You have good reason to be optimistic about your future. While research on identical twins raised apart has proved that genetics play a role in determining your intellectual potential, we also know that a person can improve their IQ during their formative years, and beyond. What we do not know is how much an IQ can be increased by the stimulation of your brain through education, playing computer games, or engaging in deep problem-solving activities.
However your IQ should not be a major concern, because a person can succeed in many careers with an average or slightly above average IQ. For such careers, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills (called emotional IQ) combined with tenacity, energy and intensity of purpose are far more important than a high IQ. There are many people of gifted IQ who do not succeed in reaching their goals because they cannot harness their talents to the task.
Many high-IQ people have difficulty working with others, because they see the world through a different lens. They are often introverted and find difficulty working cooperatively in a group toward a common goal. We can observe this in academe where most people have high IQ, but are often embroiled in acrimonious disputes about precedence in publication, credit for discoveries, or even the acquisition of a corner office. Acknowledging the pettiness that is sometimes evident in academe, Henry Kissinger once observed, “The reason that university politics is so vicious is because stakes are so small.”
Of course, there are some fields and professions for which a high IQ is a very important component. Virtually all researchers in the STEM subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Engineering and Computer Science have high IQ’s because the cognitive abilities required in these jobs are similar to the cognitive abilities assessed on IQ tests.
One thing I have observed over several decades, is that those who have engaged in serious academic disciplines (rather than some of the so-called “bird courses” at some colleges) emerge with a more sophisticated way of processing information. They approach problems in life in a more disciplined analytical way than others who have not been exposed to rigorous learning. By immersing yourself in any kind of study for which you develop a passion, you can develop the intellectual skills to make a contribution and enjoy a successful career. Whether you have an average IQ or an exceptional IQ, there is a place for you in this world. We need a population with a wide range of talents and skills to run an effective society. So if you read, learn, and reflect, you will find your passion and it will guide you on your journey to a successful career.
