Edison vs. Tesla: two approaches to problem solving

Two heroes in the pantheon of inventors are Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. Of their many contrasts, a favorite was their divergent approaches for how to solve problems.

Edison is famous for his affirmations of hard work as the key ingredient in invention:

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration”
“I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work”

It’s good advice. The idea for something is rarely the hardest part. Instead, it’s the willingness to work on the long list of little issues that must be solved to bring an idea to fruition (or the marketplace). In problem solving lingo, this kind of approach is called brute-force. You apply great energy to exhaustively try out every different alternative.

Tesla had a different approach. His intuitive understanding of the principles of science allowed him to think about problems in ways Edison either could not, or did not want to. Tesla wrote:

“If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once… to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. I was a sorry witness of such doings, knowing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety per cent of his labor.”

Both of them were right.

The best approach to problem solving is synthetic: to use the synthesis of both ways of thinking to serve you. You should be willing to apply brute-force, but also be willing to do thinking in advance to make solving a problem easier.

Decades ago, in my computer science classes, I recall a clear division among my programmer peers. When given a new assignment, some would jump right in to writing code. I’d call them little Edisons. Others would put the keyboard away, and think for a while on paper. They’d sketch things out, and perhaps ask a question or two online. These were the little Teslas.

Which are you?

(P.S. This is of course an oversimplification of how both of them worked).

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15 Comments » | Posted Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 4:06 pm in creative thinking

15 thoughts on “Edison vs. Tesla: two approaches to problem solving”

Sergey - April 4, 2012 at 11:14 pm #

Thanks a lot! Very actual theme for me. As additional, read articles about problems solving – http://manprogress.com/en/methods/solve-problems.html

Ahmed - March 4, 2012 at 12:49 am #

Excellent post Scott.
Can we as well copmare Agile(Adison) vs Waterfall(Tesla)?
Or it is only aplicable when there is a human factor like software applications?
Thanks,
Ahmed.

Helen Wu - February 16, 2012 at 11:50 pm #

Thanks for the writing. Here is what I think.
When I feel the need to clarify the problem (simplify/decompose) I am Tesla, whereas I am trying to find a solution, I am Edison.

Emmanuel García - February 15, 2012 at 2:20 am #

My favorite method is via inspiration, however you get it: either by brute force or however you get your creative juices going. Listening to the right type of music, going for a walk or even better a good run, swimming, long drives, are all methods that can put me in a very creative state.

Otto - February 14, 2012 at 4:57 pm #

My process is to drink beer for a day or two, until my brain codes the solution for me. Then I type it in. works for me.

Scott Berkun - February 14, 2012 at 9:06 pm #
I think your process makes you the envy of most inventors everywhere :)
Reply

ASD - April 30, 2012 at 1:04 pm #
Are you swimming in bear? :)
Reply

Lata - February 14, 2012 at 6:51 am #

Tesla came after Edision – studied his methodology and then found out his defects. this is the crux – Edison was the pioneer. u learnt from him, his methods and improved upon it. thinking genetically had improved by the the time Tesla had evolved !!

odawg - March 6, 2012 at 11:05 am #
Actually they came in about the same time.
Reply

Deepak Surti - February 13, 2012 at 12:33 am #

I am think time Tesla and code time Edison.

proof: http://deepaksurti.com/overlap.html

Phil Simon - February 12, 2012 at 7:55 pm #

Good post, Scott. I tend to be an Edison. I jump right in and start playing with ideas. I should develop the Tesla side of myself, though.

Jack Dempsey - February 11, 2012 at 4:18 pm #

More and more a Tesla. Also depends on the type of problem–sometimes knowing what questions to ask, what aspects to consider, is quickly solved or at least started for you by jumping right in and touching the problem directly. Just don’t stay there indefinitely and lose perspective.

Sergey - April 4, 2012 at 11:14 pm #
Thanks a lot! Very actual theme for me. As additional, read articles about problems solving – http://manprogress.com/en/methods/solve-problems.html

Ahmed - March 4, 2012 at 12:49 am #
Excellent post Scott.
Can we as well copmare Agile(Adison) vs Waterfall(Tesla)?
Or it is only aplicable when there is a human factor like software applications?
Thanks,
Ahmed.

Pingback: Edison og/eller Tesla | Hennings blog

Helen Wu - February 16, 2012 at 11:50 pm #
Thanks for the writing. Here is what I think.
When I feel the need to clarify the problem (simplify/decompose) I am Tesla, whereas I am trying to find a solution, I am Edison.

Emmanuel García - February 15, 2012 at 2:20 am #
My favorite method is via inspiration, however you get it: either by brute force or however you get your creative juices going. Listening to the right type of music, going for a walk or even better a good run, swimming, long drives, are all methods that can put me in a very creative state.

Otto - February 14, 2012 at 4:57 pm #
My process is to drink beer for a day or two, until my brain codes the solution for me. Then I type it in. works for me.

Lata - February 14, 2012 at 6:51 am #
Tesla came after Edision – studied his methodology and then found out his defects. this is the crux – Edison was the pioneer. u learnt from him, his methods and improved upon it. thinking genetically had improved by the the time Tesla had evolved !!

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Deepak Surti - February 13, 2012 at 12:33 am #
I am think time Tesla and code time Edison.

proof: http://deepaksurti.com/overlap.html

Phil Simon - February 12, 2012 at 7:55 pm #
Good post, Scott. I tend to be an Edison. I jump right in and start playing with ideas. I should develop the Tesla side of myself, though.

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Jack Dempsey - February 11, 2012 at 4:18 pm #
More and more a Tesla. Also depends on the type of problem–sometimes knowing what questions to ask, what aspects to consider, is quickly solved or at least started for you by jumping right in and touching the problem directly. Just don’t stay there indefinitely and lose perspective.