The Formula for Intelligence

Intelligence is the most important quality

It can help you maneuver every situation of life and achieve the optimal outcome. 

Yet, intelligence is one of the broadest words. 

There are many forms of intelligence…

I’m particularly interested in the type of intelligence that makes people become elite contributors to society. 

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The highest form of intelligence

Hercules - an elite contributor

“Elite contributors to society”, is still broad and subjective, but a bit more narrow than “intelligence”. 

An elite contributor is someone at the top of their field, in a relevant craft, that impacts many lives in a meaningful way. 

These elite contributors might be in roles like:

• Entrepreneur

• CEO and Executive

• Politician

• Non-Profit Leader

• Investor

• Actor, Athlete, Musician, Writer, Creator

Being at the top of these fields represents being an elite contributor. 

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How does one become an elite contributor?

CAVA = Curiosity, Adaptability, Vision, Ambition. 

1. Curiosity: The world is something for you to learn about and discover.

2. Adaptability: The world is rapidly changing and you must evolve rapidly too. 

3. Vision: Understand that certain environments may not serve you and get clear on where you and the world need to go. 

4. Ambition: Dream big and think at scale is the highest form of self-expression in the world. 

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How do we measure being an elite contributor?

We try to measure intelligence in a number of ways across society. IQ, EQ, money, followers, publications, scientific breakthroughs, lives impacted.

All these things help create a framework for being an elite contributor but it leaves a critical question…

What is the purpose of these results?!

Intelligence should be based on contributions made to society.

And if so, then we need to get clearer on what society needs.

Thus, the way to be a true elite contributor is not only status achievement in a field, but how critical that field is for what society needs.

Furthermore, does your work create a meaningful impact in benefitting humans in a critical way. This, in my mind, is the core of being an elite contributor and intelligent.

These elite contributors also help us define what is most important to work on as a species.

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Intelligence is what separated us from the animal kingdom

But how do you define intelligence?

What does it mean to be an elite contributor( the form of intelligence I’m particularly fascinated by)?