In 1965, a Hungarian educational theorist named László Polgár proposed a radical idea: genius isn’t born—it’s made. He rejected the belief that exceptional talent was innate, arguing instead that any healthy child could become a genius with the right environment, training, and education.
All he needed was a child to prove it.
The Polgár Experiment
So, in true Polgár fashion, he wrote a letter to Klara, a Ukrainian language teacher who was sympathetic to his views. In it, he proposed marriage—and invited her to join him in a lifelong experiment to raise children based on his theory. Despite what might be one of the least romantic proposals in history, she said yes.
Before they were even married, they debated which field their future children should master. They needed a discipline that was globally recognized, intellectually rigorous, and had a universal, objective scoring system—where success couldn’t be faked. They chose chess, and set out to raise their children to become grandmasters.
They had three daughters—Zsuzsa (Susan), Zsófia (Sofia), and Judit—and from the age of three, chess became the center of their world. Their home was filled with chess books, boards, and puzzles. László homeschooled them to ensure chess was a core part of their daily education.
The Power of Environment
The results were extraordinary. All three daughters became chess grandmasters—the highest title awarded in the game.
- Judit became the greatest female chess player in history and the only woman ever to break into the world’s top 10.
- Zsuzsa became the Women’s World Chess Champion.
- Zsófia earned seven Olympic medals, including five gold.
What made this possible? It wasn’t just intelligence or work ethic—it was their ability to leverage something we’re all influenced by, but rarely recognize: culture.
Every day, we make countless decisions shaped by our surroundings. Our families, friends, coworkers, neighbors—even the content we consume—impact our behavior in ways we don’t always see. For the Polgár sisters, their environment was deliberately crafted to cultivate greatness. But that same force can work in the opposite direction.
The Dark Side of Culture and Environment
Take Griselda Blanco, known as “The Black Widow.” Raised by a single mother who groomed her into a life of crime, she committed her first murder at age 11 and later became one of the most feared drug lords in history. Her story is a chilling reminder of what can happen when the surrounding culture reinforces the wrong values. It makes you wonder: What if Griselda had been raised in the Polgárs’ household instead?
The environments we live in don’t just shape our choices—they shape who we become. That’s why we must be hyper-aware of the cultures we immerse ourselves in.
The Science of Influence
The data makes this crystal clear:
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A study from Kellogg Insight found that employees seated within 25 feet of high performers increased their productivity by 15%, while proximity to low performers decreased it by 30%.
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The Framingham Heart Study revealed that if a close friend becomes obese, your risk of obesity rises by 57%. Having an obese sibling or spouse increases your risk by 40% and 37%, respectively.
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In another study, women genetically predisposed to weight gain were assigned roommates. Those paired with frequent exercisers ended up about three pounds lighter than those with less active roommates.
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The same Framingham data also showed that your likelihood of quitting smoking rises significantly when someone close to you quits—by 67% if it’s a spouse, 36% for a friend, and 25% for a sibling.
What's Influencing You?
These findings raise an important question: Are you surrounded by people and content that push you forward, hold you accountable, and help you grow? Or are your environments enabling stagnation—or worse, regression?
On your journey of self-growth, the right community isn’t optional—it’s essential. That’s why we built this platform. Inspired by the principles of László Polgár, our community is designed to leverage the power of culture by surrounding you with education, structure, and like-minded individuals who are equally committed to becoming the best version of themselves.
Your environment shapes you. Make sure it’s working for you—not against you.