Psychology | Life | Success

8 Subtle Signs of Really Smart Person Most People Miss

Based on Psychology and Life Lessons

People notice the most bright things like fame, money, and reputation. However, real insights you can get by paying attention to the nuances. As the famous quote says — “God is in the details”.

Subtle signs can tell you a story that most people miss.

People don’t like to show their true nature on the first look. You need to observe carefully to detect the following signs of a truly smart person.

Let’s move to the signs:

1. Smart people don’t chase “I’m right”

“I told you so” — everyone hates this phrase. Especially when someone else tells it. When someone is right, and I’m wrong, it makes me crazy.

Smart people don’t say things like “I told you so”. They don’t need such tiny gestures to boost their own confidence. They have self-confidence that does not need the approval of any external sources.

Smart people prefer to be efficient over being right. Usually, they are both efficient and right. Still, efficiency matter more.

A person can be 10 times right crossing the road on a green light but ignoring the real situation. But who will win if this person gets into an accident?

Takeaway: Efficiency over being right

2. Smart people can keep silence

Have you ever noticed that smart people mostly keep silent in the conversation? They ask questions and listen to your answers, then do it again and again. This way smart person controls the conversation.

This is a shocking style of communication. When I faced it the first time, I was lost. I couldn’t understand what was going on. I talked and talked while the smart guy only asked a couple of questions. I remembered that lesson.

The key here is that silence in conversation is uncomfortable. Whoever can’t stand it first loses and starts talking. The one who can keep silent gets more power and controls the conversation.

Takeaway: Keep silence

3. Smart people are smart egoists (pun intended)

What do we know about egoists? These people care about themselves, ignore others’ needs, and would take the last piece of the pie. Isn’t this image of an egoist stupid and unrealistic?

People are social animals — we live in society. Interactions and relationships with other people are super important for us. So why would anyone spoil them in the most stupid way ever?

In the long perspective, it is more profitable to help other people, care about them, and leave the damn last piece of pie on the table for someone else. That’s what a smart person would do.

Smart people care about themselves. But they are smart enough to think forward and predict results of their actions. If taking the last piece of the pie would create an image of a greedy bastard — doing so isn’t a good idea.

Takeaway: Be a generous and smart egoist

4. Smart people develop all the time

There is one trait that 100% of smart people have. No, it isn’t the sense of humor. It’s an infinite desire to learn new things and develop.

Smart people are obsessed with new and valuable knowledge. They learn their whole life, and it looks like it’s never enough for them.

They use many ways to grow and develop every day: books, courses, open lectures, educational content on YouTube, articles, webinars, classes, audiobooks, podcasts, education habits, etc. The above is only the shortlist.

Smart people understand the importance of knowledge and how to use them. They don’t learn just for learning itself. They know how to gain profit from knowledge. How to apply knowledge to life.

Takeaway: Never stop developing

5. Smart people think far

Life is an infinite sequence of decisions we make every day. The better we make decisions, the better options we can choose from later.

Each opportunity is based on our previous decisions. So it makes sense not to screw things early in life. That’s what a smart person would do.

Actions have consequences.

Imagine a person who wants to become a high-paid lawyer. But in his teens, he was arrested for drinking beer in a public place. Maybe it even wasn’t his fault. But the career of a lawyer is banned for him.

The guy from the above example lost opportunity because of a bad decision. A small decision with tremendous consequences.

Was it worth it? Perhaps… We don’t know. But that’s how the world works. Smart people take this into account and plan their actions in advance.

Takeaway: Think forward

6. Smart people care about their health

Thinking forward only makes sense if you live long enough. Imagine a person who plans to be a billionaire at 60 but dies of a heart attack at 45. It’s sad and pointless.

Smart people care about their health. 90% of them exercise on a stable basis, visit doctors in advance and care about the food they eat.

The fun fact is that you don’t need money to do these things:

• You can exercise with your own weight, not in the fancy gym.
• Preventive measures are cheaper than urgent treatment.
• You can control what you eat and develop healthy eating habits.

If smart people do all of the above, maybe it’s worth doing?

Takeaway: Take care of your health

7. Smart people don’t argue

Arguments are not efficient. Nobody can win the argument. Opponents have different points of view, argumentation, and life experience. People don’t like to change the above things. Even if there are solid proofs.

Perfect example — anti-vaxxers. They don’t care about reality, proof, research, etc. All they care about is their ego. They don’t want to admit that they are wrong with something. So nobody can change their mind.

A smart person wouldn’t waste time arguing with an anti-vaxxer. There is no sense in it. A smart person can’t win but can lose time.

Time is the most valuable thing we have. Wasting time in an argument with someone is similar to burning money in the furnace.

Sometimes, it’s easier to say to someone: “You are right, I am wrong”. Just to stop the argument. Your self-confidence can bear it, theirs — can’t.

Takeaway: Don’t waste time arguing

8. Smart people read

Books are the best sources of knowledge and new ideas. Smart people value them a lot. It’s only logical because reading is the simplest thing everyone can do to improve life right now.

The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Explaining this behavior of the mind, I compare it to the tree. Same way as a tree, the mind can grow and develop. But as the tree needs water and sun to grow, your mind needs new ideas to think them over and develop.

Smart people care about growing their tree of mind. They water it with new ideas and knowledge every day. And the easiest way to do it is by reading.

Ideas are the fuel of your mind. Book is the best source of ideas.

Takeaway: Read a lot

Final Thoughts

I hope you recognized yourself in the above traits of a truly smart person. If not, then perhaps I missed something. Fix me in the comments section.

We all can get better by following simple rules. It makes sense to copy working things from successful people. What things are working for you?

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