When You Are Not Born Smart
Posted: Wednesday, December 24, 2008
by Gerry McRae
http://www.UncleMaxSays.com
Some people are born smart or have been nurtured into being smart. Most of us accept that as a fate which is not available to us so we get on with living our lives using what has been bestowed upon us. You can alter these misfortunes of life by acting and appearing smart. You can apply your given intelligence to developing your insight, your thinking processes and clarity of perception with the aid of many tools.
2. MIND MAPPING is a great exercise for people preferring diagrams to describe such things as relative importance. sequence of actions, relationships, etc. Take the time and effort to apply mind mapping to every complex procedure you approach. Gradually reduce your reliance on specific details. Soon, you will have a thinking discipline you can perform instantly in any situation while referring to the mind map you visualize in your brain. Behind your back they will be saying how smart you are.
3. SPREADSHEETS transform small or large sets of data by quantifying, sorting, ranking, scheduling and any number techniques. Experimenting with variations and permutations can develop your ability to analyze, summarize, calculate and gain insight into data collections. Encourage your transfer of learning so you can think more clearly without the aid of actual spreadsheets. As you become more adept with spread sheeting "What Ifs," you will begin visualizing virtual matrices in your "smart-acting" brain during management discussions.
4. MEMORY JOGGERS can be lists organized for easier memorization or routines and procedures. After frequent usage your crib sheet will become redundant as your memory improves. Many people equate a good memory with being smart.
5. CONTRACTING OUT to coaches and consultants speeds up your production of smart actions. Fees can be in cash or in a mutual exchange of benefits or services. Instead of allowing your coach to give you solutions, have the coach teach you how to solve. Teach yourself to emulate their thinking processes. Gradually, their wisdom will become your own.
6. MENTORING NETWORKS extend upwards, downwards and at your same level. Mentors find you. You do not find them. Work at making yourself attractive to a mentor who will be seeking demonstrations of competence, a fervent learner, a set of ambitious goals and a promising future. Spread the word by exchanging your ideas and plans with your superiors, your subordinates and your contemporaries. Carefully study their opinions and reactions. Some of your best insights could come from a 10-year-old.
7. FOCUS YOUR STUDIES and informal reading on how to act and appear smart. Brain wash yourself with regular and frequent absorption of any information with a potential to improve your thinking and behavior. Never divulge the techniques you used to do or say smart things. Just let them think you are smart. These are only a few of the ways to compensate for not being born smart with a golden spoon in your mouth.
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Hi Gerry, a very good and informative article. You have an excellent ability for explanation and presentation. Thank you for sharing this with us.Thank you. It's a great act -- to compliment others for their quidity and actions.I hope I have inspired you and others to sincerely say to yourself, "stop complaining about the cards you were dealt and get on with playing your hand." - Gerry
Sir a beautiful article,very well written.But can you define, who is a smart person...?What a great question!Rather than stumbling here with an answer, I'll make this a topic for a future article.Keep in touch.Thank you for this.i will for sure...
Gerry, great article and very well written. You hit on some great key points!!
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, ITS OVER MY HEAD....lol I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO DO SOME MIND MAPPING AND FOCUS MORE...........
Gerry,This was a very informative and interesting write. And I must add that a professor at Florida Agricultural&Mechanical University gave us this learning techinique as well: "4. MEMORY JOGGERS"...And it does work!Thanks for sharing
The article seemed a little vague. Your premise of most not being born smart is not something that I am convinced of as you state it. The methods for "becoming smart" you outline do not seem practical.
Hi Gerry, You've included some interesting tips. By doing some of these we will build or reinforce some of the neurological pathways that actually will make us smarter!
Great article, Gerry. I was most certainly not born smart. I had to work very hard all through school to make the grade but eventually graduated 3rd in my class. I did what you suggested and used what intelligence I did have to make people think I was smart--that sometimes actually works. I also did a lot of praying and am confident that that works.Sandra
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