"La inteligencia es la capacidad de encontrar y resolver problemas y crear productos de valor en la propia cultura"

Intelligence involves not just thinking but also doing—it's about identifying problems, fixing them, and making things that matter to the people around you. The idea here is quite straightforward: genuine smarts are shown in practical, valuable actions within your own cultural context.

Take the late 20th century as an example. Howard Gardner, the psychologist behind the theory of multiple intelligences, probably had a hand in shaping this perspective. He proposed that intelligence isn't just one single thing, like how good you are at math or reading. Instead, it's about how you navigate real-world challenges—whether that's in music, sports, or even social situations.

Let's look at a real-life scenario to bring this home. Think about a renowned chef, like Gordon Ramsay. Ramsay isn’t just about making delicious food; he's a master at identifying the gaps in the culinary world. Remember "Kitchen Nightmares"? He goes into failing restaurants, pinpoints what’s wrong—whether it’s the menu, the management, or the hygiene—and then creates a plan to turn things around. His intelligence shows in his ability to solve these problems and create a valuable, thriving restaurant. He understands the culture of food, both in terms of quality and what customers crave.

So, how can you apply this wisdom to your life? Well, first off, start by paying attention to the issues around you. Is there a process at work that’s inefficient? Maybe your community lacks a recreational space, or your team struggles with communication. Identify these pain points. Then, leverage your unique skills and knowledge to devise solutions. It doesn't have to be earth-shattering—small victories count. Fixing a recurring problem at work or coming up with a new way to organize a community event—these are all demonstrations of intelligence in action.

Think about a time you tackled a problem with a creative solution. Maybe you were in college, and your study group was floundering because meeting times were always chaotic. You stepped in, suggested a shared calendar app, and suddenly, everyone was on the same page. You spotted the problem, found a tech-savvy fix, and made everyone’s life a bit easier. That's intelligence at work, plain and simple.

To dive deeper, imagine you're at a family gathering. Aunt Jenny always complains about how messy the garage is, and everyone just nods along. But you—being the problem-solver you are—decide to take action. You spend a weekend organizing, labeling, and setting up a system that makes it easy to keep things tidy. Suddenly, Aunt Jenny’s constant gripe disappears. You didn't just solve a problem; you added value to your family’s life.

In essence, being intelligent in this sense isn’t about having all the answers. It's about being curious, observant, and proactive. It’s about applying your talents to make things better in ways that are meaningful to the people around you. You don’t need to be a genius or a world-renowned expert; you just need to care enough to make a difference where it counts. So go ahead—identify a problem, roll up your sleeves, and get to work. That’s true intelligence.