"The reason I am successful is that I surround myself with people who are smarter than I am" 

I'm sorry, I may be wrong on this, but I have never liked this quote. I don't know exactly who said it, but it has always rubbed me the wrong way. What do you mean "surround yourself" with people that are smarter? I would ask them to define smarter and in what way? I don't want to surround myself with people that are smarter than me, that could possibly steal my ideas and jeopardize all the hard work I put into something. I would rather surround myself with Specialists. Meaning, that I want to surround myself with people who are the best at what they do. The best lawyers, the best accountants, the best designers, etc. I don't feel like these people are smarter than me, I just feel like they found something that they are very good at and perfected their craft. If you own a business and only hang around people that are smarter than you, you truly are a dumb fool. Not saying everybody is out to steal what you have, but why would you put yourself in a situation where someone could take what you have and do it better because (remember) they are smarter than you? Now, this doesn't mean do not take advice and forget how to be a student. Every teacher that you have had was a specialist and In order for you to grow, you have to continue to obtain knowledge, and what better way to obtain knowledge from a person that may have experienced what you are going through (or will go through) first hand? No ONE person knows how to do everything. We have to stop putting so much emphasis on who is smarter than me, and put more emphasis on how you can use the knowledge that they obtained to help you achieve YOUR goals. Bill Gates surrounded himself with people who are the best at what they do in regards to computer technology...Oprah Winfrey surrounded herself with the best of the best in television that is why she is so successful... I could go on and on...

The point I'm trying to make is...think about surrounding yourself with Specialists...find those who are the best at what they do and use them, because they have been using you for years and you probably didn't even know it.

Again I may be talking out of my ass, but I'm just sharing my thoughts...