Being smart doesn’t protect you from making bad decisions. In fact, sometimes it makes it worse.

Smart people are better at justifying what they already want to do. They can build strong arguments for weak choices. They can explain away risk, ignore red flags, and convince themselves they’re being rational.

The problem isn’t intelligence. It’s bias.

We all start with a preference, then look for reasons to support it. Intelligence just makes that process more convincing. You’re not thinking more clearly—you’re defending your position more effectively.

Good decision-making isn’t about being smarter. It’s about being honest. It’s about catching yourself when you’re bending logic to fit what you want.

And that’s harder than it sounds.