Industry is best at the intersection of science and art.
Edwin LandRead
Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.
Interpretation
Only take on projects that are both significant and challenging.
This quote by Edwin Land emphasizes the importance of choosing meaningful and ambitious endeavors. By focusing on projects that are crucial and nearly unattainable, we can push ourselves beyond our limits and achieve great things, ensuring that our efforts lead to significant impacts rather than trivial pursuits.
In practice
In a motivational speech to young entrepreneurs, one might use this quote to encourage them to pursue bold ideas.
Industry is best at the intersection of science and art.
I believe quite simply that the small company of the future will be as much a research organization as it is a manufacturing company.
It is a curious property of research activity that after the problem has been solved the solution seems obvious. This is true not only for those who have not previously been acquainted with the problem, but also for those who have worked over it for years.
My motto is very personal and may not fit anyone else or any other company. It is: Don't do anything that someone else can do. Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.
Work only on problems that are manifestly important and seem to be nearly impossible to solve. That way you will have a natural market for your product and no competition.
Intense concentration for hour after hour can bring out resources in people that they didn't know they had.
A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day. Don't worry about a week from now or a month from now - just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!
Mediocrity is my biggest fear. I'm not afraid of total failure because I don't think that will happen. I'm not afraid of success because that beats the hell out of failure. It's being in the middle that scares me.
When you begin to worry, go find something to do. Get busy being a blessing to someone; do something fruitful. Talking about your problem or sitting alone, thinking about it, does no good; it serves only to make you miserable. Above all else, remember that worrying is totally useless. Worrying will not solve your problem.
A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder - never likely to reach home port. To us comes the signal: chart your course, set your sail, position your rudder, and proceed.
You don't win on emotion. You win on execution.
No one is going to feel sorry for you, so you have to go out there and be fierce.
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