Famous Quote and Response
"The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking."
- Albert Einstein
I couldn't agree more with this quote. During elementary, middle, and high school, I was an above average student, but by no means extremely smart. For example, in grade school, my mom had to argue vociferously to get me into "Gifted and Talented" classes. So I always felt like I was the worst of the best in terms of intelligence. Now, after writing a book and starting a business, people are all of a sudden saying I'm "smart" and "creative" and that they could never start a business or write a book.
Disregarding the irony that my GPA has dropped from an A- in high school to a C+ in college, I attribute any "smartness/creativity" I have to three things:
- Being "creative" by persistently spending a lot of time thinking rationally about things most other people are too busy to think about.
- Being "passionate" by doing what I love to do and trying my best to always love what I do.
- Being "practical" by applying what I learn to life.
While many may disagree with me, I think being a successful scientist, writer, musician, or business person are possible for anybody if they apply these lessons to their life. To often we disassociate ourselves from incredible acheivements even though they were acheived by simple processes that we can all replicate.
Posted at October 5, 2003 01:11 PM
Michael - in regards to your first point, about spending time thinking about things that other people do not take the time to think about, I first have to say that this is more true about you than anyone else I know. I think it is something that sets you apart. It's very easy to brush by our thoughts in order to do something that seems more pressing. Thinking, because it involves intangible growth, is much more difficult to measure progress on. Spending time meditating and philosophizing on things of interest does however bring understandings that cause life to be more interesting. It is hard to get into the habit of taking time out to do this, but doing so reinforces creativity and intelligence. I believe the moments in which we pause to think about life turn into assets that pay themselves back 100 fold in terms of time, happiness, and merit.
