The newspapers called it the miracle of the 19th century.
Shortly after the world had seen the wizardry of the invention of the phonograph, Tom Edison, the Wizard of Menlo park, started a fresh notebook.
It was the first of many on a new subject.
The object of this invention is to devise an electric lamp.
Thomas Edison's greatest invention was not the light bulb to begin.
He didn't actually invent the light bulb.
He was either the 22nd or 23rd person to invent it, depending on how you count.
That's David Burkus.
He's the author of the Myths of Creativity, and he wants to set the record straight when it comes to Thomas Edison.
I believe his greatest invention was this laboratory of Menlo park.
This idea, let's get some of the best and brightest together.
Let's get them from diverse sources to work on various different projects, to tinker, to cross pollinate ideas.
Long before that was a trendy thing like it is nowadays in organizations.
He figured out that he could benefit the most, and the people around him could benefit the most from working as a collaborative and diverse team.
That was a way bigger invention because it churned out consistently, patent after patent after patent.
Okay, David just debunked a couple of myths I totally believed in.
Not only did Edison not invent the light bulb, he wasn't this lone inventor who was dreaming up endless patents.
He had a team.
And as David said, the way that team came together to solve problems might be Edison's greatest achievement, especially considering that what they did laid the groundwork not only for how we light our homes and offices, but for almost every aspect of our wired world.
I'm Gabriella cowperweight.