People are always telling me, “Geoff, you’re such a smart guy.”
Lot’s of people think I’m a smart guy. It’s an empty compliment, but I enjoy it. Sherlock Holmes was the same way:
“I shall never do that,” I [Watson] answered; “you have brought detection as near an exact science as it ever will be brought in this world.” My companion flushed up with pleasure at my words, and the earnest way in which I uttered them. I had already observed that he was as sensitive to flattery on the score of his art as any girl could be of her beauty.
But the main reason to be smart, of course, is that it makes it easier to help people because they trust you. If you’re actually competent, then you’re smart persona is a net benefit to society.
How to do it:
I use these six steps to trick people into thinking I’m smart:
- First, pick a constellation of useful skills you can use to make money by helping others: lock smithing, cooking, computer programming, small engine repair, etc.
- Pick a few subjects interesting to you that seem important for understanding the world. A list might look like this: American History, Logic, Evolutionary Psychology, Exercise Science, and Economics.
- Read the most important books you can find about them and consult living experts to test your knowledge. Twitter, blogs, and email make this possible.
- Then, start bringing up the most important facts in conversation and discussing the ideas and difficulties in those fields with interested people.
- Use the most powerful ideas to improve your life, craft your destiny, and assist those around you.
- Finally, learn another language. I made the mistake of learning ancient languages. Learn modern ones first.
Once you do this, people will think you’re brilliant. Smile. You’ve got them fooled. All you did was read a bunch of books.
you forgot to wear a pair of glasses while your doing all of that, pick extra thick lenses