Bill Riddell

Inventors and Salesman

Everyone needs to be their own salesman and cheerleader. If you are not promoting yourself, who else is going to do it for you.

Sometimes good deeds, quality work, innovations and other positive contributions go unnoticed.

I think quite a lot of people out there have a lot to say or contribute but have issues about being seen as bragging or even just uncomfortable about the possibility of being in the spotlight.

You must break away from these fears, if not for your own success then to contribute to society.

The Salesman who Invented & The Inventor

Compare Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. One arguably histories greatest inventor, the other histories most famous. When re-reading Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power his comparisons of the pair really showed me how important it is to promote yourself in order to be successful.

Tesla was the better innovator yet Edison received the vast bulk of public recognition and financial gain. Edison more often than not would make slight tweaks to the inventions of others and make them a commercial success. For some time Tesla even worked for Edison, who was a salesman as well as business person first and an inventor second, while Tesla was purely an innovative mind and had no time for the business world.

The Electrical Battle & The Not So Noble Prize

Edison was very competitive and sought to destroy Tesla at several stages. Now regarded as the founder of electricity as we know it Edison proposed a workable solution would have to be based on his direct current (DC) system. Tesla’s opposing theory of alternating current (AC) seemed to be gaining traction for mainstream use until Edison set about destroying it’s reputation.

Edison launched a smear campaign to demonstrate that Tesla’s system was unsafe. He started by publicly electrocuting household pets using the AC system of his rival. By 1890 Edison was winning the war and attempted a coup de-grace by organising the first execution by electrocution. Naturally AC was used but the plan backfired. The weak AC current was not enough to kill the man, where Edison’s far stronger DC current would have killed him. Though Tesla won that battle he lost the war.

So determined to stand above his rival Edison declined the offer of a Noble Peace Prize due to the fact he would have to share it with Tesla. Instead they both missed out. Edison wanted the limelight to himself, there would be no sharing. Sure enough years later Edison would receive a Noble Prize on his own, Tesla did not.

Seek the Limelight

While Edison courted the limelight and big business Telas dedicated himself to his inventions. He had been swindled over the years of money and credit not only from Edison but also George Westinghouse and Marconi. Due largely to these disappointments he ignored the business and politics side of things at his own peril.

Edison on the other hand saw that public credit, fame and fortune were as important (if not more so) than producing the breakthroughs.

“Everybody steals in commerce and industry. I’ve stolen a lot myself.” – Thomas Edison.

Don’t Be Shy – Promote & Thrive

I can see a lot more of myself in Tesla than I can in Edison. The limelight is not something I desire, I at times even hesitate to talk about myself to friends – I’d rather hear what they are up to. But lately I’ve come to realise that you wont get anywhere hiding in the shadows.

You must stand up, proud of your achivments and be heard. Let others benefit from you ideas and wisdom. Don’t be selfish and keep them to yourself.