Where Does Genius Come From?

So often, we look at people who are considered to be geniuses and wonder what they have that we don’t have. From what I’ve seen, most geniuses, instead of accepting the status quo, learn how to think out of the box. They take things out of that box and turn them around, upside down and inside out. From the most successful entrepreneurs to the greatest scientists, this ability to look at life from new angles is what results in those “ah ha!” moments we associate with genius.

Leonardo da Vinci believed that. He advocated always looking at problems and dilemmas from different perspectives. For instance, by seeking commonalities in the relationship between the ring of a bell and a stone hitting water, he discovered that sound travels in waves.

Einstein always formulated his theories in as many different ways as possible. While other scientists used mathematical formulas to reach their conclusions, Einstein — a known visual thinker — often drew pictures and diagrams. Numbers did not play a significant role in his thinking process.

You may feel you need an IQ like Einstein’s to be a genius, but according to Dr. Martin Brooks, there seems to be “no single recipe” for genius. High IQ doesn’t always predict genius, nor does academic achievement.

“Genius, it seems, demands the expression of qualities often denied by traditional schooling and intelligence tests,” Dr. Brooks says. “Though exceptional ability may be a key ingredient, you must also throw courage and creativity into the mix. Top that off with a talent for visualizing problems from new and original angles, and you may be getting somewhere towards that elusive formula.”

Excerpt from 'LifeManual' by Peter H. Thomas. www.lifemanual.com. Copyright 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.

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