Ankur Warikoo believed intelligent kids excelled in exams and got promotions at jobs. But he noticed a disconnect...

For most of us, intelligence has always meant sharpness of mind — the ability to grasp concepts quickly, ace exams, land high-paying jobs, and climb the career ladder. That’s the definition we grew up with, and one Ankur Warikoo admits he believed for the longest time. But as life unfolded, he noticed something striking: the so-called “intelligent” people weren’t always the happiest ones. That realisation led him to rethink what intelligence truly means.

Warikoo reflected on how, in school, intelligent kids were often the ones who scored the highest marks. In college, they prepared well, secured the best jobs, and later at work, they delivered flawlessly and earned promotions and bonuses. By all conventional standards, they wore the label of success.

But success didn’t always translate into happiness. Many of these high achievers, Warikoo observed, seemed stuck in a constant hustle, busy keeping up appearances while struggling to find real contentment.

Then he noticed a different group. These people hadn’t necessarily topped exams or bagged the most lucrative jobs. But they lived with a different kind of discipline — one born out of self-love, not pressure. They worked hard to become the person they wanted to be and pursued the life they believed they deserved. For them, happiness was not an afterthought, but the goal.


To Warikoo, this shift in perspective revealed the essence of true intelligence: not just performing well in studies or careers, but having the courage and wisdom to live life on your own terms, exactly the way you’ve always wanted.

Netizens react
A user wrote, "A much-needed reminder. It's so easy to get caught up in the traditional definition of success and forget what truly matters." One said, "I connect with this a lot. I’ve noticed that people who focus on living intentionally and taking care of themselves often seem wiser and more fulfilled than those just chasing achievements. " Another added, "Well said..It’s interesting how society often celebrates external success first, but very few talk about inner alignment! That’s where intelligence really shows."