Rich therefore smart?

Over the past fifteen years I have discovered that for many folks, there’s often a clear correlation between personal wealth and a sense of self-importance. What I’m trying to say is that I have found that financially successful people tend to think that their success is directly attributable to their own perceived level of intelligence. This is a prevailing belief in high-stress circles like real estate sales and development, where big amounts can be easily earned by just being at the right place, at the right time. The same applies to the financial industry and to speculation in general. The easier money is made, the more likely people are to think that they have some unique, magic powers. I happen to think that timing and good luck are the unsung heroes of many of these instant successes, and another key observation is that what has worked for someone yesterday might not necessarily repeat itself in the future. These facts beg a few logical and useful alternative strategies: We’re often better off staying low-key, being modest and cultivating a sense of self-derision; this generally is a good approach to managing expectations. The main benefit is that there are no needs to pretend and get all worked up by playing games; what’s required instead, is to quietly stay under the “radar screen,” scoop-up success when it’s there for the taking and scoff at failure when it occasionally makes its round!