Keep Going and Never Stop

I am about to embark on a one year journey pursuing my crazy idea. I am writing this post so that in a few months when I feel like giving up, I can take my own advice. Maybe it can help you, too.

The Pep Talk

On December 9th in 1914 it was cold and quiet. That is, until Edison was violently awoken by the sound of an explosion coming from the direction of his factory complex. His factories housed his life's work: inventions that had just been proven, some that had been freshly patented and many more that were still in the works. Fearing the worst, he bolted out the door. As he ran the one and a half miles through the snow, the cold bit at his ankles and nipped through his nightgown, but he could hardly notice. 

When Edison arrived he at the compound, 5 out of the 10 buildings were ablaze. The first thing he noticed was that the flame was green. He thought, it must be a chemical fire. Edison was working on a new kind of film for photography and clearly there were still a few things to be worked out.

He stood, eyes wide, and mouth agape as he watched his legacy burn to the ground. His wide mouth slowly started to contort into a smile around the edges. You know that feeling you get when you witness something so terribly shocking that all you can do is laugh? That had to be the reason, or at least that is what Edison’s son though when he finally caught up to him at the compound. Then at once, Edison turned to his son and said smiling wide like a child, almost giddy, “Son! go fetch your mother and tell her to bring her friends! They will never see a fire like this as long as they live!” The fire department and many of his employees arrived and helped put out the fire, saving much of the remaining compound. 

Edison, was old, and was definitely at an age where retiring was an option. On top of that he had now just watched much of his R&D burn to the ground. Instead though, he stood in the rubble of factory number 3 and began to speak. Reporters say he gave a rousing speech to his employees about how they were going to rebuild. He was so passionate and inspiring that people began to smile, pick up the pieces of rubble all around and get back to work. They kept going. He Kept going.

Phil Knight, in Shoe Dog, repeats this timeless maxim, Keep going, never stop. Let everyone else call your idea crazy, but whatever you do don't stop. Just keep going.

I have read a lot of biographies and memoirs this year and I noticed that most satisfied entrepreneurs grew something amazing from an idea that was crazy at the time. Edison had many more crazy ideas after that day. But having the crazy idea is just the beginning. You need to start doing something with it. The exciting part is, if you start, you have already made it further than most people in the world. Then all you have to do is keep going. Keep going. Be strong enough to keep going no matter what.

"The cowards never started and the weak died along the way. That leaves us, ladies and gentlemen. Us."

Be smart. Take time deciding which crazy idea to pursue, but when you do, do not equivocate. Keep going. Most ideas fail because we lack the concentration to focus on something long enough.

And if for whatever reason you work your butt off developing your crazy idea only to watch it explode, and go up in flames right before your eyes, just smile, pick up the pieces, and keep going.

If you liked this article, you may also like my other article Keep Calm.

Pretty Cover Photo: WallpaperUp