The Light That Burns Brightest

During Thomas Edison’s long effort to perfect the incandescent light bulb, a small accident captured his philosophy of progress. After finally producing a working prototype, Edison handed it to a young assistant to carry upstairs for testing. Near the top of the stairs, the assistant slipped and accidentally shattered the bulb.

The assistant was forgiven and after time a new prototype was created and given to him to carry for testing once again.

Whether every detail is historically exact matters less than what the lesson conveys. Edison didn’t necessarily see mistakes as failures. He remained calm and pushed on. Each setback clarified what worked and what did not, bringing him closer to reaching his goal.

The same mindset applies to investing. No successful investor avoids losses entirely. Markets are unpredictable, strategies evolve, and even well-researched strategies sometimes disappoint. What separates successful investors from the rest is how they respond: Learning from mistakes, pivoting quickly when conditions change, and improving with experience rather than becoming jaded by short-term setbacks.

Edison famously said he hadn’t failed countless times he had simply discovered many ideas that didn’t work. Investing follows a similar path. Progress grows from reflection, adaptation, patience, and persistence.

This is the tuition every successful investor has paid. Continuous learning, steady improvement, and the focus to see the light bulb at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s talk about what that means for you. Let’s make a plan and execute with calm persistence. A brighter financial future awaits – Probably illuminated by LEDs.. but that is entirely your choice.

-Zac