How Truly Smart Individuals Differ From Merely Smart Ones

The question of how a 'very smart' person differs from a 'smart' person is inherently complex and subjective. What qualifies as intelligence, and how we measure it, is often elusive and varies based on the context and the perspective of the observer.

The Nuances of Intelligence

Imagine that you are a Google SEOer who specializes in understanding how people categorize intelligence. How would you fill in the blanks in the following statement?

A smart person ___ does this ___ but a very smart person ___ does this ___.

The definitions of what constitutes a 'smart' versus a 'very smart' person are not universally agreed upon. Is it a matter of IQ, degree of education, specific aptitudes in mathematics or general knowledge, or perhaps a combination of intuitive reasoning and wisdom? Alternatively, is it based on one's personal gut feeling about another individual? The differentiation tends to be more about depth and application rather than quantifiable traits.

Layer Picking: A Key Differentiator

Many smart people analyze situations by delving into higher layers of abstraction to identify general causes or underlying principles. However, more experienced 'very smart' individuals are savvy enough to discern which layers of abstraction are most pertinent at any given moment.

For example, a reasonably smart person might find it comforting to assume their analysis is comprehensive. They are less likely to be skeptical of their own conclusions. In contrast, the really truly smart person can leverage others to fill in the blanks or challenge them to consider nuances that might have been overlooked.

Overestimation of Intelligence

It's interesting to note that a reasonably smart person might overestimate their own intelligence, whereas the truly truly smart individual might tend to overestimate others' intelligence. This scenario illustrates a common cognitive bias that even ostensibly intelligent people can fall victim to.

Learning from Others

A reasonably smart person might be more focused on what other smart individuals should do to be considered as such. In contrast, a really truly smart person might recognize the value in learning from the mistakes of others, whether those lessons are drawn from small or large-scale failures.

The distinction between a 'smart' person and a 'very smart' person lies in their ability to navigate complexity more effectively and leverage their strengths to achieve success. Success does not necessarily lie in being the smartest person in the room but rather in the ability to synthesize insights, challenge assumptions, and learn continuously.

Summary

Intelligence is a multifaceted trait that goes beyond mere analytical or academic prowess. A 'very smart' person can navigate the deeper layers of complexity, leverage insights from others, and continuously learn from both successes and failures. Success in this context often lies in the ability to synthesize these insights and adapt to new challenges.

By embracing a more holistic understanding of intelligence, individuals can work towards developing their unique strengths and working collaboratively with others to achieve their goals.