as the best… it was my ego. I didn't feel worthy enough being average, and so I dreamed nearly being superior; about being someone different.

Of grade, this didn't make me any better at sports. It didn't make me any smarter. Information technology didn't have me any closer to those talk shows and interviews.

But it made me feel meliorate most me, which in turn fed my ego a five-course meal of ignorance.

How To Enter a New (better) Room

Lucky for you and me, in that location's always a room with someone smarter than you.

It's easier to stick to what you know. There's condolement surrounding yourself with people further behind.

But what does this reach?

It'south like hanging out with a bunch of seven-yr-olds, and feeling pride when you outscore them on a test.

Well done.

You're smarter than them, but are yous a better version of 'y'all'?

And this is the point. This is the truthful lesson I have learned, and this is why I no longer (most of the time) worry about not being the smartest person in the room.

Considering 'this' (and when I say 'this', I mean this life I'thou living) isn't almost coming together a certain standard or ticking a specific box. It's nearly me being the best 'me' I can be.

I won't achieve this as the smartest person in the room. The but style I will is if I proceed to learn, grow, and strive for better.

And there'southward a room for that, but it isn't the one I've spent my life in until at present.

I withal catch myself daydreaming at times, and my ego continues to fight me most days. Information technology'south scared. It's worried. Information technology'due south frightened virtually being boilerplate, and that nosotros'll never be enough.

Only we are enough, and we'll remain this way so long as we learn, abound, and strive for better. Not a ameliorate number, or a better job, or a improve social standing… just a better version of 'me'.

It's out at that place, in rooms where I feel small and inadequate. All I have to do is open the door and enter.

I am by no means a finished commodity. I practise my best to exist aware of my ego, what I know and don't know, and my choices. And I cull to be better.

I am a human beingness who deserves to alive a fulfilling life.

You do, as well.

I began to question all of these a few years agone, when I constitute out my girl was to enter this earth. Information technology forces me to truly question the life I lived, and the way I used (and abused) time. This led me on a journey, which, every bit it often does, took me to the page.

If this resonates with y'all, our paths may be aligned.

I completed my latest book (a parable/ fable) very much centres around whole life residue, getting caught upwardly in the hustle, and defining your success. If you're interested, you may request a sample of the book hither.

And, you lot may too exist interested in the Free Facebook Community I run.

I created this community to open the entrepreneur'south eyes; to awaken them to the "hustle" they're caught in. As well equally creating an awareness of their current reality, the community facilitates conversation to show them the life and lifestyle they could live.

Not to provide them all the answers they desire, simply to give them the questions they need.

Click here and let'due south journey together.

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You Gotta Be the Dumbest Smart Kid I Know

Source: https://medium.com/the-mission/why-being-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-is-the-dumbest-thing-you-can-be-5d750c9d5d73