Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered—either by themselves or by others.
This character-driven idea fascinated Barrios. It suggested that genius is much more than high intelligence, innate talent, extraordinary work ethic, or uncanny luck, but rather a composite manifestat...
There’s a catch to combinatorial creativity, though. Before you can connect dots, you need to have dots to connect. The more material you’re exposed to in the world, the more grist you’ll have for you...
The interesting person doesn’t really listen to what you think or how you feel and can’t wait to jump in and give his point of view. The interested person finds your opinion, though different from his...
The announcement generated considerable controversy, and Tesla was widely criticized as a mad scientist whose sanity was slipping. Undaunted, he approached
The Westinghouse Corporation won a bid for illuminating the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, which was to be the first all-electric fair in history.
Tesla’s continued research in the field of ultra-high-frequency energy led him to conclude that it was only a matter of time until science would discover a veritable source of inexhaustible, free
Statistical data shows us that you have to be at least seventy-two inches tall to be allowed on the ride, and each inch you push over that is probably better for you. There comes a point, however, whe...
So, what does all this tell us? First, that the seed of greatness exists in every human being. Whether it sprouts or not is our choice. Second, that there are no such things as natural-born under- or...
Ray Bradbury said that thinking is the enemy of creativity because it’s self-conscious. When you think you sit calmly and try to reason through something in a structured, logical way. Creativity dance...
Psychologist Dr. Alfred Barrios conducted research on the nature of genius in the seventies. He set out to answer the same basic question I posed just a page ago: why do some people rise to greatness...
Mark Twain said all ideas are second-hand, consciously and unconsciously drawn from a million outside sources.
Marconi was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1911 for his achievements in radio, and was hailed as the father of radio. Tesla was infuriated and, in 1915, sued Marconi for infringement on his patents. He didn...
Like genius itself, creativity is a process, not a providence. The
Joseph Campbell said, deep down inside, we don’t seek the meaning of life, but the experience of being alive. And that’s what the nature of genius is ultimately about.
James Clerk Maxwell had proven mathematically that light was electromagnetic radiation—electricity that was vibrating at an extremely high frequency.
It’s no coincidence that geniuses not only dare to dream of the impossible for their work, but do the same for their lives.
It’s an essential part of becoming more creative. Expand your interests in life. Seek out new, interesting experiences, no matter how mundane or inconsequential they might seem to others. Read books,...
It takes curiosity to find your call to adventure, it takes courage to venture into the unknown, and it takes imagination to create your path.
It takes a special strength to be willing to scrap the life that others have planned for us—safe, beaten trails walked by millions—and embrace one fraught with uncertainty, danger, and the unknown.