Why Dumb People Earn More Than Smart People
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Ever scroll through Instagram or TikTok and see someone who, let’s be honest, doesn’t exactly scream “genius,” raking in more money than you ever thought possible? Maybe it’s a viral sensation doing something seemingly ridiculous, or a reality star building an empire onβ¦ well, you know. It can be frustrating, especially if you’ve spent years hitting the books, earning degrees, and meticulously planning your career. You might even find yourself asking, “Why do dumb people seem to earn more than smart people?“
I get it. I used to be that “smart person” β the one chasing perfect grades, collecting degrees like trophies, believing that intellect alone was the golden ticket to success. But the truth I discovered, often the hard way, is that the correlation between traditional intelligence and extreme wealth isβ¦ complicated.
This journey of understanding and ultimately breaking free from that “smart person” trap is something I’ve poured into my two best-selling books on Amazon.
π The Pick A Horse: The Power to Choose You isn’t about intellectual prowess; it’s about something far more powerful: identifying your passion and committing to a path you won’t quit on. The techniques and exercises inside are the very ones I used to cut through the noise and finally focus on what truly mattered.
π The Manifest Journal is the daily companion that keeps you laser-focused on your goals. Through structured morning and evening reflections, it helps you turn those passions identified in “Pick A Horse” into tangible realities.
These aren’t just books; they’re tools to help you apply the very principles we’re about to dive into β principles that often seem counterintuitive to the traditionally “smart.“
Ready to take control of your journey and unlock your true earning potential? Get your copies of The Pick A Horse and The Manifest Journal now!
The Intelligence-Earnings Paradox: It Plateaus
For a long time, we’ve been told that intelligence equals higher earnings. And to a certain extent, that’s true. Up to around $64,000 a year in the US, you’ll generally see a positive correlation between IQ and salary. Smart individuals often land those high-prestige, high-salary jobs that require specialized knowledge and rigorous training β think doctors, engineers, and researchers.
The Corporate Cage: High Salary, Limited Freedom
These are good jobs, no doubt. They offer stability and a comfortable living. I even climbed that corporate ladder myself, reaching a point where I was earning over $225,000 a year. Intellectually, it was a challenge to even consider walking away from that security.
But here’s the catch: these high salaries often come with a ceiling. There’s rarely ownership involved, and the big payoffs from innovative ideas often belong to the company, not the brilliant mind behind them. It’s a gilded cage. You’re well-fed, protected, but ultimately, your freedom and earning potential are limited.
Think about it. If a company is willing to pay you a significant six-figure salary, what does that truly say about your value in the open marketplace if you were to do your own thing? The answer, more often than not, is millions.
The 1% Mindset: Beyond Salary
Breaking into the top 1% of income earners (around $600,000 annually, and significantly higher on average) rarely happens through climbing the corporate ladder alone. It requires a different mindset, a willingness to step outside that comfortable cage and into the wild.
As an entrepreneur, you become the hunter. You’re not waiting for someone to feed you; you’re out there finding your own opportunities, taking risks, and building something from the ground up. This shift from employee to owner requires a fundamental change in perspective.
The “Dumb” Advantage: Embracing Risk and Action
So, what’s the secret sauce that allows some seemingly less “intelligent” individuals to achieve massive financial success? Often, it boils down to one crucial element: a willingness to take risks.
Risk vs. Reward: The Entrepreneurial Leap
The irony is stark: highly intelligent, high-earning individuals in stable jobs are often the least likely to take the leap into entrepreneurship precisely because they are acutely aware of the potential risks involved. They can overanalyze, strategize themselves into paralysis, and ultimately stay put in their comfortable (but limiting) positions.
Meanwhile, those who might not overthink things β those who are less burdened by the perceived downsides β are often the ones who jump in, start a business, and learn as they go. They might not have all the answers, but they have the courage to act.
This is where The Pick A Horse becomes your guide. It helps you identify that one thing you’re passionate enough about to risk the comfortable for the extraordinary. And once you’ve found your “horse,” The Manifest Journal provides the daily structure to keep you moving forward, even when the path isn’t perfectly clear. These books aren’t about becoming less intelligent; they’re about harnessing your inherent capabilities with a new, action-oriented mindset.
Beyond the Plan: The Power of “Good Enough” and Relentless Learning
Smart people love to plan. They meticulously strategize, anticipating every possible outcome. And while having a plan is essential, the trap lies in over-planning and waiting for absolute certainty.
The Paralysis of Analysis: When Planning Becomes a Hindrance
I’ve seen incredibly intelligent individuals get stuck in the planning phase, unable to launch because they haven’t accounted for every single variable. Meanwhile, someone with a simpler plan, a basic outline, is already out there, learning, adapting, and generating momentum.
My mentor taught me a crucial lesson: sometimes, “good enough” is truly good enough. You won’t know everything upfront. You can’t plan for every contingency. The key is to start, to move, and to learn along the way.
The Humility of “Dumb“: Embracing the Learning Curve
There’s a surprising advantage to approaching new ventures with a sense of humility, even a touch of “dumbness.” When you’re not afraid to say, “I don’t know,” you open yourself up to learning. You ask questions without the fear of appearing foolish.
Smart people, on the other hand, often avoid asking questions because they fear looking unintelligent. This reluctance to admit what they don’t know can be a significant barrier to growth and ultimately, to earning potential.
The Open Mind: Seeing Opportunities Everywhere
One of the biggest limitations I see in highly intelligent individuals is a tendency towards cynicism and a rigid view of what constitutes a viable business. They might dismiss seemingly simple or unconventional ideas, overthinking the potential pitfalls.
But the truth is, millionaires have been made in countless industries, with ideas ranging from the incredibly complex to the surprisingly simple. What truly matters is passion, dedication, and the willingness to stick with something.
Smart people often overthink which fields will yield the highest returns, but true wealth comes from pursuing what you genuinely enjoy and are willing to persevere in. Your passion is the engine; your commitment is the fuel.
Unleash Your Inner “Smart Dumb“
The truth isn’t that being unintelligent guarantees wealth. It’s that certain traits often associated with a less analytical approach β a greater willingness to take risks, a bias towards action over endless planning, and the humility to learn constantly β can be incredibly powerful in the entrepreneurial world.
You don’t have to abandon your intelligence. Instead, learn to temper it with a dose of that “dumb” courage and action-oriented mindset. Embrace the unknown, start before you feel 100% ready, and never stop learning.
- Grab your copies of The Pick A Horse and The Manifest Journal to start identifying your passion and building your daily success habits. π
- Watch the original YouTube video for even more insights and context. π₯
- Subscribe to my channel/blog for more empowering strategies and stories. π
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This is Noelle, To your success!
