Thomas Edison - I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work
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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I’m your host, Andrew McGivern, for February 16th.
Now, today is Innovation Day, a perfect excuse to celebrate all the great ideas, breakthroughs, and—let’s be honest—some truly weird inventions that somehow made their way into our lives. Seriously, who looked at a Snuggie and thought, You know what’s missing from blankets? Sleeves. But hey, innovation isn’t always about logic—it’s about taking risks, pushing boundaries, and occasionally, creating something no one asked for but everyone ends up loving.
And that brings me to today’s quote, from one of the greatest innovators of all time, Thomas Edison:
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Now, if anyone knew a thing or two about persistence, it was Edison. The man was basically the definition of trial and error. Imagine failing 10,000 times at anything—most of us would have rage-quit somewhere around attempt number 37. But innovation isn’t about getting it right the first time; it’s about learning from mistakes and adapting until something finally works.
And that’s what makes today so great—Innovation Day is a reminder that every mistake, every misstep, and even every facepalm-worthy idea is just part of the journey toward something amazing. Whether you’re inventing the next big thing or just trying to figure out how to keep your houseplants alive (seriously, why is that so hard?), today is a perfect day to embrace the process.
So go out there, think big, take risks, and don’t be afraid to fail—just make sure to keep track of the good ideas along the way. And if all else fails, remember: Someone once made a fortune by putting wheels on luggage.
That’s it for today’s episode of The Daily Quote. If you enjoyed today’s message, be sure to subscribe and share it with someone who could use a little inspiration. I’ll be back tomorrow with another quote to keep your day moving in the right direction. Until then, keep innovating and I'll see you tomorrow, same pod time, same pod station for another Daily Quote.