If you're lucky enough to be in the company of highly intelligent people, it's a good idea to try and soak up as much of that as you possibly can. Self-improvement site Quick Sprout has a few ideas for making the most of being around these kinds of folks:
- Join in conversations (virtual or otherwise), but put your best foot forward. In other words, don't be obnoxious.
- Gain knowledge from the specific sector that person's reputation is in.
- Learn from their failures as well as their successes.
I can't agree with this practice strongly enough; I know that I've gotten quite the education this way in various circles I run in (yay, Lifehacker!).
Whose Shadow Are You Standing In? [Quick Sprout]