When Edison Failed 1,000 Times: The Science of v0.1

Written By Karol Letkiewicz

History
Thomas Edison tested more than 1,000 different materials before the light bulb worked. For years, people laughed at his “failures”. Edison didn’t call them failures. He called them versions. Each one was a step closer to light.

Reflection
Perfectionism kills more dreams than mistakes. The messy draft, the first attempt, the shaky prototype — that’s where real innovation hides. Version 0.1 is not the opposite of success. It’s the beginning of it.

Technique — The v0.1 Sprint

  • Pick one idea you’ve been delaying.

  • Set a 45-minute timer.

  • Create something visible (sketch, notes, slide, diagram).

  • No fixing, no polish — just version 0.1.

Quantum Question
👉 What if your next “failure” is already your breakthrough?

Karol Letkiewicz
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