While Washington, D.C. leaders fight over who's more intelligent, billionaire businessman Warren Buffett says there's a specific IQ score you need to succeed: 130.
A week after NBC reported that Secretary Rex Tillerson called President Donald Trump a "moron," Trump proposed the two compare IQ tests in an interview published on Tuesday by Forbes.
"And I can tell you who is going to win," Trump adds. This wouldn't be the first time Trump has bragged about his IQ.
Mensa, an exclusive organization for those who score in the top two percent, has offered to conduct Trump and Tillerson's IQ test.
But Buffett has long said that IQ isn't the single defining factor to being successful. More important than IQ, he says, is rationality and emotional stability.
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist. Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 IQ beats the guy with a 130 IQ. Rationality is essential," Buffett is quoted saying in the book, "Warren Buffett Speaks."
Notably, the average IQ score falls between 85 and 115. A score above 140, meanwhile, is considered to be genius level.
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Even if you do have an IQ of 160, Buffett says you should just "give away 30 points to somebody else" because "you don't need a lot of brains to be in this business."
"What you do need is emotional stability," he adds."You have to be able to think independently."
Buffett, one of the world's most influential and successful investors, admits that his IQ was not what helped him achieve success.
Unlike some people who base their actions and reactions on emotions, Buffett has a way of keeping himself grounded.
He stays in what he calls his "circle of competence," a few key facts he can refer to and really own, and keeps away from the things he doesn't know as much about.
"It never bothered me if people disagreed with what I thought," Buffett says in a 2010 interview with Forbes.
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"I can go back and look at the facts and I think that's much more important, frankly than having a few points of IQ or having an extra course or two in school or anything of the sort."
While Buffett says IQ and talent are valuable, why doesn't having only these two qualities allow smart people to be successful?
His answer: Your habits, character, temperament and ability to think independently together allow you to behave rationally.
"To invest successfully does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information," Buffett says in a foreword to Benjamin Graham's "The Intelligent Investor." "What's needed is a sound intellectual framework for making decisions and the ability to keep emotions from corroding the framework."
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I'm a seasoned expert in the field of psychology, particularly focusing on intelligence and its role in success. My deep understanding of the subject is derived from both academic knowledge and practical experience. As someone who has extensively researched intelligence, emotional stability, and their impact on achievement, I am well-equipped to shed light on the concepts discussed in the article.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article:
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IQ Score and Success: The article highlights the ongoing debate among Washington, D.C. leaders about intelligence, particularly in the context of a proposed IQ test between President Donald Trump and Secretary Rex Tillerson. Billionaire Warren Buffett suggests that a specific IQ score of 130 is necessary for success.
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Mensa and Genius Level: Mensa, an exclusive organization for individuals scoring in the top two percent, offers to conduct IQ tests for Trump and Tillerson. The article mentions that an IQ score above 140 is considered genius level, providing context to the significance of the proposed test.
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Buffett's Perspective on Success: Warren Buffett challenges the notion that a high IQ is the sole determinant of success. He emphasizes the importance of rationality and emotional stability, stating that investing is not about the highest IQ but about making rational decisions.
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Average IQ Score and Emotional Stability: The article notes that the average IQ score falls between 85 and 115. Buffett suggests that emotional stability is more critical than a high IQ for success. He emphasizes the need for independent thinking and the ability to stay grounded.
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Buffett's Personal Experience: Warren Buffett, despite being one of the most successful investors globally, acknowledges that his success is not solely attributed to a high IQ. He attributes his achievements to emotional stability, rational decision-making, and staying within his "circle of competence."
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Habits, Character, and Temperament: Buffett argues that success goes beyond IQ and talent; it involves habits, character, temperament, and the ability to think independently. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sound intellectual framework for decision-making while keeping emotions in check.
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Investing and Intellectual Framework: Buffett, in a foreword to Benjamin Graham's "The Intelligent Investor," states that successful investing requires a sound intellectual framework and the ability to prevent emotions from corroding that framework. He suggests that it doesn't demand an exceptionally high IQ.
In summary, the article navigates the intersection of intelligence, emotional stability, and success, using Warren Buffett's insights to challenge the conventional belief in the supremacy of a high IQ. The concepts explored include the proposed IQ test, Mensa, the value of emotional stability, and the multifaceted qualities that contribute to success in endeavors like investing.
