#260September 18, 202139:03

SPECIAL: Thomas Edison (Part 2)

The invention and commercialization of the incandescent light bulb The competitive rivalry and similarities between Edison and Nikola Tesla Edison's 'insomnia squad' work ethic and his partnership with Henry Ford

About This Episode

This special episode features Ben Wilson from the 'How to Take Over the World' podcast, who details the second half of Thomas Edison's prolific career. It covers the grueling process of inventing a practical incandescent light bulb, the creation of the first power grid in New York City, and Edison's relentless obsession with invention over financial gain.

Episode Description

This is a special release of the 3-part Thomas Edison series from the How to Take Over the World podcast with Ben Wilson. Description - How did Thomas Edison rise from obscure origins in a frontier town in Michigan to become the most famous man of his age and one of the greatest inventors of all time? In part 2, we cover Edison's life from his invention of the light bulb to his death. --------- * How to Take Over the World - https://www.httotw.com/ * Want to be featured in a future episode? Drop your question/comment/criticism/love here: https://www.mfmpod.com/p/hotline/ * Support the pod by spreading the word, become a referrer here: https://refer.fm/million * Have you joined our private Facebook group yet? Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourfirstmillion and join thousands of other entrepreneurs and founders scheming up ideas.

Key Takeaways

Identify your compulsions: Edison viewed invention as a compulsion or 'addiction' rather than just work, which allowed him to endure constant setbacks and even the total destruction of his factory by fire.

Solve for the entire system: Edison didn't just invent the light bulb; he realized he had to invent the generators, wiring, meters, and switches to create a functional and commercial power grid.

Brute-force through experimentation: Success often comes from 'prolonged patience' and testing thousands of materials rather than relying solely on academic theory, which Edison used to find a viable filament when experts said it was impossible.

Featuring

Ben Wilson

11 episodes

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Duration39:03

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