I have an uncle from my hometown who is incredibly sharp.

Not the kind of smart that comes from reading a lot of books — but the kind where you tell him something and he immediately picks up on what’s wrong. If someone’s business goes under, he can figure out the issue after just a few sentences. If someone in the village is talked into an investment, he’ll say it’s not reliable after hearing about it. When others argue for hours, he can untangle the problem in just three sentences.

But he hasn’t lived a great life.

He worked in a factory when he was young, later drove trucks, ran a street stall, and even tried a small business with some partners. Now in his fifties, he still rents a place and barely has any money.

Would you say he’s dumb?

Not at all.

But life just never took off for him.

Later I realized that being smart sometimes only lets you "see things clearly," but doesn't guarantee you'll "turn your life around."