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Let me be gut-level honest. When I was younger, I felt like I was dumb at least dumb in some pretty major areas. Why?
Well, as a kid, I struggled with a speech impediment. Even more, when I entered third grade, my teacher asked my parents how I had passed the previous grades without being able to read. Fast-forward to my senior year of high school. I scored a lowly 910 on my SAT with ridiculously low verbal, reading, and writing scores (only 380!). My score was so low that I had to take Developmental Studies in English, reading, and writing during my first semester of college BEFORE actually being accepted into college. I'm not looking for pity; just establishing that I was not the sharpest "tack in the box" growing up. That's why stories like this grab my attention... Jay Zagorsky from the Center for Human Resource Research at Ohio State University reports that according to the most recent research, IQ has no relationship to wealth. Here's what he found: "A great mind does not always make for a great bank balance, according to research that suggests the richest people are no cleverer than the rest of us. "Scientists in the United States have found that while average incomes tend to increase with IQ scores, intelligence has very little to do with absolute wealth. "A high IQ also offers no protection against falling into heavy debt or other kinds of financial mismanagement. The very brightest are more likely to have money problems than those who are slightly above average intelligence. "The findings, from a team at Ohio State University, could reflect the way in which many of the most impressive fortunes are not amassed through steady accumulation of high salaries, but by other means that are not influenced heavily by academic intelligence." (Quoted from: Times Online article entitled: "Brains Don't Make You Rich, IQ Study Finds" by Mark Henderson, April 25, 2007) On Tuesday, February 14, during an interview on Fox News, Mr. Zagorsky shared his top three tips to becoming wealthy: 1. Stay married; don't get divorced 2. Have clear benchmarks (i.e. goals) 3. Exercise self-control Of these three, Mr. Zagorsky said the most important, by far, is "staying married!" What does this mean to you and me? Each of us, no matter what our IQ, can do the three things listed above. What's more, we can relentlessly pursue the life and work we love! So spend time this week investing in your marriage, setting goals, and exercising self-control. These simple steps will help you become wealthier, not just financially, but in all areas of life! On a side note...I find it interesting, and even a bit humorous, that my one of my greatest challenge as a kid (speaking correctly) and the areas I scored lowest in on my SAT (verbal skills such as reading and writing) are now the things I do to earn an income. (I've authored and/or contributed to four books with two more being released in 2008, and I speak and train all around the county.) Go figure! WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
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You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it immediately following the Live It Forward copyright notice: Life and career coach Kent Julian, "America's Career Coach for a New Generation," publishes the "Live It Forward™ E-Connection," a bi-monthly ezine filled with free tips and strategies for pursuing the life and work you love. If you are ready to jump-start your career and find more joy and fulfillment in life, join the growing and dynamic E-Connection community now at http://www.liveitforward.com |
