Why Intellect Alone Won’t Get You Success
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” — Albert Einstein
For most of us, we were raised with the idea that if you were not “book smart” or had “high intelligence”, then you would not amount to much in life, success would be something that is just not destined for you. Sadly, so many people cling to this belief like a life raft in stormy seas, only to find that it is not seaworthy at all. In fact, this perspective often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, trapping people in a cycle of limitation and frustration.
Over the course of my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with a variety of individuals. Some were exceptionally smart and wildly successful. Others were also exceptionally smart but held back by their own limiting beliefs and underachievement. And then there were those who might not score highly on an IQ test but somehow manage to achieve incredible success. So, what gives? What really determines whether someone thrives or stagnates?
Like most things in life, the answer is complicated. Yes, luck plays a role — we cannot deny that. But I believe that a few key factors often underpin the difference between success and mediocrity…
Ineffective Self-Narratives
Your self-narrative is the internal story you tell yourself about who you are and what you are capable of achieving. It is like your personal GPS, except it is often riddled with outdated maps and faulty coordinates. The beliefs you hold about yourself ultimately determine your reality and this is not just some motivational cliché, it is grounded in psychological science.
Take, for example, beliefs rooted in “I am not good enough” or “I am not smart enough”. When you believe you are unworthy or incapable, your brain literally filters your experiences through that lens. Studies on cognitive biases show that people who perceive themselves to be unlucky in life often miss opportunities that others (i.e., those who believe they are lucky) spot with ease. For example, one research study by Richard Wiseman had two groups of people, one group who perceived they were lucky versus another group who perceived themselves to be, given the same newspaper article. Both groups were instructed to count the amount of images in the newspaper. On the second page of the newspaper, in bold letters, it said that there are 42 images and they can stop counting. Those who believed they were lucky in life, read this and stopped counting, whereas those who inherently believed that they were unlucky never even saw that message! They never noticed that bolded instruction and kept counting the images.
Moreover, people with low self-belief or the so called “victim mentality” are particularly prone to misinterpreting social cues. They may see indifference where there is opportunity or hostility where there is none, further reinforcing the negative self-narrative they hold about themselves. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle, where the more you believe you are unworthy or doomed to fail, the more your mind filters out evidence to the contrary and locks onto signs to help confirm your belief.
Conversely, a healthy self-narrative fosters self-efficacy and confidence. People with high self-efficacy tend to view challenges as opportunities, knowing they are not perfect and that failure is part of the process of improving themselves. They approach life with a sense of agency, trusting that they can create the changes they desire in their lives. They are also better at interpreting social cues more accurately, seeing potential allies and opportunities where others might see only barriers.
The science on this is clear, your internal story shapes your external reality. So, to reach success you have to become really aware of the story you tell yourself. You can learn to change the narrative you hold about yourself without lying to yourself and making it feel “fake”. For example, instead of telling yourself, “I’m not good enough,” try, “I’m learning, and I will figure this out.” Or, instead of, “Nothing ever works out for me,” try, “What can I learn from this experience to help me be better next time?”. Remember, your intelligence is only one chapter in the story of your success. The rest of the narrative is up to you to write.
Attitude and Effort
Now, another key element to any success in life is the thing I believe most people shy away from is effort! Doing the work! Intelligence without effort is like owning a Lamborghini but never putting gas in the tank. Sure, it looks impressive sitting in the driveway, but it is not going anywhere, just like you will not be going anywhere despite sitting with tremendous potential.
Success requires more than just showing up with a sharp mind. It demands consistent effort, grit, and a willingness to grind through the unglamorous parts of the journey. It is important to remind yourself, that even when you find that ONE THING in life that blows your hair back and brings you so much meaning, passion and skill do not eliminate the hard work required. Having passion and intellect can definitely make the learning and problem-solving easier, but it does not exempt you from doing the work. You have to show up, consistently, even when you do not feel like it.
I strongly believe the one thing that sets extraordinary people apart from the ordinary is the fact that they show up, even when they do not feel like it. In fact, they are successful because of the fact that they show up when others do not. Therefore, your attitude is just as important as your effort. A sense of entitlement (e.g., “I’m smart, so I deserve success”) is a surefire way to alienate opportunities and people. On the other hand, a humble and curious attitude opens doors and keeps you learning. Success will always require collaboration, and no one wants to team up with someone who thinks they are the smartest person in the room (even if they are).
People Skills
Finally, and arguably for me, the most underrated determinants of success is your ability to relate to others. If intelligence opens doors, people skills keep them open. From my own experience, social intelligence is key if you want to attain ANY FORM of success in life. Social intelligence is about understanding and responding to the subtle cues that make or break human interactions. This involves being able to read body language, tone of voice, and even unspoken emotions. People who excel in this area naturally make others feel seen, understood, and valued.
Those who are socially intelligent do not just communicate and leave, they connect. They know when to listen, when to speak up, and how to adapt their approach depending on the person or situation.
It is important to remember that social intelligence is not about being extroverted or the loudest voice in the room. It is about being curious about the other human in the room. This can involve small but impactful actions, like a genuine smile, asking thoughtful questions, or even a well-timed pause to let someone else contribute. These moments of connection can lead to opportunities that intelligence alone will absolutely miss.
In a nutshell, no matter how brilliant you are, your success will depend more so on the story you tell yourself, the amount of effort you are willing to put in, and your ability to work with and inspire others. Being smart is undeniably an advantage, but it is NOT the golden ticket to success. So, start looking beyond your IQ and start investing in the skills and mindsets that truly drive success. Show up, do the work, and rewrite that inner story. After all, life is not just about being the smartest, it is about being the smartest in what will make you succeed.
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