History Proves That These Are The 9 Things Smart People DON'T Do

["culture", "school", "pop culture"]

Sometimes what you don't do is as important as what you do...

Although there might not be a perfect formula for intelligence, these nine habits of highly successful people from history are worth reading through.

1. Smart People Never Assume They Know It All


Ironically, you’ll hardly ever find a truly intelligent person bragging about how smart they are. Part of what makes them so intelligent is that they realize that there’s always more to learn, so they are always listening to others rather than getting wrapped up in themselves.

So ASK questions. Stay curious.

2. They Don't Give Up


Walt Disney was fired from an early job at a newspaper for “lack of imagination,” Steven Spielberg was rejected both times he applied to USC film school, and Michael Jordan locked himself in his room to cry after being cut from his high school basketball team.

The one thing intelligent and successful people have in common isn’t that they were overnight successes. It’s that they weren’t but kept going anyway.

3. They Don't Blow Money Just Because They Can


When it comes to money, smart people know that the worst thing you can do when you come into a great deal of it is to go out and spend it all. While there’s nothing wrong with living comfortably, few rich people stay that way by going out and buying a huge house, car, and other things they don’t really need just because they can.

Smart people will use what money they need and then use the rest to make more by saving, investing, and using it to generate more profit.

4. They Never Accept The Norm


If there’s one thing that the greatest minds in history have in common, it’s the fact that the word “impossible” never made it’s way into their vocabularies.

In fact, if there’s one thing history can verify it’s that one of the prerequisites for being absolutely brilliant seems to be the ability to first shoulder being called totally insane.

5. They Don't Mistake Feelings For Facts

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Along the same lines, intelligent people understand that feelings and facts can be two very different things.

While few among us can’t relate to being swept away by our emotions from time to time, the most intelligent among us refuse to be stopped by them in the long run.

6. They Don't React Before Considering Their Options


While there’s certainly something to be said for taking action, intelligent people aren’t afraid to take their time when it comes to making important decisions. Though this may seem obvious, it’s a trap many of us fall into when the urge to do something- anything- hits us in the heat of a moment.

Take some time to consider things from every angle, maybe even make a list of pros and cons, and you may end up seeing things from a perspective that reacting on instinct alone wouldn’t have allowed.

7. They Don't Fear Mistakes


Smart people don’t beat themselves up about their own mistakes because they understand that they are necessary to achieving anything of real value. As Thomas Edison once put it, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

As painful as it can be, great ideas and genius discoveries often only come as the result of crossing not so great ideas off of the list of possible solutions.

8. They Don't Just Learn From Their Own Experiences


Not only do intelligent people learn from their own mistakes, they realize the value of learning from other people’s mistakes as well. This is another benefit of endless curiosity and observation.

Rather than seeing the world as if it revolves around themselves, smart people are constantly examining the behavior of everyone around them.

9. They Never Expect Life To Be Easy


As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”

The geniuses among us know that life is not only often times not easy, it’s often not fair either. They also understand however, that it’s those who don’t mind this fact and keep pushing ahead anyway who ultimately enjoy life being unfair in their favor.

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