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Einstein had a day job as a patent clerk when working on relativity. Leibniz did manage to invent calculus, including the notation used to this day, even though
by stiff 15y ago
Einstein had a day job as a patent clerk when working on relativity. Leibniz did manage to invent calculus, including the notation used to this day, even though he picked up mathematics relatively late in life and even though he also had a job and lots of other occupations in philosophy, engineering, politics etc. You can do a lot if you dedicate to a problem 10 quality hours a week for 10 years. It still takes a lot of dedication and focus, but stating as some kind of law that unless you work obsessively all the time you can not succeed is rather simplistic for something as vague and at the same time as complex as "success". Hard work isn't a virtue by itself, the capability to do work is a precious resource, that should be used wisely where it will make the most impact.
- brlewis 15y agoYes, but how long did it take relativity and calculus, respectively, to gain traction? I've implemented a great idea myself in my spare time, but it won't change the world until it spreads. I'm not sure how successful I can be continuing it as a part-time project.
- pg 15y agostating as some kind of law that unless you work obsessively all the time you can not succeed is rather simplistic for something as vague and at the same time as complex as "success" Did I do that? It seems to me that what I said was: "you'll find many if not most are by ordinary people's standards excessively dedicated to their work."