You Can Usually Tell How Intelligent Someone Is By These 8 Things They Do Instinctively
Peopleimages.com - YuriArcurs | CanvaI’m often the first to yell from the rooftops about how there are no shortcuts in life or work. And this is absolutely true for 99.9% of things. But I was chilling in a hammock recently, looking up at the clouds, reflecting on my 39 years on this planet.
I was struck by a thought. I have taken some shortcuts. I mean, they’re kind of shortcuts. They certainly made life far easier for me, and saved me potentially years of pain.
You can usually tell how intelligent someone is by these 8 things they do instinctively:
1. They learn from the best
You can avoid the mistakes they made and make time. Find a mentor in person or via their books and courses.
2. They outsource as much as they can
Anything anyone else can do that you don’t need to do — outsource. Brainstorm a list of things you can pay others to do, often for a small fee. Use sites like Fiverr and Upwork to find supportive talent.
Trying to do everything alone hinders you more than you might realize. Therapist Dr. Gloria Brame explained, "We never get a place where we need to change alone, so we can't expect people to make necessary changes to their lives alone either."
3. They simplify everything
Many of us make life harder because there’s unnecessary complexity in the things we own, our systems, and our communications. Many of us struggle because others misinterpret us. Making things easy for others makes our lives easier, too.
4. They mimic success
Mimicking other people is underrated because we associate it with plagiarism. But as long as you put your own spin on something, mimicking something that has worked for someone else may ensure a similar level of success for you.
"Visionaries can perceive almost invisible potentials in previous discoveries or ideas," Dr. Brame continued. "They don't necessarily invent something utterly original from scratch. Instead, they take existing work forward to an entirely new peak."
5. They exercise every morning
Benoît Deschasaux / Unsplash+
Most people view exercise as a tedious chore. I see it as tapping into an energy resource that feeds me throughout the day. This energy payoff is exactly why intelligent people refuse to skip it.
Mental health counselor Miki Anderson explained, "Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep contribute to better physical health, increased energy levels, and a stronger immune system."
6. They pay to play
Grant Cardone introduced me to the power of investing money into your business’s growth. Pay to join communities and masterminds and gain access to the bigger players. Put everything you can afford into growing your network.
7. They do more with less
Wise people are continually asking: ‘How can I do more with less today?’ You must be ruthless if you want to see gains. This means saying no to more things so that you see results that multi-taskers will never experience.
8. They're intolerant of worry
So many of us lose hours of our days spent worrying. Just say no. It only makes us feel worse, which is the last state you want to be in to be a high performer.
Endless worrying, often associated with anxiety disorders like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is a pattern of excessive rumination on negative possibilities, which can significantly impact daily life by causing distress, impairing problem-solving abilities, and leading to physical symptoms due to chronic stress hormone release.
Alex Mathers is a writer and coach who helps you build a money-making personal brand with your knowledge and skills while staying mentally resilient. He's the author of the Mastery Den newsletter, which helps people triple their productivity.
