Category Archives: Genius

Those who fear appearing foolish

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“Those who fear appearing foolish rarely discover anything new. The genius of tomorrow often looks like an idiot today.”

—Shane Parrish, Creator of the Farnum Street Blog

Image from Unsplash by Jakob Owens

Today’s quote highlights the importance of embracing risk and uncertainty in the pursuit of innovation.

Fear of ridicule can stifle creativity and hinder progress. History is filled with examples of visionaries who were initially mocked but later celebrated.

By embracing the possibility of appearing foolish, we open ourselves to new ideas and discoveries.

EXERCISE:

Where has fear of judgement and appearing foolish stopped you from pursuing a new idea or project?

What is it costing you when you hold back your genius and innovative spirit?

How can and will you summon the courage and persistence to express yourself fully to make your mark?

It’s what you think of yourself that truly matters!

A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men

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“A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men.”

⏤Roald Dahl, 20th Century British Novelist

Image of Albert Einstein laughing

image from Deism

When you think of the word “genius,” who is the first person to come to mind? If you are like many, you likely selected Albert Einstein.

A theory he postulated 100 years ago regarding gravitational waves was recently proven correct by the very best of today’s top scientists.

Unknown to many is the fact that Einstein often exhibited a lighthearted, playful, and humorous disposition. He must have believed that all work and no play would make Albert a dull person indeed!

Based on his rock star image at the time, he was often invited to participate in many gatherings and social events, to the delight of those he accompanied.

EXERCISE:

Where and with whom would a bit more fun, playfulness, and good old-fashioned nonsense be just the ticket for you to have a more fully satisfying life?

“Genius is no more than childhood recaptured at will.”

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“Genius is no more than childhood recaptured at will.”

– Charles Baudelaire, French poet and translator

I just did a Google search for the top ten most influential people of all time. Guess who was number one on this list: Jesus. Others included Muhammad, Gandhi, Buddha, Confucius, and of course, Einstein.

In the book Jesus CEO (written in 1992), Lauri Beth Jones identifies over 80 key characteristics of how Jesus lived his life. One quality I particularly like was his ability to be playful and share his sense of humor, spontaneity, and joy. His genius helped others lower their defenses and flock to be with him.

Exercise:

I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of Jones’ book and review at least one of Jesus’ qualities each day.

Each section will only take about 3 minutes to read but may take quite a bit longer to reflect and act upon. I assure you, it will be worth it.