The Intelligence Stack

Beyond IQ: The Complete Stack for Adaptability and Flow

What is intelligence?

When we say someone is intelligent, we usually think of a high IQ, a math prodigy… or that one friend who had a perfect SAT score but can’t find their car in a parking lot.

We assume intelligence is something you’re either born with or not.

But that’s linear intelligence—facts, formulas, problem-solving.

Useful, yes. But limited.

Real intelligence—the kind that fuels high performance—is dynamic.

It’s instinct, adaptability, the ability to read the room, trust our gut, and navigate complexity.

And it doesn’t start in the brain (IQ). It starts in the body (BQ)

In this piece we’re exploring non-linear intelligence and how to get more of it.

These days, whether for ourselves or our kids, being ‘smart’ isn’t enough. We need the full stack—IQ to solve problems, EQ to navigate people, SQ to find meaning, and BQ to hold it all together.

Let’s #ExploreBalanceFlow….

---

If you’re new here, each edition of our Substack breaks down a topic into three parts (and any topic is fair game)

Explore – Asking sharp questions to challenge assumptions.
Balance – Teasing out the dynamics at play and uncovering hidden tensions.
Flow – Engaging in DIY experiments (because real learning happens through action, not by reading words on a screen)

#ExploreBalanceFlow is an open-source framework for navigating any challenge, decision, or pursuit of high performance—from the boardroom to the backcountry. It’s grounded in research from neuroscience, embodied cognition, and performance science, as well as real-world insights from my work with the Flow Genome Project and personal practice.

---

PART I: EXPLORE

Most of us were raised to believe IQ is king. Intelligence meant problem-solving, logic, and analysis—cognitive horsepower.

EQ came next, a soft skill we learned to value in leadership books.

SQ was reserved for palm readers and crystal healers.

And BQ? Wasn’t even in the conversation.

Before we get into the details, let’s kick around a few questions:

Why do we associate intelligence with thinking rather than moving? Who decided IQ was the gold standard? — culture, schooling, tradition?

How often do you make your best decisions when you’re exhausted, stressed, or physically tense? What happens to our focus when our body is out of sync?

Could neglecting our BQ be affecting how we think, connect, and perform in ways we haven’t considered?

---

PART II: BALANCE

Each level builds on the last—BQ fuels EQ, which sharpens IQ, leading to SQ.

↠BQ (Body Intelligence): The Foundation

• Movement, breath, and nervous system regulation.

• If the body is off, everything else suffers.

The paradox: The more we rely on our brains, the more we neglect the body. We’re not designed to be stuck at desks, staring at screens. Our best thinking happens when we move, breathe, and engage with the natural world.

↠EQ (Emotional Intelligence): The Connector

• Understanding and regulating emotions.

• Emotions aren’t just mental—they’re physical. Our nervous system shifts based on what’s happening in our body, usually landing us in one of four states: high-energy or low-energy, and positive or negative, influencing how we regulate, connect, and respond under pressure.

If our breathing is shallow, our nervous system is fried, and our sleep is shot, EQ doesn’t stand a chance. Ever had a tough conversation feel easier after a long walk or time outside? That’s BQ doing the heavy lifting for EQ.

↠IQ (Cognitive Intelligence) → The Strategist

• Problem-solving, logic, decision-making.

• We assume thinking harder leads to better results. It doesn’t.

A well-regulated system (BQ + EQ) brings clarity and insight, while a dysregulated one leads to overthinking, stress, and decision fatigue. Our best ideas don’t come from grinding at a desk—they show up mid-run, mid-paddle, or somewhere between the trees.

SQ (Spiritual Intelligence) → The Compass

• Meaning, purpose, connection to something bigger.

• Usually ignored—until burnout hits.

Burnout, loss of purpose, the ‘what now?’ moment—real SQ (not that Instagram shaman shit) only kicks in when we integrate the first three levels. High performance isn’t just about doing more—it’s about syncing up with something bigger than ourselves.

And nothing realigns us like time in nature, moving through a landscape that doesn’t care about our to-do lists or what’s on our business card.

Nature is the ultimate ego-check.

---

PART III: FLOW

A DIY Experiment

Over the next few days, flip the script on intelligence:

↠PLAN+PREPARE: Start with BQ. Before making a big decision, move first. Get outside. Walk the beach, hike a trail, stretch under the open sky, day or night. Notice how fresh air and movement sharpen your thinking.

↠EXECUTE+ADAPT: When stress hits, check yourself: Is this a brain problem or a body problem? Before overanalyzing, shake things up—bike to clear your head, climb something, jump in cold water. See how solving complex issues feels different after movement and nature, not before.

↠REST+RECOVER: Instead of grinding harder, reset smarter. Try 5 minutes of slow nasal breathing (in through the nose, out through the mouth)—preferably outside, free from distractions and devices. It boosts nitric oxide, a neurochemical that promotes relaxation. See how it shifts your focus.

---

So, over the next week, don’t just sit and think—move, breathe, get outside. Intelligence isn’t just in our heads. It’s in how we move through the world.

And adventure isn’t just for fun—it’s how we recalibrate and perform at our best.

Give it a whirl 🌀

Drop a story in the comments or our chat if you’re game.

---