Competitive Intelligence

Think Intelligence

Intelligence is one of those infuriating things isn’t it, everybody knows what it is (or their perception of it) but nobody can really describe it. Intelligence really does have many different definitions. But do you think intelligence is important? Are the highly intelligent of our society truly the ones which are the most successful. Do you think intelligence is a gift or a curse?

Ha ha, now then, that’s got you hasn’t it? A bit like Mark Twain once said, “everything in moderation, including moderation”.  He also went on to say that ”all you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure”. Hmm, no mention of intelligence there either.

I remember speaking to my children’s nursery school teacher about a boy in her class many years previously who was particularly “intelligent”.  He could read newspapers by the age of three and his Mum often had difficulty in explaining things to him which he was simply far too young to understand or worry about. He did not, however, learn to ride a bicycle until he was much older, or even play outside with other children unless he was forced into it. He had no social skills whatsoever, and never did develop them. This very capable and experienced nursery school teacher was firmly of the opinion that “average is best”. Too much or too little intelligence, at least to a small child, was more of a curse than a blessing. Thankfully it’s never been an issue in our house!