10 Amazing Life Lessons From Albert Einstein

Perseverance is priceless. This quote is attributed to Albert Einstein, who is one of the greatest thinker this world as ever known. Einstein published more than 300 scientific papers and more over 150 non-scientific works. These days, we associate his name “Einstein” with genius and mankind has benefited from the lessons of Albert Einstein.

Many people believe that geniuses are born, not made. Perhaps it is the way their brain is hardwired, or perhaps something else affects the construct of their thought process. Whatever it is that creates geniuses, there are lessons to be learned in the way they approach problems.

In truth, I do not know if these are accurate attributed to Albert Einstein or if these truly embodied the way he lived. Most likely, these are observations from someone who wrote a book about him. Still, it is food for thought.

1. Follow your curiosity
2. Perseverance is priceless
3. Focus on the present
4. The imagination is powerful
5. Make mistakes
6. live in the moment
7. Create value
8. Don’t expect different results
9. Knowledge comes from experience
10. Learn the rules and then play better

Learn The Rules Of The Game

Learn the rules and then play better, this is one I have always tried to do. Before you can change the rules, you must first learn and understand the rules. This is the reason why we have to go to school and start from the bottom of the ladder.

Of course, there are those who did not finish school but these are the guys who created the rules. The difference is once they have created their business, they then have to play in accordance to the rules they rest of us live by. At the end of the day, they change the rules to create value, not because they are rebels.

You cannot win the game if you do not know the rules of games. You cannot rewrite the rules of the game unless you are the winner. You need either genius or credibility.

Know Your Limitations

Just as important it is to want to achieve your goal in life, it is also important to know your limitations. To know your limitations does not mean to set your limitations. Knowing your limitations allows you to play to your strengths. As for your weaknesses, that is what a team is for. Your team or your friends cover your back. Value them.

[Excerpt from Wikipedia]
After the death of Israel’s first president in November 1952, then Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion offered Albert Einstein the Presidency of Israel, a largely ceremonial position. The offer was presented by Israel’s ambassador in Washington, Abba Eban, who explained that the offer “embodies the deepest respect which the Jewish people can repose in any of its sons”. However, Einstein declined, and wrote in his response that he was “deeply moved”, and “at once saddened and ashamed” that he could not accept it:

All my life I have dealt with objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official function. I am the more distressed over these circumstances because my relationship with the Jewish people became my strongest human tie once I achieved complete clarity about our precarious position among the nations of the world.