The Difference Between Education and Intelligence, and Experience and Accomplishments

Emotional Intelligence Series

Life is full of fascinating and subtle distinctions, many of which we either overlook or use interchangeably without realizing how significant the differences are. Two of these distinctions—education versus intelligence, and experience versus accomplishments—are among the most misunderstood. We’ve all heard statements like, “He’s so well-educated, he must be brilliant,” or “She’s got years of experience, so she must be highly accomplished.” These assumptions, while common, can be misleading and, in some cases, completely false.