So, you are working hard, spending lots of time at work or a special project … maybe 50-60 hours a week? Thomas Edison would admire your work ethic. He would have said something like:

“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits”

Old Tom was a devotee of hard work, often logging over 90 hours a week in his office and labs, punching the time clock just like everyone else-also catching a quick nap when he could to refresh himself.

Here is a quote that characterizes how Tom thought about work:

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

He was all about what you could do with what you had learned … not how smart folks thought you were. For Edison:

“Genius is hard work, stick-to-itiveness, and common sense.”

The world of Mr. Edison was all about practicality in action.

He did not care for quitters either:

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Think about this. He was purported to have conducted over 3,000 experiments to perfect his light bulb filament; and over 15,000 experiments to get his nickel-iron storage batteries right. How many people do you know who have this kind of work discipline? Do you?

Thomas Edison said … “There is a way to do it better. Find it.”

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