Are Millionaires and PhDs Really Smarter? The Answer May Surprise You!

I've had a vast array of job experiences. While in high school, I worked as maid for a local motel. While attending college, I worked as an office worker in the Sociology Department and Museum of Fine Arts. After college, I was a social worker for six years.

Following a career change, I spent the next several years working as an editor and technical writer in various publishing and software companies, including Microsoft. And?whenever I had any spare time, I worked on my true passions: creative writing and art.

I've worked with maids, nurses aides, office workers, people with PhDs, and millionaires. I've worked with people subsisting on welfare and those living?and dying?in nursing homes. I've worked with software engineers, project managers, and vice presidents, as well as publishers, artists, and writers.

And?in that vast array of different jobs, locations, and peoples, what have I observed?

I've observed maids and nurses aides who are as sharp, witty, and insightful as famous guests on television talk shows.

I've observed employees who had made millions in stock options, standing in the espresso line at Microsoft, bragging about how many coupons they had for free lattes.

I've observed post-graduate students getting their PhDs, cramming hard to write their dissertations in time, sweating over passing.

And, I watched in amusement, as a coworker who had recently received his PhD spent 30 minutes hanging a sign over his cubicle that read, "The Doctor Is In." Otherwise, he'd just be a plain technical writer, like the rest of us.

Based on my observations from working with many types of people, millionaires and PhDs are not smarter or better than the rest of humanity. But there is one major difference: Confidence! Because of their situation, they feel much more secure about the future.

So, if millionaires aren't smarter, why do they have a lot more money than most of us? A few reasons come to mind:

• People with money often inherit it. Or, they inherit the opportunities that come from their families having money. This often includes access to a network of well-heeled businessmen and investors.

• They are in the right place at the right time. For example, during Microsoft's heyday, many employees became millionaires and retired after working with the company only 5 years.

• People who make millions from the ground up, from their own efforts, are rare and usually have a good business sense. Most millionaires aren't in this category.

And, if people with advanced college degrees aren't really smarter, they must have something (besides confidence). So, what is it?

• They have the financial resources to pay for college, whether from their family's savings, financial aide, or working their way through school.

• They usually have good memories, or at least a good short-term memory that enables them to memorize numerous facts they promptly forget after the exams are over. (Most educational systems still reward good memories over the ability to analyze and creatively solve problems.)

• They have a certain amount of discipline. (Or, they hire ghostwriters to write their masters theses and doctoral dissertations for them! Yes-some people do this!)

Life circumstances, including those that evolve from the choices we make, can make a big difference. For example, when people get married or have children at a young age, it limits their opportunities for going to school. Sometimes people must take care of disabled family members or younger siblings. There are many life events, some unforeseen, that can make it nearly impossible for someone to complete a college, or even a high-school, education. But most of these have nothing to do with intelligence.

So! If you have been feeling "less than" because you don't have a degree, an advanced degree, or a million dollars in the bank, please stop beating yourself up. Most likely, you are just as smart as the next person. You are just on a different path.

And, contrary to popular belief, having a college degree doesn't automatically mean you'll earn more money. I've known service workers who work for themselves--for example, guys who mow lawns, paint houses, and wash windows?who earn more than many software engineers!

I've also worked with people from all over this country, and people from countries all over the world ? including Asia, Vietnam, Canada, Ireland, England, France, Indonesia, India, and Russia. I have found most of these people to be intelligent, charming, and sincere. Yes, our customs (and our senses of humor) may be different, but most of our needs are very similar.

Yet stereotypes abound. Some people feel a need to judge others, or themselves, by superficial differences. But when all is said and done, no group of individuals is smarter, better, or less than another. We each have our own talents and strengths. As well as our own weaknesses.

We each live life the best way we know how, learning lessons along the way. And, hopefully, learning tolerance and compassion as well.

About The Author

O'Vivian is a versatile author and artist who believes that art has the ability to help heal, and inspire, the Soul. O'Vivian holds degrees in psychology and sociology, and has long been fascinated by spiritual psychology, the human condition, and the seemingly universal quest for a more meaningful existence. These elements invariably find their way into most of her work. To view O'Vivian's work, go to http://www.ovivian.com. To contact O'Vivian, send email to ovivian@ovivian.com.

---

Knowledge Or Action

It's been said that knowledge is power. While that's true... Read More

After the Big Project: Recovering From Success

My older daughter got married 10 days ago. The wedding... Read More

Motivation By A Challenge

Many humans are motivated by the thought of doing something... Read More

Todays Trivia

I received an email today that said I could: "Make... Read More

How To Overcome Procrastination Quickly And Easily

Maybe it is time to discover a new way to... Read More

Are You A Procrastinator?

What is the dictionary definition of a procrastinator? It is... Read More

Mindfulness and Birthdays: Surprising Moments

The first week of May is a big birthday time... Read More

5 Motivation Killers and How To Avoid Them

Motivation is an oft-discussed subject, particularly with regards to whether... Read More

Are You Facing Challenges? Then Make A Different Decision

Many people don't really understand the gift they have been... Read More

Make The Most Of Today

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at... Read More

Limitations Real Or Imagined, Stick Em In A Pigs Eye!

It's about time to take a real hard look at... Read More

At A Dead End? Look Deeply Into My Eyes!

The president of a large North Eastern company, doing business... Read More

Money Doesnt Finance Dreams

Are you putting off your dreams until you have money?... Read More

Breaking Even: When is Enough, Enough?

I had the most interesting discussion today with a friend... Read More

How to Talk to Yourself When Nobody is Listening and You Want to

Do you ever pay attention to the thoughts inside your... Read More

Resistance Is Natural - but Not Helpful - in Times of Change

Here are five feelings we all experience in changing times.... Read More

Lights are Off and No One is Home

The other day I was on my way home, and... Read More

Stop Procrastination - Just do it!

What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started... Read More

Maximizing Your Potential by Definition

Someone once pointed out to me that in many of... Read More

Change - The Skill Of Adapting To The Inevitable

Change your thoughts and you change your world. -Norman Vincent... Read More

Right Action & Right Effort: The Keys to Martial Arts Mastery, Keys 3 &4

In the philosophical teachings that form the base for our... Read More

Letting Go Of Our Negativity

Everyone has something, whether it be a habit, or aspect... Read More

3 Great Ways To Stay Motivated At Work

Staying motivated at work is easier than you think when... Read More

7 Great Life Lessons From Tsunami Survivor

As I am writing this article, the world is shaken... Read More

The Seven Keys to Motivation

Motivation. It's a complicated subject that is studied by many... Read More

Awakening The Giant In You

Deep within man dwells some vast slumbering powers and abilities... Read More

Get The Man Right

One Saturday morning, a minister could not think of a... Read More

Our Life ? Our Choice

OK, maybe that's a bit of an overgeneralization but it... Read More

Life?s an Illusion

I'll get right to the point. Life is not necessarily... Read More

How To Win Over Your Fears

If you really want to do something you will always... Read More

5 Great Ways To Overcome Procrastination At Home

If you procrastinate at home you may suffer some consequences... Read More

Are You IFFY?

Many people say that working for themselves or working on... Read More

A Formula For Improved Achievement

Your ability to perform in life is determined by a... Read More