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Do You Have To Be Smart To Be Successful?

Name: Do You Have To Be Smart To Be Successful?
Uploaded: 2025-04-20T02:30:22+00:00
Duration: 27 s
Channel: Shanli Liu, CPA, CTP
Description: In this concise monologue, the speaker challenges the common belief that high intelligence is a prerequisite for entrepreneurial success. Using examples…

20 Apr 2025 · 0 min

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In this concise monologue, the speaker challenges the common belief that high intelligence is a prerequisite for entrepreneurial success. Using examples such as lawn‑care and gym businesses, they argue that most ventures can be run effectively without above‑average IQ. Instead, the speaker emphasizes that qualities like endurance, perseverance, and the willingness to keep trying over a long horizon are far more critical. By persisting, an entrepreneur accumulates many “shots on goal,” increasing the odds that a single, large, lucky break will occur and dramatically change their life. The overall message is that sustained effort and luck outweigh raw intellect in most business endeavors.

How important is intelligence in entrepreneurship? You can succeed in the lawn care business without being brilliant. You can succeed in the gym business without being brilliant. You can succeed in, I'd say, most businesses without being, you know, above 50% IQ. There are skills that are more important. Being able to endure and persevere. That ability to persevere is what gives you more shots on goal. And you only need one really big win to change your life forever. And so it's really just sticking with it on a long enough time horizon. Somebody sticks with it, just gets enough. Like they just get so many chances that something— that luck does happen.