How to Be Smart: 22 Things Smart People Do That Others Don’t

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to pick up new skills effortlessly? 

While we often attribute this to natural intelligence, the truth is that being “smart” is less about innate ability and more about specific habits and practices that anyone can develop.

By understanding and adopting certain behaviors, you can enhance your cognitive abilities and develop a smarter approach to learning, problem-solving, and creativity. Let’s explore what truly makes someone smart and discover practical ways to boost your intelligence.

What Does It Mean to Be Smart?

Being smart means possessing a combination of cognitive abilities, critical thinking skills, and adaptability that enables effective problem-solving, learning, and intellectual growth.

Often, when we think “smart,” our minds automatically drift toward those high-IQ geniuses or people with a truckload of knowledge. But being smart is way more than just having a big brain or a library’s worth of information.

Being smart is like being a superhero of the mind. It’s about having the power to think critically, solve problems, and adapt like a chameleon in a room full of colors. Smart people are the architects of creativity, the innovators of ideas, and the maestros of communication. They have a knack for explaining complex concepts that even great aunt Mabel can understand.

Research suggests that a whopping 65%^{1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6029792/#:~:text=PMID%3A%2029969480-,65%25%20of%20Americans%20believe%20they%20are%20above%20average%20in%20intelligence,of%20two%20nationally%20representative%20surveys} of people think they’re smarter than average. By definition, that can’t be possible, so what gives? Well, perhaps each person is considering a particular area where they feel their intelligence is greatest. 

Indeed, the theory of multiple intelligences^{2 https://www.sacap.edu.za/blog/applied-psychology/types-of-intelligence/} proposes that rather than having one intelligence (IQ) that can be high, mid, or low, a person has several distinct intellectual capacities:

Type of Intelligence	Description
Linguistic	The ability to understand and use language effectively for communication, expression, and persuasion
Logical-Mathematical	The capacity to reason logically, think critically, and solve mathematical problems
Spatial	Proficiency in perceiving and manipulating visual-spatial information, such as recognizing patterns, visualizing objects, and navigating spaces
Musical	Skill and sensitivity in understanding, creating, and appreciating music, including pitch, rhythm, and composition
Bodily-Kinesthetic	A talent for controlling body movements, coordination, and the ability to excel in activities involving physical skills, such as sports, dance, or crafts
Interpersonal	The ability to understand and relate effectively to others, including perceiving their emotions, motivations, and navigating social interactions
Intrapersonal	Self-awareness, introspection, and an understanding of one’s own emotions, values, strengths, and weaknesses
Naturalistic	An affinity for recognizing and understanding the natural world, including the ability to identify and categorize elements of the environment, such as plants, animals, and ecosystems

But do you have to have a high IQ to be successful? Nope! In fact, we took a deep dive^{3 https://www.scienceofpeople.com/secrets-to-success/} and found out why people with LOWER IQs can be more successful because they’ve worked harder to master their skills.

Being smart isn’t just about acing exams or having all the answers. It’s about embracing your unique brand of intelligence, celebrating your quirks and imperfections, and using your mindscape in marvelous ways. Let’s find out how.

The Genius Mindset: 7 Principles from Da Vinci

So what do smart people do differently?

Do they have a unique morning routine? Interesting daily rituals?

To answer these questions, let us turn to one of the most brilliant minds in history: Leonardo da Vinci.

You might know Da Vinci as an artist, but he was also an architect, scientist, musician, mathematician, inventor, anatomist, geologist, astronomer, cartographer, botanist, historian and writer. He didn’t just excel in one area; rather, he flourished across disciplines and created concepts that have lasted for centuries. Da Vinci had a very specific approach to life that anyone can learn.

Michael J. Gelb^{4 http://michaelgelb.com/} excavated Da Vinci’s notebooks, writings and creations to figure out how he thought and lived differently. He found seven key principles that guided Da Vinci’s genius:

Principle	Translation	Description	How Da Vinci embodied it
Curiosità	Curiosity	An insatiably curious approach to life and unrelenting quest for continuous learning.	Carried a notebook everywhere, documenting observations and questions about everything from bird flight to human anatomy. Wrote over 24,000 pages of notes and drawings exploring his diverse interests.
Dimostrazione	Demonstration	A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes.	Conducted countless experiments, including dissecting human bodies to understand anatomy, testing flight machines, and studying water flow patterns. He challenged conventional wisdom through direct observation.
Sensazione	Refine the senses	The continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to enliven experience.	Developed extraordinary observational skills, studying light, shadow, and proportion. Created detailed studies of natural phenomena, from the way light falls on curved surfaces to the movement of water.
Sfumato	Embrace uncertainty	A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty.	Used the technique of sfumato in his paintings (like the Mona Lisa) to create mysterious effects. Embraced contradictions in his work and studies, seeing them as opportunities for discovery.
Arte/Scienza	Art and science	The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination.	Combined artistic and scientific pursuits seamlessly—his anatomical drawings are both scientifically accurate and artistically beautiful. His inventions often merged aesthetic design with mechanical function.
Corporalità	Physical excellence	The cultivation of grace, ambidexterity, fitness, and poise.	Was known for exceptional physical strength and dexterity. Could write with one hand while drawing with the other. Was described by contemporaries as graceful and athletic.
Connessione	Systems thinking	A recognition of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena.	Studied how systems worked together, from human anatomy to botanical growth patterns. Saw connections between seemingly unrelated fields, like using his studies of bird flight to design flying machines.

So how can we embody these timeless principles in our own pursuit of becoming smarter? 

Let’s explore 22 practical strategies that not only align with Da Vinci’s genius mindset but are also backed by modern research!

22 Research-Backed Ways to Be Smarter

Embrace Continuous Learning

Can you name the nine states that border Kentucky? Or where to locate Vanuatu on a map? 

Like Da Vinci’s insatiable Curiosità, smart people maintain an endless appetite for knowledge. Research^{5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17565095/} shows this kind of continuous learning not only enhances cognitive function but helps build cognitive reserves as we age.

We live in the age of information, and technology has made learning as easy as opening an app.

Interested in:

• Space? NASA app^{6 https://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html}
• Sign Language? Lingvano^{7 https://www.lingvano.com/asl/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-7OlBhB8EiwAnoOEkxL5IayTXnbk79Wjuh_vIXPa1wLJ0QhDVYSFw7bErd66qCAQu5xdBRoCf6cQAvD_BwE}
• Sports? Sports History^{8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.football.sportshistory&hl=en_US&gl=US}
• Wood properties? The Woodshop Widget^{9 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-woodshop-widget/id374838026}

For more traditional academic courses, apps like Coursera^{10 https://www.coursera.org/} or websites like EdX^{11 https://www.edx.org/} have thousands of courses designed specifically to encourage people to continue learning in areas that interest them (I know, I helped create^{12 https://www.edx.org/course/healthcare-finance} a few of them!). 

Research^{13 https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/cognitive-benefits-learning-language-two-minutes/} has found that learning a language in particular has positive effects on cognitive and academic performance, as well as slowing the effects of aging. Apps like Duolingo^{14 https://www.duolingo.com/} or Babbel^{15 https://www.babbel.com/?locale=en&bclid=3ORTyW20NxyPUZ7x4121K3wuUkFzSS02U2mpRQ0&utm_campaign=CNET%20Media%20Inc.&utm_content=impact..13589..Online%20Tracking%20Link..159047&utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_term=generic_v1&irgwc=1} cater to language learners. 

You can find an app or website for just about any topic—just search “adult learning app for ________”

Read Regularly (and oddly)

Are you envious of that one coworker who always has some perfectly relevant fact for any topic in the breakroom? Chances are they’re a voracious reader. 

• Make time for reading: Schedule dedicated reading time, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. Prioritize that bookish goodness!
• Get active with your reading: Take notes, highlight key points, and reflect on what you’re reading. It keeps the brain engaged and makes your reading experience more rewarding.
• Join book clubs or discussion groups: Hang out with fellow book nerds and dive into thoughtful conversations. It’s like a reading party, and you’re invited!
• Read weird stuff! Pick up a book on a topic you know nothing about. See an odd title? Grab it!

Don’t have time to read? Try Blinkist for book summaries. Or check out our article on how to speed read: How to Speed Read: 4 Strategies to Learn to Read Faster.

If you’re always getting recommendations from friends, but forgetting the titles, use Goodreads to track reading lists and recommendations.

And for a good, new-fashioned book-borrowing app, see if your library offers an account to Libby^{16 https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby} .

Think Outside the Box

A hallmark of intelligence is the ability to solve problems in unconventional ways. When we —we start connecting dots we never knew were there. Suddenly, we’re seeing possibilities where we once saw roadblocks.

In fact, studies show that creative problem-solving exercises can actually increase cognitive flexibility. This embodies Da Vinci’s Sfumato principle—embracing ambiguity and uncertainty as fuel for innovation.

Encourage creative thinking through exercises and books like The Imagineering Workout^{17 https://www.amazon.com/Imagineering-Workout-Exercises-Creative-Muscles/dp/0786855541} by The Disney Imagineers.

For example: 

• When deciding how to divvy out work to teammates, assign each colleague an animal based on their personality and habits to decide who would be best for a task.
• Reframe your deadline by writing down why you are motivated to complete the task.
• While developing a new idea, review it by asking “why” three times, each from the perspective of a leader, a peer, and a subordinate. 
• Engage in brainstorming sessions, problem-solving activities, or innovation challenges that push you to explore unconventional solutions. 

Practice Critical Thinking

One widely accepted indication of intelligence is the ability to think critically using logic and reason. Drawing on Da Vinci’s principle of Dimostrazione, smart people test knowledge through experience and reason rather than accepting conventional wisdom. 

Here are some ways to flex your critical thinking muscles:

• Solve puzzles, brain teasers, or logic problems to challenge your reasoning and analytical skills. Look for ideas in 30 Best Games For The Brain to Unlock Your Potential (2023)
• Learn to evaluate arguments^{18 https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=logic} and sources critically, considering biases and logical fallacies.
• Engage in debates or discussions that require you to present and defend your ideas based on sound reasoning.
• Confront your biases by taking any statement, belief, or idea and asking “why” at least five times to delve deeper into its underlying assumptions and implications. 
• Learn chess, which has been shown^{19 https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A-Study-on-the-Impact-of-Chess-Training-on-of-Joseph-Manoharan/4b13f637908b48e654044b4beec0fd336abbb6fb} to improve creativity and out-of-the-box thinking in students who learn it.
• Read more in How to Master Strategic Thinking Skills in 7 Simple Steps

Improve Memory Retention

Ah, the elusive ability to remember random facts and important details! Research^{20 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00426-013-0524-6} shows that active memory training can significantly increase both short-term and working memory capacity. Following Da Vinci’s Sensazione principle, engage multiple senses in your learning:

• Practice mnemonic techniques: In college, I chose “A Man in a Hot Tub” as a mnemonic for Amenhotep. Ten years later, I still remember it!
• Get physical: Exercise isn’t just for muscles—it’s a memory-enhancing superstar
• Use visualization: Create vivid mental images that stick
• Build memory palaces: Turn familiar spaces into mental maps for storing information
• Engage multiple senses: Make learning a full sensory experience
• Connect with emotions: Information + feeling = better retention

Want a digital boost? Try memory apps like NeuroNation^{21 https://www.neuronation.com/} or MemoryOS^{22 https://memoryos.com/} .

Improve Your Learning Skills and Study Techniques

As much as I wish we could just ignore the areas that aren’t interesting or simple for our brains (I’m looking at you, physics equations), sometimes we need to have a strategy for being able to learn and study. 

Take the time to discover whether you’re a visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or combo learner. It’s like finding out your secret learning superpower.

You can start by relying on proven study techniques: 

• Quizzing yourself on the material
• Putting info in your own words
• Creating concept maps or diagrams

Goal setting and study habits: 

• Minimize distractions
• Take short breaks every 20-30 minutes
• Set specific study goals
• Create a schedule that keeps you accountable
• Create a study environment that’s so cozy and inviting, you won’t want to leave.
• Learn to make SMART Goals: 5 Tips for Successful Goal Setting. 

Want to transform your social skills and make a great first impression? Check out

Dig Into the Nitty Gritty

There’s a great bit by the comedian Louis C.K. in which he deconstructs the nonsense of a child’s curiosity (warning: inappropriate language ahead):

But you know what? Those kids might be onto something. While their endless “why?” questions might drive us crazy, that relentless curiosity to understand things at a deeper level is exactly what makes people smarter: research^{23 https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt/article/view/53031} shows that deep, systematic questioning leads to breakthrough insights.

Instead of basic questions, dig deeper with these:

• “What principles make this work?”
• “How does this connect to what I already know?”
• “What patterns led to this outcome?”
• “How could this be applied elsewhere?”
• “What assumptions am I making?”

Practice, Practice, Practice

You might’ve heard the mantra that you need to spend 10,000 hours to master a craft. Well, it turns out that that might not be completely accurate. 

Still, if you wanna be great at a certain skill—many of which are associated with being smart—there’s nothing quite like practice. Whether you’re trying to be a coder, learn a new language, or just be the class calculus whiz, your number one priority should be simply putting in the work!

Learn Through Teaching

Want to really master something? Try explaining it to your grandma. Or your cat. Or that rubber duck on your desk (yes, that’s a real programming technique!^{24 https://ubisglobal.com/blog/get-a-rubber-duck-how-to-make-your-study-time-more-effective/#:~:text=The%20idea%20is%20that%20when,not%20be%20confined%20to%20programming.} ). Studies^{25 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1350507605049905} show that teaching others is one of the most powerful ways to learn something yourself—it forces you to break down complex ideas into digestible pieces.

Remember when Da Vinci combined Dimostrazione (testing knowledge) with Connessione (seeing relationships)? He didn’t just study human anatomy—he created incredibly detailed drawings to teach others. In the process, he deepened his own understanding.

Give it a try:

• Start a blog about what you’re learning (even if no one reads it!)
• Explain concepts to non-experts (if they get it, you’ve got it)
• Create “how-to” guides for things you know
• Volunteer to mentor someone
• Join study groups as both student AND teacher

Reflect on What You’ve Learned

Da Vinci’s famous notebooks collected facts, yes—but they were also filled with observations, questions and connections that helped him process and reflect on what he was learning. 

Intelligence is often less about just knowing a bunch of facts and more to do with what we’re able to do or infer with what we know. A smart person is able to connect dots quickly, often in surprising ways; it’s someone who can see the needed chain of steps to get a project done or grasps the implications of a new technology or the way a public policy might affect their opportunities.

This type of intelligence gets a boost from reflection. Research^{26 https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/1447} shows that reflecting every day on what we’ve experienced and what we’ve taken away as a result, is the core of learning. It helps you identify patterns and start seeing the world through a lens of patterns and change.

Pro Tip: Set aside just 10 minutes at the end of each day for reflection. Ask yourself: “What surprised me today?” and “How can I use what I learned?”. Create mind maps linking new information to things you already know.

Embrace Productive Failure

Pop quiz: What do Thomas Edison’s lightbulb, Post-it Notes, and penicillin have in common?

They were all “failures” that led to breakthrough innovations! Neuroscience research^{27 https://www.ibroneuroscience.org/article/S0306-4522(98)00472-2/abstract} shows that learning from mistakes actually creates stronger neural pathways than getting things right the first time. Who knew being wrong could make you smarter? This embodies Da Vinci’s principle of Dimostrazione—testing knowledge through experience and learning from mistakes.

Here’s how to make failure work for you:

• Document what went wrong (and right!)
• Analyze those pesky assumptions that tripped you up
• Test different approaches—think of yourself as a scientist in the lab of life
• Share your fails (yes, really!) with others who might learn from them
• Start viewing setbacks as experiments in disguise

Master the Art of Deep Focus

Let me guess: You’re reading this article while checking your email, responding to texts, and maybe even having a conversation. Am I right?

Here’s the thing: Studies^{28 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1611612115} show that our brains aren’t actually built for multitasking. What we call “multitasking” is really just rapid task-switching, and it’s killing our cognitive performance.

Want to get smarter? Try these focus-boosting strategies:

Instead of…	Try this…
Having notifications always on	Creating “notification-free” zones or times
Working until you’re exhausted	Taking strategic breaks every 30 minutes
Proud multitasking	Mindful single-tasking
Marathon work sessions	Time-blocking techniques
Constant availability	Setting boundaries for deep work

Develop Mental Models

Think of mental models like having different pairs of glasses in your cognitive toolkit. Sometimes you need your “economics” glasses to understand a market trend. Other times, you might need your “psychology” glasses to grasp why your teammate is resisting a change.

This is where Da Vinci’s Connessione principle shines—seeing the interconnectedness of everything helps you build better mental models. For instance, he used his understanding of bird flight to design flying machines, and his knowledge of human anatomy to create better art.

Try building your collection:

• Study basic principles from various fields (physics, psychology, biology)
• Look for universal patterns (like supply and demand—it works for attention too!)
• Create analogies between different domains (is your project really like a garden?)
• Test your models in the real world (theories are nice, but reality is better)
• Keep your models updated (what worked in 2010 might not work in 2024)

Get Comfy with “I Don’t Know”

Want to hear something crazy? Research^{29 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886919300285?via%3Dihub} shows that intellectual humility—being comfortable admitting what you don’t know—may be associated with intelligence and general knowledge. 

Think about that for a second—the more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know! This embodies Da Vinci’s Sfumato principle—embracing uncertainty and paradox as paths to discovery.

Here’s what intellectual humility looks like in action:

• Catching yourself when you’re pretending to know something
• Actually getting excited about knowledge gaps (hello, learning opportunity!)
• Seeking out people who disagree with you (yes, on purpose!)
• Being the first to say “I might be wrong about this…”
• Approaching new topics with wonder instead of judgment

Build Your Information Ecosystem

Think of your knowledge like a garden. Some people have random facts scattered like weeds, while others cultivate organized beds of interconnected ideas. Guess which garden produces better fruit?

Studies show that organized knowledge is more accessible and useful. Just like Da Vinci’s systematic notebooks (seriously, 13,000 pages of organized genius!), you need a system for capturing and connecting information.

Try these garden-tending techniques:

• Create a personal knowledge database (your digital notebook)
• Connect new info to stuff you already know
• Organize ideas by theme or project
• Review and prune regularly
• Share your garden with others (teaching helps learning stick!)

Speak Less, Listen More

There’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth (and no, that’s not the start of a dad joke). Research shows that active listening—really absorbing what others say rather than just waiting for your turn to talk—is linked to higher emotional intelligence and better learning outcomes.

Think of your brain like a sponge. Most people’s brains are like those crusty kitchen sponges that just push water around. But smart people? Their brains are like those super-absorbent ones that soak up every drop of information around them.

Level up your listening game:

Information Repeller	Information Sponge
Planning your response while others talk	Actually processing what’s being said
Interrupting with your own stories	Asking thoughtful follow-up questions
Spacing out during “boring” parts	Finding nuggets of wisdom in unexpected places
Thinking you know it all already	Assuming everyone knows something you don’t
Multitasking during conversations	Giving conversations your full attention

Adopt a Growth Mindset 

If you’ve spent any time in the personal development space, you’re probably sick and tired of hearing about growth mindsets (heck, we’ve covered it a ton here at Science of People too). 

That said, we’d be remiss to not mention it here due to how relevant it is to learning and getting smarter—so bear with us! 

As a quick recap, adopting a growth mindset means believing that your abilities and intelligence can improve with effort, learning, and persistence—not just relying on what you were ‘born with.’ 

It’s the idea that challenges are opportunities, not obstacles. Pioneering research^{30 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1466-y} by Carol Dweck and colleagues shows that cultivating this mindset is associated with better learning and educational outcomes. 

The takeaway? Shift your mindset and get smarter!

Prioritize Your Physical and Mental Health

Da Vinci’s principle of Corporalità—the idea that physical excellence supports mental excellence—is supported by modern science: cognitive function is directly associated with how well we maintain our health. 

Research shows that even brief periods of exercise can significantly boost brain function and enhance cognitive performance.  And that’s just the beginning of what good health habits can do for your smarts!

Here are some of the most important health-related tips to prioritize:

• Exercise: Pumps fresh oxygen to your brain and stimulates new neural connections. Whether you’re hitting the gym, dancing in your kitchen, or taking a stroll, movement makes you smarter.
• Nutrition: Feeds your neurons^{31 https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/foods-linked-to-better-brainpower} the building blocks they need. Skip the processed stuff and eat real food your grandma would recognize. Your brain cells will reward you with sharper thinking.
• Sleep: Gives your brain essential maintenance time.^{32 https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/sleep/sleep-your-way-to-a-smarter-brain} Those 7-9 hours of quality shut-eye let your brain clean out cellular debris and consolidate memories. Think of it as your brain’s janitorial service.

Be Consistently Creative

Pablo Picasso^{33 https://admiredleadership.com/field-notes/create-like-picasso/} was alive for 33,380 days. In that time, he published 26,075 works of art, which means he averaged more than one every day of his life from age 20 until his death at 91. 

Were they all masterpieces? Certainly not, but some of them were! 

Paint, write, dance, sing—whatever makes your soul sing. Create like no one’s watching!

Those who regularly pursue creative endeavors and are trained to think creatively in solving problems are more likely to increase efficiency and promote a growth mindset. 

Optimize Your Environment

Your environment shapes your thinking as much as your thinking shapes your environment. Science shows that our surroundings directly impact cognitive performance. Da Vinci understood this—his workshop was famous for its perfect organization (though we bet even he had a messy drawer somewhere).

Here are some things to think about when building your brain’s favorite hangout:

• A clutter-free zone (physical mess = mental mess)
• Natural lighting (your neurons love sunshine)
• Sound control (because focus needs quiet)
• Easy access to tools (reduce friction for learning)
• Living plants (nature’s cognitive enhancers)

Bonus Hack: Create different zones for different types of thinking—your brain will learn to associate each spot with specific types of work.

Blend Art and Science

Though you might think of yourself as either a “right-brained” (creative, artsy) or “left-brained” (logical, mathy) person, newer science shows that this dichotomy is overly simplified. Rather, everyone’s brains exhibit complex interplay between both sides—and engaging them both is excellent for cognitive functioning!

Here are some brain-blending exercises:

• Transform linear notes into colorful mind maps
• Sketch complex concepts instead of just writing them
• Find mathematical patterns in music
• Tell data-driven stories
• Mix logic puzzles with creative challenges

Get Smart About Feedback

Think of feedback as your personal GPS for learning, showing you exactly where you are and how to reach your destination. By doing so, you’re embracing Dimostrazione—committing yourself to improving your knowledge and skills through a willingness to learn.

Some tips for receiving feedback:

• Find a mentor who’s walked your path
• Share work-in-progress (not just finished products)
• Request specific critiques
• Welcome constructive criticism
• Document your progress systematically

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Becoming Smarter

Unlock Your Inner Genius

While it may feel like intelligence is something you have or you don’t, hopefully, you’re beginning to see all the ways that “being smart” can depend as much on your experiences and attitude as it does on your genes. Let’s review: 

• Intelligence is not limited to traditional measures like IQ; it encompasses problem-solving skills, critical thinking, adaptability, creativity, communication, and emotional intelligence.
• Intelligence is not fixed; it can be developed and enhanced over time through continuous learning, embracing a growth mindset, and engaging in various intellectual pursuits and cognitive strategies.
• Da Vinci followed 7 principles that helped him become the revered polymath he’s known as today. Many of the strategies we covered for boosting your intelligence embody those principles.

Embrace your own unique brand of intelligence, challenge yourself to grow, and explore the world of knowledge and creativity with an open and curious mind. Keep learning, think critically, and dare to think outside the box. The journey to enhancing your intelligence is a lifelong adventure, and you have the power to shape your own intellectual growth. Ready for more ideas? Check out 15 Effective Ways You Can Learn How to Learn.