Page 43 - Holistic Horizons - 5
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He experimented with countless materials in an effort to find a filament.
When none of them were effective, his assistant became frustrated. He
said, “We have failed. We worked so hard and learnt nothing.”
“How can you say we have not learnt anything?” Edison asked. He laughed
and said, “We now understand that there are 2,000 materials that we
are unable to use to create a lightbulb.” Soon after that, he tried again.
He kept trying, and that is how Edison invented the first light bulb—all
because he never gave up despite making so many mistakes.
Your Space
1. What message were you able to learn from Edison’s life?
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2. Do you agree with Edison’s answer to his assistant? Why?
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3. What do you think is the meaning of ‘learning from one’s mistakes’?
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4. How do you feel positive and motivated after facing failure?
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Key Values
Before learning from one’s own mistakes, the challenge is to first learn to
accept our mistake. When we cannot accept our mistakes, we can never
think of a solution. In one of the examples you read in concept explanation,
breaking the glasses was a mistake, but it is important to learn to apologise
as the first step. That would help you and your mother calm down if you
were in that situation.
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