Thomas Edison is best known as the inventor of the lightbulb – but he also invented the phonograph and the motion picture camera. His most famous quote is “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” A Canadian actually invented the lightbulb, but it was Edison who made it practical. He invented a filament that would allow it to burn for 1200 hours.
1. Creating artificial light meant that people didn’t have to resort to flickering candles. Write stories about light in your life – bedtime rituals, automatic lights, neon lights, street lights, traffic lights, the lights in TV’s and computers, flashlights, etc.
2. 99% perspiration. Gretsky says, “The highest compliment you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.” Tell stories about things you work really hard to get better at.
3. The phonograph led to recorded music. Before that you played yourself with friends, or hired someone to play. Write about music in your life – music you make, love, hate, live music you hear (church choirs, concerts), etc.
