Why You Should Not Be The Smartest-est

Do You Like Being The Smartest

Person in the Room?

OK, here is my likely bad recollection of when I realized I should stop trying to be the smartest person in the room.  It was while reading a book I cannot recall at the moment and apologize for not giving credit to the author. 

We Just Discovered The Meaning of Life
Two guys were in a bar - yes this sounds like the beginning of a bad joke - and were joyously celebrating something over a couple of frosty beers.  A drunken patron stumbles over to their table and asks what all the hubbub is about.  One of the men reply that, "We just discovered the meaning of life!"  The bar patron sloppily asks how'd they manage that.  The other gentleman wryly retorts, "By not being the smartest people trying to find it."

Be Willing to Ask Others
So, what this all came down to is they - James D. Watson and Francis Crick - had proposed what is now accepted as the first correct double-helix model of DNA structure, for which they received the Nobel Prize.

The meaning of life!

Whilst whom should actually receive credit for the discovery is disputed by some, the person who was "destined" to make the discovery was Rosalind Franklin.  However, she was not known for taking the counsel of others - basically because she felt she did not need it as she was metaphorically the smartest person in the room. If she would have been more receptive to Watson and Crick's openly offered insight, then she likely would be alone in the history books and a household name. 

Dare You Not Listen to My Counsel?
Therefore, I advise you to never be the smartest person in the room because you are likely to stop listening to others and consequently they stop offering their insight.  Thereby, you never reach your potential.       

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens