Hello beautiful people. Let’s discuss today’s topic, which is “Lessons from Edison.” I get a little bit annoyed when people tell me, “Marvin, you’re working too hard” or “Marvin, you’re a workaholic.” Usually that advice is coming from someone who is currently employed by someone else on someone else’s payroll. In my mind I usually classify these people as non-dreamers, they are probably going nowhere extremely fast.
When faced with these types of comments the best thing to do initially is to consider the source. Are their comments and advice even worth listening to? I do think it is important to address the issue of “being a workaholic.”
Consider for a moment Thomas Edison. He lived to be 84 years old. As you know, Thomas Edison was was a great inventor. Did you know he was also a successful salesman and frequently worked more than 40 hours straight? Notice how long Edison lived. The reason he probably lived that long is because he worked instead of resting. The whole concept behind resting is overrated. Don’t buy into the myth that work kills, it just isn’t true.
Resting is overrated. I can prove it to you. When you get home, lay down flat for five straight days. On the sixth day you will need to be admitted to a hospital for all of the newly created illnesses and ailments you have. Even though you rested five days in a row, you are not doing your body any good.
What kills a person is unfulfilled work. What kills a person is uninspired work. In my opinion, nothing kills faster than indecision, laziness, mediocrity and the attitude of entitlement. If you spend a lot of time focusing on yourself and not focusing in on the benefit that you can share and be significant in other people’s lives, you will be unfulfilled.
If you spend too much time on yourself, you may find yourself getting lazy. Don’t fall for it, stay away from being mediocre. Stay away from the attitudes of entitlement. The things that matter for you most, are the things that you have to struggle for. Remember the “Lesson of Edison.” Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. Forget Success, Focus on Significance.
Peace, Love and Gumbo!
Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF, CNP
