Lightbulbs. © iStockphoto/Orla

No one I know invests effort noticing, admiring, or listing the attributes of the light bulb. So why should I?

I am willing to risk being thought of as being a few watts short of a glow not to point out the fact that light welcomes me when I open my refrigerator door to grab ice for a drink or lights the road at night as I travel to new experiences or lights my home where I record these experiences. I am taking that risk to showcase one of the most creative, productive inventors of the twentieth century, Thomas Edison.

Reported, it took Edison many failed attempts before he found lightbulb success. Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

According to thomasedison.org, Edison’s most famous inventions included, along with the light bulb, the phonograph, the Kinetoscope, the Electrographic Vote Recorder, and an iron ore separator. Next time you turn on a light bulb let it remind you to press on toward success!