I too tested as highly gifted as a child and have had some difficulty with my career prospects (though that is probably my fault since I quit a good-paying job to strike out on my own and try the entrepreneur life.) I've often thought that my parents did me no favors by constantly praising my intelligence. I coasted through high school and did OK in college due mostly to laziness, despite knowing I should have been working harder. The weed probably didn't help either. At the end of the day though, I'd rather look back on a life of trailblazing with reduced income/"success" rather than holding down some job that I consider bullshit.

I'm reminded of that quote from Good Will Hunting about serving the douchebag Harvard guy's kids fries at the drive thru. "Maybe. But at least I won't be unoriginal"