Not getting that perfect A in class. Hard math problems without a calculator. Doing your taxes. When exceptionally intelligent people demonstrate how smart they are, it can make you feel a little insecure. To make things worse, you can watch them posting 500-word political statuses on Facebook that read something like an Oscar speech.
Nobody can deny the fact that getting low grades is rough. It’s disappointing, and you’ll even feel like you didn’t achieve what you have worked so hard for. How do these geniuses do it?
However, don’t allow yourself to wallow in self-pity. Just know that you’ll be alright and life goes on.
Just take a look at some of the most successful and rich people who did not excel in school. Some even went as far as to intentionally do poorly in terms of education. This just gave them a better drive later on.
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Richard Branson
Richard Branson stopped studying at the age of 16 because, as he said, he did not take much interest in learning inside the school environment. He dropped out when he turned 16. However, in the same year, he started his first business which was a magazine he named “Student.”
Robert Drayson, Branson’s headmaster, told him that he thought Richard would end up either a millionaire or a prisoner. Fortunately, he became the better option of the two. Now, his company owns at least 200 other companies all over the world.
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Deborah Meaden
We all know Deborah Meaden from the hit TV series, Dragon’s Den. For those who are following the business industry, she’s also well-known as she leads a successful career as a businesswoman. Meaden ran her family holiday business valued at several million dollars before heading a management buyout way back in 1999.
In one of her many interviews, she said that she started out by selling flowers. She was still seven when she did so. She then worked as one of the salesroom models of a fashion house. You’ll be surprised to know that Meaden left school before she completed her classes. Instead, she studied business at City College Brighton and Hove.
According to a magazine, her net worth is over £40 million. She also holds at least three honorary degrees.
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Steven Spielberg
Some don’t know that Spielberg got rejected from a film school three times. Yet, he ended up being the brain behind several masterpieces including Gremlins, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and E.T. The rejection Spielberg received did not prevent him from becoming a worldwide success.
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Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore quit studying after rehab at age 13. Barrymore is a very successful producer, businesswoman, and actress. However, she got sucked into the industry at an early age which resulted in a turbulent childhood. She even celebrated her 13th birthday in the rehabilitation clinic. After rehab, she decided to quit her education. Despite this depressing story, she made a choice and turned things around for herself. In 1995, she founded Fower Films, a production company. The company was responsible for Donnie Darko and Charlie’s Angels.
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Cheryl
Cheryl got famous right after she appeared on the series Popstars: The Rivals. Before fame, she had temper issues and she constantly got herself into trouble. In an interview, she revealed that she used to be thrown out of class as she was awful. Now she enjoys the lifestyle of the rich and famous.
