just wait and see

For a person trying to start-up their own business the idea of an “Angel Investor” is comforting, someone with lots of money and business experience who recognises the amazing idea you have and helps you get rich from it.

Similarly I assume most people think that a mentor should recognise their talent, give them the right connections and make everything fall into place.

I know I definitely believe these things.

Anyway I was reading this story about Christopher Langan who is America’s smartest person. He has an IQ of 195-210, scored a perfect high school SAT (even though he was late and fell asleep in the test) and came from a background of poverty. Also he was abused by his step-dad so he hit the gym until he was big enough to physically fight back (Nothing to do with smarts but regardless is awesome). He essentially was the real life version of Will Hunting.

So when he went to university and was scoring A+ in all his subjects you would assume someone would have noticed. In fact a mentor recognising talent on Langan’s scale would bring incredible prestige.

Alas no, and what did the university do when his scholarship ended abruptly? (His mother was too unwell to fill out the reapplication forms that were sent to her) They said “too bad”.

So he left and taught himself everything anyway.

The point is: If this GENIUS failed to get any form of help at all, how arrogant am I to think that I deserve recognition and merit for the talent that I may or may not have.