Thomas Edison did not invent the incandescent light bulb. Prior to him, up to 7 different inventors, starting 30 years earlier, had made various types of light bulbs work, all with different problems in keeping them lit without burning out. Edison saw the opportunity and believed he could achieve it. It is said that he tried approximately 1,000 light bulb models until he found one that could stay lit. In 1879, he lit up Manhattan’s New Year’s Eve with his invention, presenting it to the world. Legend has it that one of the journalists present asked him the following question: “Mr. Edison, how did you not get discouraged after failing more than 1,000 times?” to which Edison replied, “I have not failed even once, I have only discovered 1,000 ways that do not light a light bulb.”

This interesting historical anecdote is very applicable to our daily lives. It is easy to distinguish people who will achieve things from those who will not. People who will achieve things are those who, like Edison, only take each “failure” as a lesson on how not to do what they are trying to do. People who will not achieve things are those who conclude that something is not possible just because the way they tried it was not correct. These latter ones, moreover, will put all kinds of obstacles and resistances to the one who comes next trying to tackle that “impossible” matter with a different approach.

Companies must be very attentive to the type of people they have among their ranks and not be swayed by the erroneous conclusion of “this didn’t work, so it is impossible.” With the right support and resources, you can go very far and achieve almost anything.

They should also not confuse “support” with “interference.” It is not uncommon for managers to try to contribute their point of view to their collaborators’ activities, managing to “modify” the original idea to the point of distorting the effort invested. These types of managers are also characterized by wanting to hire the best, only to end up telling them what to do. And the best ones then end up leaving.

But beware, discovering new ways of how not to do something cannot be too costly or too time-consuming. If you have to make mistakes, it’s better to do it quickly and with a test than to do it in a big way with 100% of the development and investment done.

Let’s recap:

• There is no failure, only ways of not succeeding.
• If you fail, it does not mean it is impossible, only that you have not found the way to achieve it.
• If you are going to fail, do it quickly and at the lowest possible cost.
• You can recognize an Edison because they can always invent a new way.
• If you have an Edison, do not tell them how to do it, just pave the way for them.

And only then will you be able to find the way it is done.