Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.
Edwin LandRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focus on unique and significant endeavors that challenge your capabilities.
This quote emphasizes the importance of pursuing tasks that are not only challenging but also uniquely suited to your individual strengths and passions. It suggests that one should avoid engaging in projects that lack personal significance or can easily be done by others, thereby encouraging individuals to strive for meaningful and impactful contributions.
Themes
MotivationImportanceUniqueChallengeImpossible
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting, you could use this quote to inspire your colleagues to pursue only the most impactful projects.
More from Edwin Land
All quotes →Industry is best at the intersection of science and art.
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I believe quite simply that the small company of the future will be as much a research organization as it is a manufacturing company.
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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.
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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.
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Intense concentration for hour after hour can bring out resources in people that they didn't know they had.
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