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How To Be A Genius (Hint: Stop Listening to Bloggers and Your Parents)

Written by Tiffany Ford

Friday, 02 January 2009 16:47

No matter your age, if you are truly part of Generation Breakthrough, you want to do something great with your life. We were not put on this earth to be average. We were put here to find our genius, and use it for good. After all, we are a generation raised to believe that we are each gifted. And we are. Anyone can be gifted if they try hard enough. So let’s try already.

But how do we try? How can we be great?

There is one simple answer: Stop listening to other people.

It is always beneficial to hear criticism and the devil’s advocate point of view, because it helps you think from different perspectives. When trying to make choices in life (whether about a career path, a relationship, a financial endeavor, etc), listen to others opinions, but NEVER TAKE SOMEONE ELSE’S ADVICE. No one else, not even your parents, knows what’s best for you at this point in your life.

We all underestimate the power of our own judgment, logic, and emotional sense. You are smart; in fact you can be a genius. With too many other opinions, suggestions, and advice, you will become overwhelmed and immobile. So stop taking so seriously every blogger’s opinion on how to run your business or your life, because everyone has a different answer. No one knows crap, except for you. Trust yourself, and your ability to make choices and adapt along they way.

Worse than being too overwhelmed to make decisions, is the subconscious negativity that kicks in when you surround yourself with jaded, over-critical people and ideas. Their negative energy will ruin you, so stay away from it.

This all sounds easy. However, there are more over-critical people in your life than you think, who encourage you to second guess your genius too often. Geniuses do not take advice from authors, bloggers, “society”, or a boss. However, oddly enough, they especially do not listen to their parents. Now, as Gen Y-ers, most of our parents have always been extremely loving and supportive, and have often given terrific advice as we grew up. But they’ve also been over-protective. As we go out into the world on our own, we no longer have the net of our parents to catch us when we fall. Our parents are well aware of this, thus they begin to encourage us to chase a more practical, secure lifestyle. OUR PARENTS CARE ABOUT OUR SAFETY MORE THAN OUR SUCCESS. So, although they mean well, if you take their advice, you will never be a genius, you will never fulfill your dreams, and you will never do something great for the world. But do not surround yourself with it, or take their advice just because they are older. Instead, consider all perspectives, but ultimately listen to your gut. Trust yourself. Grow up, and be the genius you know you are inside.

CAUTION: This does not mean that you do not need to be practical in following your dreams. If you’re going to do something great, you’d better damn well make sure that you commit to it, and craft a logical, well-researched, flexible plan.