The ‘smartest’ failure in history

Hidden perils of book smarts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 October 05, 2024 Greetings Everyday Spy, Massive smarts don’t always equal [success in life](. Maybe the biggest example of wasted potential was born on April Fool’s Day 1898. William James Siddis was born a child prodigy: - He learned the English alphabet by 6 months of age - He knew 8 languages by age 8 - He entered Harvard at age 11, and gave a lecture to the math club about the physics of a 4th dimension in his first week As an adult, his estimated IQ was between 250-300 (for context, Einstein’s was 200) Siddis claimed: “I want to live the perfect life.” – but his sky-high intelligence wasn’t enough. Siddis chased math and science at all costs, while ignoring his personal life. According to a fellow Harvard classmate: “William was a complete freak in the eyes of his fellow students, he had none of the social graces, no interest in sports or dating.” After briefly working as a college professor, he quit and took up low-level clerk jobs for the rest of his life. Despite several offers for high-paying work using his math skills, he refused, claiming the pressure was too great. Siddis became overweight and high blood pressure resulted in a stroke. He died at age 46. Siddis is one of many examples showing that book smarts don’t translate into life success: - Christopher Langan had a 210 IQ and was once known as "the smartest man in America," worked as a bouncer, farmhand, and construction worker and struggled with money his whole life - Bobby Fischer was a chess prodigy and world champion whose life was marked by erratic behavior, anti-Semitic statements, and serious legal troubles - Norbert Wiener made huge contributions to mathematics, but his social awkwardness and difficulties in personal relationships hampered his life and success I’m not knocking jobs like clerks, bouncers, or manual labor. And what constitutes “success” varies from person to person. The point is that intelligence is only one part of the success equation. Someone with a 200 IQ who ignores their health and relationships has no edge over anyone else. Spies are trained to become COMPLETE operators, not A+ students. They learn elite skills in wide-ranging areas, such as physical fitness, social mechanics, and mental mastery to reach their highest potential and achieve any goal they want. Being smart is great, but never neglect the development of your full self. Godspeed, #EverydaySpy P.S. - Elite success requires excellence in all key areas of your life. [Skunkworks: RECRUIT]([is CIA’s full process for turning everyday people into unstoppable achievers.]( [fb]( [tw]( [ig]( [yt]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © 2024 EverydaySpy Promotions 411 Walnut St. #20309 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043, United States of America [Terms of Service](