Why, then, do parents, teachers, and councilors continue to tell children that they won't be successful if they have a C- grade point average? Statistically speaking, according to Stanley, it's because these people are themselves not financially successful. Therefore, they have no idea what it takes to achieve financial independence and buy into the great myth that good students go further in life. They pitifully measure analytical intelligence only and not the creative intelligence that is responsible for sparking innovations, societal advancements, and the opportunity to craft solutions in niche markets that everyone else misses. They also fail to realize that most millionaires wear blue jeans, overalls, or work shirts, not a suit and tie. They eat McDonald's and Burger King. They live in ordinary, well-established neighborhoods. Most own their own business.
Statistically, if you want to guess who is going to be wealthy and financial independent, you'd be more likely finding a self-sufficient student in wood shop class who paid for his own car, gets decent (but not spectacular) grades, has a job, and enjoys what he does than selecting someone from the honor roll. It's counterintuitive, but it's true.
