{"id":1018,"date":"2021-07-18T09:03:50","date_gmt":"2021-07-18T13:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/?p=1018"},"modified":"2022-07-05T14:55:47","modified_gmt":"2022-07-05T18:55:47","slug":"street-smarts-vs-book-smarts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/street-smarts-vs-book-smarts\/","title":{"rendered":"Battle of the Brains: Street Smarts Vs. Book Smarts\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
Street smarts vs. book smarts – which side has the most advantage?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The book smarts have their knowledge as their main weapon. They learned everything they have to know in school and excelled in it, too!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pop quizzes? Final exams? Aptitude tests? Book smarts can ace them all while half-asleep.<\/span><\/p>\n Street smarts also have a few tricks on their sleeves. Their years of experience have awarded them with the wisdom of the world, and they know how to make the best of every situation.<\/span><\/p>\n When two strong competitors fight against one another, it is a battle of two brains. In this case, it is a war between street smarts and book smarts.<\/span><\/p>\n Who wields more power?<\/span><\/p>\n Street smarts vs book smarts?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Book smarts speak better, but they have less to say. Street smarts are more talented, and they do not need to study things out of a book. Borrowing ideas from other people is their skill.<\/span><\/p>\n But the question is, which of these two smarts have the bigger advantage? Who is more likely to make it through life\u2019s pitfalls and hurdles?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And more importantly, which type are you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Read on to find out who trumps over the other\u2014the brainiacs or the know-hows.<\/span><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Book smart\u2014the name says it all.<\/span><\/p>\n These people have spent most of their lives with their noses deep inside a book\u2014literally!<\/span><\/p>\n They\u2019re the top-placers in an exam, the scholars with an outstanding degree, and the intelligent person who is most likely to win in a trivia game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By definition, book smarts are those who have flourished in an academic environment. If you identify as such, you\u2019re the type who thrives in learning environments. You love lectures and have no problem reading textbooks from cover to cover.<\/span><\/p>\n As a book smart, you solve problems using your broad knowledge about the whats and whys. You stick by facts and approach matters from an intellectual point of view.<\/span><\/p>\n The main advantage of book smarts is that you\u2019re a sponge when it comes to information. That means it\u2019s easy for you to understand concepts and fill in the blanks of test papers. This skill gives you an edge when it comes to achieving graduate degrees, acing college applications, and creating a handsome r\u00e9sum\u00e9.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Street smarts may not always have straight A\u2019s. But you can count on their first-hand experience to get things done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Street smarts are not afraid to get their hands dirty. If you identify like this, you believe that the best way to learn it is to do it!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a street smart, you\u2019re an expert in handling practical situations in your day-to-day life. Your main advantage is your years of experience. This has trained you to adapt and be confident in whatever situation you stumble on.<\/span><\/p>\n Even though you weren\u2019t a born genius, you\u2019ve managed to gain insight from being in the real world. In fact, you don\u2019t need to have a Ph.D.\u2014you can rely on your gut instinct and skills in <\/span>situational awareness<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Having situational awareness means that you have a good grasp of your environment. You can interpret social cues and make sound judgments to solve problems. When the circumstance requires it, you can think fast on your feet and make improvisations on the spot.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Street smarts and book smarts each excel in their careers through their own ways. But like any other human being, they have their weaknesses.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some of the weaknesses that street smarts and book smarts experience:<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, not all of them are always true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some book smarts are good at handling practical circumstances. There are also street smarts who are knowledgeable about their practice. It all depends on you and how you handle yourself in this demanding world.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The debate on who is a better genius has been a subject of conversation for the longest time. But based on the opinions of people from the internet, the majority is swaying to the side of street smarts.<\/span><\/p>\n Author and speaker <\/span>Scott Berkun<\/span><\/a> believes that street smarts have always had the upper hand. He says that street smarts are survivors\u2014they\u2019ve been to the heart of the battle and came out alive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He says,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been tested and have a bank of courage to depend on when you are tested again.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Berkun also adds that street smarts don\u2019t need other people to show them the road. They pave their path towards success. That initiative awarded them with a great experience.<\/span><\/p>\n Book smarts, says Berkun, are merely good followers. They can abide by the rules and answer questions. But, they can be inadequate when it comes to applying what they know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even <\/span>Ashley Fern<\/span><\/a> echoes the same sentiment. Fern shares that she knows a lot of people who went to school. But those people aren\u2019t precisely Einsteins and Edisons when it comes to the actual job.<\/span><\/p>\n She says,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA college degree may help to open the door to a better job, but street smarts are what allow you to succeed once you walk through that door.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n To her, having the skills of a street smart is more significant. They can think logically, adapt to their surroundings, and work well in socialization.<\/span><\/p>\n For most people, street smarts certainly have the edge. Indeed, your expertise is not tested by how well you memorize information. It\u2019s measured by your ability to roll with the punches of life outside the book.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Are you still unconvinced that street smarts are the big dogs? Well, these people might prove you just that. Here are some street smarts whose names are now star-studded with success:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When <\/span>Mark Zuckerberg<\/span><\/a> was in his college, he started to code Facebook in his dormitory room. After realizing its potential, Zuckerberg then dropped out of college to focus on the social media website. He was a sophomore then.<\/span><\/p>\n Even though Zuckerberg didn\u2019t finish his degree immediately, he was a tremendously skilled engineer. But as a street smart, he had an instinct that what he had in his hands was an opportunity. Zuckerberg grabbed that chance and capitalized on his discovery.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Richard Branson<\/span><\/a>\u2019s headmaster in school once told him that there were two ways he could end up: in prison or as a millionaire.<\/span><\/p>\n All his life, Branson had a tough time coping with school because of his dyslexia. It was at the age of 16 that he decided to drop out of his academics completely. But that doesn\u2019t mean that he gave up\u2014no, he was looking to become an entrepreneur.<\/span><\/p>\n At 16, he started a magazine entitled \u201cStudent,\u201d which was his first-ever business venture. That got the ball rolling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 1972, he co-founded the British record label called Virgin Records. This became the home of various famous artists and performers. Later on, he would open numerous Virgin Records stores that would soon be known as Virgin Megastores.<\/span><\/p>\n But his entrepreneurial gift didn\u2019t end there. In 1980, he started a British Airline called <\/span>Virgin Atlantic Airways<\/span><\/a>. His success in these businesses has now made Branson a multi-millionaire.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda are movies that wouldn\u2019t be possible without <\/span>David Geffen<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Geffen\u2019s school performance wasn\u2019t good enough for Brooklyn College and the University of Texas. Just like Branson, his school difficulties were due to his dyslexia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But despite this setback, he was still able to bag the gold as a businessman. His first job was a talent agent, but with the help of his colleagues, he was able to start his management company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He later founded DCG Records, Geffen Records, Asylum Records, and <\/span>Dreamworks Studios<\/span><\/a>. Today, he has a net worth of 9.7 billion US dollars. It seems that flunking school wasn\u2019t such a bad thing after all!<\/span><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n If you\u2019re book smart, then it must be driving you crazy to see everyone on the street smart\u2019s side. But don\u2019t worry. The good news is, being street smart is something that you can learn.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some tips to become more of a know-how about practical things:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tough situations can be challenging, but learn how to embrace them. They may be uncomfortable to be in, but they will allow you to grow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be aware of the things going on in your surroundings. When you are present, you become more in touch with your instincts. Not only does this make you safer, but it will also allow you to soak up more information about your environment.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The only way to master your craft is to practice what you know. Be an <\/span>active learner<\/span><\/a>. That means getting your nose out of the book and getting to the actual work!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don\u2019t shy away from <\/span>conversations<\/span><\/a> with people of different backgrounds. Being open to opinions and new perspectives can improve your critical thinking. Get as much insight and advice from them so you can enrich your point of view.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019re going to encounter a lot of hurdles and challenges as you go about life. But when you\u2019re knocked down, you should always get back up. Focus on your goal and keep working hard.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You might have noticed that the wealthiest businessmen and the most successful entrepreneurs are street smarts. But if you think that only street smarts can win the entrepreneurial game, you\u2019re only half right.<\/span><\/p>\n For <\/span>Tim W. Knox<\/span><\/a>, being book smart or street smart isn\u2019t the determiner or the key to success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He says that it doesn\u2019t matter if you have years of experience. Nor does is it essential if you have a high level of education. What truly measures you as an entrepreneur is your achievements.<\/span><\/p>\n Knox explains that education might make you look good in job interviews, but it doesn\u2019t automatically grant you your victories. The same goes for the experience. An entrepreneur may have a lot of experience, but those experiences may be failures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And so the question stands: Who can do better in business?<\/span><\/p>\n According to Knox, having both education and experience under your belt can boost your chances of success. But, if you only have one of the two, or none at all, you can still make it as an entrepreneur.<\/span><\/p>\n A lot of multi-millionaire business people today never stepped into college. But a lot of scholars with advanced degrees aren\u2019t exactly living the life they wanted either.<\/span><\/p>\n So how does one get to the top? The answer lies in your hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You may possess tools such as money, experience, education, connections, or luck. But it\u2019s how you use these tools that will give you the advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s time to throw in the white towel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Instead of pitting one against the other, why not be a mix of a book smart and a street smart? Each smart comes with its weaknesses, but each has significant advantages, too. Adapting the best characteristics of both sides can make you a well-rounded person.<\/span><\/p>\n Excelling in academics and having a broad knowledge can size you up. But if you don\u2019t apply what you\u2019ve learned, it will be all for naught.<\/span><\/p>\n Having years of practice gives you wisdom and strength. But without studying the technical aspects of your work, you can be lost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Street smarts aren\u2019t guaranteed to win all the time. Neither are book smarts. But if you strike a balance between both, you will get to where you want to be.<\/span><\/p>\n Study hard and study well. And after that, go out in the real world and test your abilities. The journey to success always starts with a step.<\/span><\/p>\n How about you? Are you more of a street smart or a book smart? Share your thoughts in the comments down below!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Disclaimer:<\/u><\/p>\n This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click on one of the product links, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Creativity Mesh.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The battle of the brains is a debate that\u2019s been going on for years, and it\u2019s not likely to stop anytime soon. <\/p>\n Which is better? Street smarts or book smarts? <\/p>\n Let\u2019s look into a few of the most common arguments and examine the real truth behind these claims.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[31,37,30,12,21,35,53],"post_folder":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1018"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1134,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018\/revisions\/1134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1018"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=1018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
The Brainiacs: Who are Book Smarts?<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Know-Hows: Who are the Street Smarts?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Can\u2019t Have It All: Weaknesses of Street Smarts vs. Books Smarts<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Who\u2019s the better genius? Street Smarts Vs. Book Smarts<\/b><\/h2>\n
Who are well-known Street Smarts?<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Face of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
A Record of Success: Richard Branson<\/b><\/h3>\n
The Dream That Worked: David Geffen\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
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How to become street smart<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Don\u2019t stay in your comfort zone. <\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Be present.<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. Find ways to gain experience. <\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Grow your circle.<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Be disciplined.<\/b><\/h3>\n
Born Entrepreneurs: Are Street Smarts Better in Business?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
The best of both worlds: Becoming a Book Smart and a Street Smart<\/b><\/h2>\n