Another perspective is that this type of genius is a narrow measure of intelligence and an even narrower predictor of "success". In leadership for example, do

Another perspective is that this type of genius is a narrow measure of intelligence and an even narrower predictor of "success". In leadership for example, do you think CEOs have the highest IQs in the company? How about Churchill, King, Lincoln? No doubt very smart people but relied just as much on other abilities. What about the arts? How many of your favorite musicians or comedians are great at math? Arguably these abilities are orthogonal to what Tao can do, yet are clearly a form of genius. The innateness/validity of EI is not yet settled but emotional intelligence enables people in ways that just are not possible with only pure problem solving prowess. How long would most math PhDs last as politicians, if they were somehow motivated to do so? Speaking of motivation, how many IQ points past our own does someone of average ambition have to reach before we can't just out work them? Quite a few in my experience.