There are many types of people, while some are rather practical and do very well in environments where they receive orders and do not have to reason much, others are great thinkers and do not fit into monotonous jobs, because their mind is always active and they need to realize themselves in this sense .

What great thinkers are like

Great thinkers are people who spend a large part of their lives dedicating their time to what they like and what motivates them , they feel a kind of impulse that makes them become experts in a certain area. Thus, there are many thinkers who have become known for their contributions:Descartes, Freud, Skinner, Aristotle, Plato or Maslow are some examples.

However, there are people who, despite not being so well known, also possess a reflective and original mentality.

Common characteristics and attitudes of bright minds

But what features do these people have in common? What characteristics or attitudes do they show? What makes them different? You can find the answers to these questions below:

1. They work for passion, not money

If there is something that characterizes this type of person it is that their motivation is not money , but that there is an impulse within them that makes them work on what they are passionate about. That is what motivates them and makes them happy, and that’s why it doesn’t take much effort.

At least, this is what Dan Pink , author of the book , thinks. “Money is an extrinsic motivation, but for these individuals the intrinsic motivation is what keeps them going, even in the most difficult times. It’s what fills them up,” says the expert.

2. They are sacrificed

And of course, when someone pursues his great passion and motivation is born from within, he continues to row against the tide if necessary. The great thinkers feel good about what they do and that is what matters to them . This gives them a great capacity for sacrifice, because there is no money that can pay the reward of doing what one really wants.

3. They enjoy solitude

Since these people move because of their intrinsic motivation, they do not require the approval of others and think for themselves instead of letting others make decisions for them. This makes them individuals who enjoy moments of solitude, where they find themselves and their own thoughts and emotions.

4. They are critical of their work

Being thoughtful people, they are often critical of themselves and their work. They are rarely satisfied with what they have achieved and always want to go further . This can be positive in some respects, but it can also make them feel frustrated more easily if they have a negative perception of themselves.

In this respect, the case of one of the best guitarists of all times, Paco de Lucía, who was admired by so many for his genius, but who was unable to listen to his own works because he believed that they could always be improved, is well known. He is considered the best flamenco guitarist of all times, something that is obvious when you listen to him, but he was incapable of enjoying his works.

5. They seek to better themselves

Not being satisfied with their work, these people always want more and struggle to always go one step further . They like to be able to influence other individuals and, although they enjoy their solitude, they want to get recognition for their work. They are ambitious people.

6. Dedicate many hours to their specialty

These individuals may have access to large universities, but that’s not really why they get where they do. If they get into prestigious universities, it is precisely because of their great potential. In reality, it is not the degrees that make them great thinkers, but their dedication to a particular speciality .

There are self-taught people who fail in their studies and yet are very good artists or have a great command of a certain area. This fits in with point one. In other words, they are driven by their great passion.

7. They are curious

We must be clear that these types of people have something that makes them different, and that is that they are curious. They are always exploring, looking for the relationship between the things that happen around them. They have to find an explanation to the facts, otherwise they are not satisfied.

8. They are creative

Curiosity turns them into creative people, who reject clichés and social norms . They feel the need to act differently, and are capable of generating ideas, genuine and original solutions to problems.

  • Recommended text: “The 7 personality traits of creative people”

9. Commitment

Curiosity and creativity are not exactly synonymous, although they are related. The latest research on creativity states that creative people are not only curious, but they are very methodical people, who are quite obsessed with their specialty . This means that creative ideas do not usually arise overnight, but rather are the result of a long-term commitment to something.

By spending more time on it, they generate more ideas and question more things until they reach the solutions they are looking for. This trait is characteristic of creative people as well as great thinkers.