Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. 

   This famous Thomas Edison’s quote is often used to emphasize the importance of perspiration. However, for me, this quote tells the importance of inspiration. If I restated the quote, it would be “without inspiration, perspiration is meaningless.” And because I am a composer, I would also restate as “Great Work is perspiration standing on the foundation called inspiration.”

 

  This kind of thinking is very important for not only any creative minds but also any entrepreneurs. “Fail fast and fail early” is familiar quote in entrepreneurs’ community, and for me this quote IS the Edison’s quote told differently. No matter how much efforts one put in, if the first step/assumption was wrong (or if there was no inspiration), it will not be succeed. Therefore, the faster and the earlier they fail, the better chances of later success they have. 

   For people or products to succeed, it is very important not to be attached to effort. Effort is a virtue that should be valued as one of the human qualities, but it is not the part of any works or products.

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, and Nothing is 0% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

   

   It might be cruel, but this is how things work. And the earlier we realize, the better.