Thomas Edison was an extraordinary man- an inventor, an entrepreneur, and a father of six. He died with nearly 1,100 patents in his name. He created the commercially known light bulb and the technology to record both sound and motion pictures. He was fast friends with both Ford and Firestone- likeminded individuals as he called them.
He was also dropped from school rolls after only three months of formal education as his teacher said he was “addled”. What she saw as a wandering mind, his mother saw as intellect waiting to be challenged. She home schooled her son for the rest of his formative years and ingrained the value of hard work and determination into her son’s character through her daily example.
After working diligently to invent a commercially marketable electric light bulb, Edison said: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Edison went on to say that “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
He knew that with challenge comes perseverance, and that when you persevere you build character. It’s much too easy to give up when the going gets tough, but if you want to make an impact you have to do more than talk the talk. Walk the walk.
Monday Morning Perspective
“What you are will show in what you do.”– Thomas Edison
This week I challenge you to do more than pay lip service to the accomplishment of your goals- get up and throw some backbone into it. With vision and sweat there are no regrets!
Have a wonderful week!
© Crystal Dyer 2010. All rights reserved.