"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together (make) genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius." -- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
As I write and post these words, it is the last several minutes of Albert Einstein’s birthday. He was born on March 14, 1879.
As great as Einstein’s achievements were, I believe we view him with too much awe and not enough kinship. In many respects the author of the famous equation e=mc2 was an ordinary person who went about his work in an extraordinary way.
A close look at the man can help everyone, including students, professionals and even those who are selected today to play in the NCAA basketball tournament.
In this beautifully written paragraph, taken from nobelprize.org, we get a blueprint for greatness:
Einstein always appeared to have a clear view of the problems of physics and the determination to solve them. He had a strategy of his own and was able to visualize the main stages on the way to his goal. He regarded his major achievements as mere stepping-stones for the next advance.
Let’s take these points in order.
Einstein always appeared to have a clear view of the problems. This is not to be under-appreciated. Whether you’re picking a team, teaching a skill or scouting an opponent, you must understand the problem. Ask yourself: “What is the task? What absolutely must be done?”
And the determination to solve them. Nothing is as powerful as a will that won’t be denied. The greatest achievements of all time resulted from persistent effort.
He had a strategy of his own. Life is not a talent game. It is about strategies. When winners fail, they never question their ability. Instead they re-examine strategies. That is what makes them winners. They don’t lose; they learn.
And was able to visualize the main stages on the way to his goal. The ability to see the future can create the future. Most people looked at Orlando, Fla., as a wasteland. Walt Disney saw a Magic Kingdom.
He regarded his major achievements as mere stepping-stones for the next advance. If you see each competition as do-or-die, you put too much pressure on yourself. If instead you focus on learning and improving, the journey becomes more fun.
Remember, it doesn’t matter what grades you get or what your I.Q. is. If you can copy these traits of Albert Einstein, someone may be calling you a genius someday.
Coach Tully’s Extra Point: Einstein’s work led him to challenge the ideas of Sir Isaac Newton. Who has the courage to take on a legend?
Great posting, Mike. Einstein’s work life yields many interesting learnings. He was once interviewed at Princeton by a French journalist about his work habits. He mostly worked in the mornings, if I recall correctly and took the afternoons off. When the reporter asked him whether he used a notebook to jot down his ideas as he moved around, Einstein apparently looked him straight in the eye and said: “I don’t get very many good ideas, but when I do, believe me, I can remember them.”