NikolaTeslaImaginationandtheManThatInventedthe20thCentury

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WrittenbySeanPatrick

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TheGreatMysteryofGenius

“Thousandsofgeniusesliveanddieundiscovered—eitherbythemselvesorbyothers.”

-MarkTwain

IfIcouldwriteonesentencethatwouldmagicallyincreaseyourIQbythirtypoints,wouldyoubeinterestedinreadingthatsentence?

Probably.Butwhy?Whatwouldbeinitforyou?Doyouthinkitwouldhelpyoumakemoremoney?Makeanameforyourself?Findlove,happiness,orfulfillment?

I’veaskedmanypeoplethesequestionsandtheiranswersareinvariable.“Ofcourseitwould.”Theculturalcorrelationisundeniable:we’vebeenindoctrinatedtobelievethatthehighertheIQ,themorelikelyoneistosucceedinlife.Hence,weassumethatthescientiststhatwinNobelPrizes,thebusinesspeoplethatgofromragstomillions,theauthorsthatwriterunawaybestsellers,registerinthehighestrangesofIQsimplybecausethey’reenjoyingsweetsuccesses.

Well,atremendousamountofresearchhasbeendoneintothescientificcorrelationbetweenIQandreal-lifesuccess,andaverydifferentpicturehasemerged.

IQandsuccessarerelated...toapoint.Sure,someonewithanIQof150(a“genius”byallnormalstandards)isgoingtodomuchbetterinlifethansomeonewithanIQof80(nearly“mentallydisabled”).Similarly,apersonwithanIQof130(“neargenius”)hasasignificantupperhandinlifewhencomparedtoapersonwithanIQof100(“average”).

Buthere’sthecatch:therelationbetweenIQandsuccessfollowsthelawofdiminishingreturns.Thatis,whenyoucomparetwopeopleofrelativelyhighIQs,youcannolongerpredictsuccessbyIQalone.AscientistwithanIQof130isjustaslikelytorisetothetopofhisdisciplineasonewithanIQof180.

Dr.LiamHudson,aBritishpsychologistthatheadedupCambridge’sResearchUnitofIntellectualDevelopmentinthesixties,comparedIQtobasketball.Ifyou’refivefootfive,yourprospectsofbecomingevenanNBAbenchwarmerareslim-to-none.Thefactisifyou’relessthansixfeettall,youcanprettymuchforgetaboutyourdreamstochallengeKingJamesinhiscourt.

Statisticaldatashowsusthatyouhavetobeatleastseventy-twoinchestalltobeallowedontheride,andeachinchyoupushoverthatisprobablybetterforyou.Therecomesapoint,however,whenheightjustdoesn’tmattermuchanymore.Justbecausesomeoneissevenfeettalldoesn’tmeanhe’sabetterplayerthansomeonewho’ssixfootsix(MichaelJordan’sheight).Thepointisyouonlyhavetobetallenoughtohaveashotatthepros.

Thesamepatternistrueofintelligenceandsuccessinlife.Youonlyhavetobesmartenoughtofulfilltheintellectualrequirementsforsuccess.History’sgreatestachievers—practical,savvypeoplethatdidbigthingsandchangedtheworld—areheraldedasthegreatestgeniusestoeverhavewalkedtheearth,butwhilemanyofthemhadremarkablyhighIQs,manyotherswerejustsmartenough.

Ifwecan’texplaintheirsuccessintermsofIQalone,whatelsedidtheypossessthatallowedthemtorisetosuchheights?

Mostpeoplewouldansweralongthelinesof“extraordinaryinherenttalent.”Andtheywouldbe

wrong.

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Callintheinspiredbard,Demodocus.

Godhasgiventhemanthegiftofsong.

That’soneofthemanygod-givengiftsofcharactersintheOdyssey.We’velearnedmuchsinceitwaswritten—we’vedecodedhumanDNAanddiscoveredourplaceintheuniverse—butwestillmarvelattheabilitiesofgeniusesinthesamewayastheancientGreeksdid.

WhetherwelistentoasonataofBeethoven’s,watchhighlightreelsofMichaelJordan,orlearnalawofNewton’s,weviewextraordinaryhumanskillsasgiftsgrantedbyunknownforcesforunknownreasons.Suchanexplanationisconvenient,butisitcorrect?

Forthelasttwocenturies,behavioralscientistshavestudiedthatquestionthroughfocusedresearchongreatperformersofalltypes:businessmanagers,chessplayers,swimmers,surgeons,jetpilots,violinists,salespeople,writers,andmanyothers.Theirfindings,numberinginthehundreds,haveledtoconclusionsthatflystraightintheteethofwhat“everybodyknows”aboutability.

Thestudiesconclusivelydisprovedthenotionthatgreatperformancestemsprimarilyfromanatural“gift”ortalent.Whilesomepeopledisplayinnatetalentsforcertainactivitiesearlyon,amazinglyaveragepeoplehavebecomechampionsinallmannerofendeavors.Manysuchtopperformersovercametheiraverage—orevenbelow-average—intellectsandnonexistentaptitudestodevelopoutstandingabilitiesindisciplinessuchaschess,music,business,andmedicine.

Examplesofsuchremarkabletransformationsaboundthroughouthistory.HenryFordfailedinbusinessseveraltimesandwasflatbrokefivetimesbeforehefoundedtheFordMotorCompany.Inhisyouth,ThomasEdison’steacherstoldhimhewas“toostupidtolearnanything.”Beethovenwassoawkwardontheviolinthathisteachersbelievedhimhopelessasacomposer.

Theworldofsportsrevealssimilarfindings.Manyathletesviewedassuperhumanintheirabilitieswerefoundtohavelittleornoinherentadvantageovertheirpeerswhentheyfirstbegantheirjourneystogreatness.MichaelJordandidn’tmakehissophomoreteambecausehewasdeemedtooshortandaveragetoplayatthatlevel.StanSmith,aworld-classtennisplayerandwinnerofWimbledon,theU.S.Open,andeightDaviscups,wasoncerejectedforthelowlypositionofaballboybecausetheeventorganizersfelthewastooclumsyanduncoordinated.

Howdoweexplainsuchunintuitivefindings?

Whilemanytheorieswereputforth,therewasonecommonfactorthatresearchersrecognizedinallgreatperformers:theypracticedsohardandintenselythatithurt.

TedWilliams,abaseballlegendconsideredthemost“gifted”hitterofhistime,wasbelievedtohavenaturalabilitiesfarbeyondordinarymen,includingeagle-likevision,extraordinaryhand-eyecoordination,anduncannyhittinginstincts.Williamslatersaidthatsuchstorieswereall“alotofbull.”Hehadamuchbetterexplanationforhissuperiorskills.

Williamsbeganhispathtogreatnessattheageofseven,whenhedecidedtodedicatehisentirelifetoonesingulartask:hittingabaseballasperfectlyaspossible.Startingatthatyoungage,Williamsspent

everyfreeminutehehadatSanDiego’soldNorthParkfieldhittingballs,everyday,yearafteryearafteryear.Hischildhoodfriendsrecallfindinghimonthatfieldsmashingballswiththeoutershellscompletelybeatenoff,withasplinteredbat,andwithblistered,bleedinghands.Hewouldspendhislunchmoneytohireotherkidstoshaghisballssohecouldhitasmanyaspossibleeveryday.Whenthecityturnedoffthefield’slights,hewouldgohomeandswingarolled-upnewspaperinthemirroruntilhewenttobed.

ThisobsessioncontinuedthroughoutWilliam’sentireprofessionalcareer,andit’snosurprisethatheexcelledbecauseofit.For“TheKid,”ashewasknown,greatnesswasalong,gruelingprocess—notagiftfromthebeyond(aclaimthathefoundinsulting).

Studiesofpeoplewithextraordinaryabilities,likeTedWilliams,havegivenrisetowhatSwedishpsychologistDr.KAndersEricssoncalledthe“10,000hour”rule.Therule’spremiseisthat,regardlessofwhetheronehasaninnateaptitudeforanactivityornot,masteryofittakesaroundtenthousandhoursoffocused,intentionalpractice.Analyzingthelivesofgeniusesinawiderangeofintellectual,artistic,andathleticpursuitsconfirmsthisconcept.FromMozarttoBobbyFischertoBillGatestotheBeatles,theirdiversejourneysfromnothingtowardexcellenceintheirrespectivefieldssharedacommondenominator:theaccumulationoftenthousandhoursofunwavering“exercise”oftheircrafts.

Toputthatnumberinperspective,ifyoupracticedanactivityfourhoursperday,sevendaysperweek,itwouldtakeyouaboutsevenyearstoreachtenthousandhours.Thatkindofdedicationcanonlycomefromtheheart—atrueloveandpassionfortheactivity.

So,whatdoesallthistellus?First,thattheseedofgreatnessexistsineveryhumanbeing.Whetheritsproutsornotisourchoice.Second,thattherearenosuchthingsasnatural-bornunder-oroverachievers—therearesimplypeoplethattapintotheirtruepotentialsandpeoplethatdon’t.Whatisgenerallyrecognizedas“greattalent”is,inalmostallcases,nothingmorethantheoutwardmanifestationsofanunwaveringdedicationtoaprocess.

Thus,theadviceof“worktowardyourtenthousandhours”soundscompletelyreasonable.Right?Butthere’saproblem.Therearemillionsofpeoplethatworkincrediblyhard,yethavelittlesuccesstoshowforit.Istenthousandhourstoosimpleofaprescriptionforgreatness?

Yes.Itoverlooksanotheraspectofgreatachievementthatcannotbeignored:opportunities—conditionsthatoftenappeartobeplainolddumbluck.

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AsMalcolmGladwellexplainsinOutliers,inmanyways,theopportunitiespresentedtoonearejustasimportanttosuccessasone’sowninherenttalentsandwillingnesstoputinthousandsofhoursofwork.Forinstance,ifyourdreamistobecomeaprofessionalathlete,it’squitepossiblethatyouwon’tbeabletoworkhardenoughtoovercomeamostdeviousobstacle:yourbirthday.Howcouldthatpossiblybeahurdle?

Easy.Mostsportsenforceagecut-offs—thatis,theagesthatdeterminewhetheryoucanplayanotheryearinyourcurrentagebracketasa“senior,”orwhetheryouhavetomoveupandbea“freshman”inthenext.

InCanadianjuniorhockeyleagues,theagecutoffwasformallyJanuary1(it’snowDecember31).ThecloseryourbirthdaywastoJanuary2,thebetter.Why?Well,let’ssayyouwereplayingintheBantamcategory,whichisforchildrenaged13–14.IfyourbirthdaywasinDecember,youweregoingtogettwo

yearsofplayatthislevel.Youweregoingtoturnfifteenandhavetomoveimmediatelyintothenextcategory,Midget(whichisforkidsaged15–16).IfyourbirthdaywasJanuary2,however,you’dgetanentireadditionalyeartoplayinBantam(andeveryotheragegroup)becausewhentheageswerecheckedonJanuary1,youwerestillfourteenyearsold.

Anextrayearofplayagainstplayersyoungerthanyouisahugeadvantage.Yourbodybecomesbigger,stronger,andfastereveryday,givingyouanopportunitytotrulystandoutfromyourbirthday-handicappedpeers.Thisextradevelopmentaltimepredisposesyouforselectionontomoreeliteteams,whichinturnleadstomoreicetimeandbettercoaching,whichadvancesyourabilitiesevenfurther.

Sociologistscallthisphenomenonan“accumulativeadvantage.”FortheeliteCanadianjuniorhockeyleagues,theresultofthisadvantagewasthatformanyyears,thedistributionofbirthdatesforthetopperformingkidswasheavilyweightedtoward“first-quarter”babies—kidsbornbetweenJanuaryandMarch.

Whetherwe’retalkingbirthdaysinsports,orthefactthatBillGatesjusthappenedtogotoahighschoolthathousedoneofthemostadvancedcomputersofthetime—acomputerthatmostcollegesdidn’tevenhave—wecaneasilyseethatbeingintherightplace(physical,educational,societal,orotherwise)attherighttimecaninfluenceourdestiniesasmuchasanythingelse.

Now,thatdoesn’tmeanourfatesarewritteninthestars.Wecanwhollycontrolourdedicationtothousandsofhoursofstudy,trainingandwork.Andgraspingopportunitiesisequallycontrollable.Sure,wemaynotbebuiltfortheNFLorKentuckyDerby,butwe’resurroundedbyopportunitieseveryday,everywherewego.Thereisnoshortageofproblemstobesolved,needsanddesirestobefulfilled,andinnovativewaystohelpothers.

Butthere’sacatch.Mostopportunitiesneverannouncethemselveswithtrumpetsandconfetti.They’reeasilymissed,mistaken,orsquandered.Theycanbescary.Andtheynevercomewitha110%money-backguarantee.They’reoftennothingmorethanchancestoimproveonsomethingotherpeoplearealreadydoing.

Opportunitiesarewhispers,notfoghorns.

Ifwecan’theartheirsoftrhythms—ifwearetoobusyrushingabout,waitingforthunderclapsofrevelation,inspiration,andcertainty—orifwecanspotthembutcan’tnurturethemintorealadvantages,thenwemightaswellbeblindtothem.

Thisrealizationpointsustotherealheartandmysteryofgreatness.Justknowingthatgreatachieversworkveryhardandtakeadvantageofopportunitiesisn’tenough.Whydosomepeoplerecognize,appreciate,andpursueopportunitieswithpassionanddetermination,whereasothersdon’t?Whyaresomepeoplewillingtopushthroughhellandhighwatertowin,whereasothersquitearlyandeasily?Aretherepracticalanswerstothesequestions,oraretheyunsolvableenigmasofhumanpsychology?

Well,Ibelievethereareverypracticalanswerstowhatmakesageniustick.Ibelievethereareprinciplesthatwecanisolateandusetobetterourownlives.Ibelievethatgeniusisapaththatwecanalltakeandderivemuchbenefit,happiness,fulfillment,andsuccessfrom...notageneticwindfallordivinegift.Ultimately,thisisthepathtogreatness.

Notsureifyoubuyintothat?Well,Iwouldn’teitherifIdidn’tknowaboutDr.AlfredBarrios.

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PsychologistDr.AlfredBarriosconductedresearchonthenatureofgeniusintheseventies.HesetouttoanswerthesamebasicquestionIposedjustapageago:whydosomepeoplerisetogreatnesswhereasothersdon’t?

Tolookforananswer,hedecidedtoanalyzethelivesofmanyofhistory’sgreatestgeniuses.Weretherepatternsofcircumstances,events,behaviors,attitudes,orideasthatcouldaccountfortheirsuccess?Didthechroniclesoftheirlivescollectivelyholdthesecretstotheirgreatness?Hewasgoingtofindout.

Hefirstnotedandcategorizedalonglistoffactorsoutsideofthegeniuses’control.Thingslikelineage,birthright,geography,genetics,education,familialties,upbringing,andunexpectedwindfalls.Themoredataheaccumulatedandanalyzedalongthisline,however,themoreitlookedlikeadeadend.Thebackgroundsofourspecies’greatestthinkersandachieversappearedinfinitelyvaried.Iftherewerepatternsamongthedata,hecouldn’tseethem.

Barrioswasundeterredandcontinuedtostudy.Eventually,adifferentkindofcommondenominatoremerged,onethathefoundwithineachofthepeoplehestudied.Barriosdiscoveredthathissubjectshadeachdevelopedandroutinelydisplayedacombinationofveryspecificcharacteristicsthroughouttheirlives,andnotjustmildlybutconspicuously.

Thischaracter-drivenideafascinatedBarrios.Itsuggestedthatgeniusismuchmorethanhighintelligence,innatetalent,extraordinaryworkethic,oruncannyluck,butratheracompositemanifestation;asynthesisofveryspecifictypesofworldviewsandbehaviors.Themorehelookedatdatathroughthislens,themorethingsstartedtomakesense.

Barriosthenwonderedifanyonecouldoperateatageniuslevel—andachievegenius-levelgreatness—simplybylearningandadoptingthesameeducatedviewsanddisciplinedbehaviorsthatsorepeatedlycharacterizedhistory’sgreatestachievers.

Bytheendofhisresearch,Barrioshadpiecedtogetherhis“geniuscode”—aprofoundinsightintowhatreallyspawnsgreatness.Healsoconcludedthatwecouldallindeedusehisgeniuscodeasaroadmaptowalkinthefootstepsofhistory’sbrightestandboldest,therebylearningtooperateatageniuslevel.

Anattractiveconcept,nodoubt,butisittrue?

Inthisbook,wewilldelveintoasinglecharacteristicofBarrios’code:imagination.Wewilllookathowitdefinedoneofhistory’sgreatestgeniuses,NikolaTesla,andhowwecanfurtherdevelopitinourselves.

MyproclamationisthatwhileBarrios’researchmaynotbetheend-allonthesubject,itcertainlyilluminatesthepathtogreatnessviaaunique,accessible,andpracticaldecodingofgenius.

Thisimmediatelyinvolvesusinabiggerpicturequestion,too—onethat’sdeeplypenetratingandpersonal:whydowedesiretoheightenourgeniusandpursuethepathofgreatness?

Weallfaceafundamentalchoiceinourlives.Dowetakethepathprescribedbyour“nowyou’resupposedto”society,ordowetakeourownpathtotowardthelifewefeelweoughttobeliving?Dowechooseourlife’sworkbasedontheU.S.DepartmentofLabor’slistofhighest-payingjobs,ordowefollowourbliss?Doweheedthecalltoconformity,orthecalltoadventure?

Everydayweseehowpeoplehaveansweredthesequestions,whetherconsciouslyorotherwise.We’reconstantlyconfrontedwiththelazy,theapathetic,theimmoral,theindifferent,theirresponsible,

andthedisconnected—thesignsofadecayingculture.

“Whatdoesitallmean?”manywonderwhilechasingpurposesthey’retoldareworthwhile,butwhichfeelempty.“Whatisthepurposeofthislife?”humanshavewonderedformillennia,contemplatinghowinsignificantweareinthegreatcosmicsymphony.

Well,asthepreeminentmythologistJosephCampbellsaid,deepdowninside,wedon’tseekthemeaningoflife,buttheexperienceofbeingalive.Andthat’swhatthenatureofgeniusisultimatelyabout.

It’sabouthowwecanempowerourselvestobringtruemeaningtoourlivesandthelivesofothersinwaysmostpeoplewouldconsiderimpossible.It’saboutrisingabovealifeof,asThoreausaid,“quietdesperation”thatendswithoursongsstillinourhearts,andexperiencetheraptureoftrulyliving.It’saboutsayingyestoouradventures.

Werelyongeniusestoentertainus,educateus,leadus,andshowusallwhatourspeciesiscapableof.Werelyongeniusestogiveussmartphones,electriccars,curesfordiseases,socialnetworkingsites,sublimeart,world-classfood,and,indeed,theveryfabricofourculture.

Ifyou’veeverdreamedofplayingahandinthedevelopmentofhumankind,orifyoujusthaveaburningdesiretoimproveonesmallaspectofit,thenyouhaveanadventurewaiting.

Willyoutakeit?

Thisbookisyourinvitation.

ImaginationandtheManWhoInventedthe20thCentury

“Factsandideasaredeadinthemselvesanditistheimaginationthatgiveslifetothem.”

-W.I.B.Beveridge

Manycallstoadventurearepuzzleswaitingtobesolved.Anyonecanapply,butthepriceofadmissionispaidinimagination.Asjourneysunfold,newchallengesariseandpressuresmount.Thesesuccessivetollsmusttoobepaidincreativityandingenuity,astheywerebyhistory’smostimaginativeminds.

TheonlywaythatJasoncanclaimhisrightfulplaceasrulerofIolcus,GreeceisbyretrievingthefabledGoldenFleecefromdistantlands.Theproblem?Everyoneconsidersthetaskimpossible,fraughtwithterrifyingperilscertaintokillanyman.Jasonisn’tsosure.Heassemblesamightyteamofwarriors—theArgonauts—andbuildsthelargestshipeverconstructed.HethenfiguresouthowtosuccessfullynavigatethelegendarymazeofcrushingrocksknownastheSymplegades,yokefire-breathing,bronze-hoofedoxen,trickamightyarmyguardingtheFleeceintoravagingitselftopieces,anddrugasleeplessdragonintoitsfirstslumber.Fourmonthsafterdeparting,JasonreturnswiththeFleecetotakehisthrone.

It’sthelate1800s.Anesthesiahasjustbeenintroduced.Surgeriesareontherise,butadisturbingnumberofpatientsaredyingduetoinfection.JosephListerisdeterminedtofigureoutwhyandwhatcanbedoneaboutit.Aftermuchresearchandthought,heconcludesthatPasteur’scontroversialgermtheoryholdsthekeytothemystery.Killinggermsinwoundswithheatisn’tanoption,however—acompletelynewmethodisrequired.Listersurmisesthattheremaybeachemicalsolution,andlaterthatyear,hereadsinanewspaperthatthetreatmentofsewagewithachemicalcalledcarbolicacidreducedtheincidenceofdiseaseamongthepeopleandcattleofanearbysmallEnglishtown.Listerfollowstheleadand,in1865,developsasuccessfulmethodofapplyingcarbolicacidtowoundstopreventinfection.Hecontinuestoworkalongthislineandestablishesantisepsisasabasicprincipleofsurgery.Thankstohisdiscoveriesandinnovations,amputationsbecomelessfrequent,deathsduetoinfectionplummet,andnewsurgeriespreviouslyconsideredimpossiblearebeingroutinelyplannedandexecuted.

AndrewCarnegieisthirteenyearsoldandchangingspoolsofthreadinacottonmilltwelvehoursperday,sixdaysperweek.Twoyearslater,hegetsajobasatelegraphmessengerfor$2.50perweek,andhe’sdeterminedtoadvancethroughthecompany’sranksdespitehisage.Hequicklylearnstodistinguishthedifferentsoundsofincomingtelegraphsignals,andthenlearnstotranslatethembyear.Withinayear,he’spromotedasanoperator.Bythetimehe’sinhismid-twenties,he’smadeasmallfortunethroughshrewdinvestmentsinrailroad-relatedindustries,andhe’sworkingtorepairandre-openrailandtelegraphlinesvitaltotheUnion’swareffortsagainsttheConfederacy.ThewarimpressesuponhimtheimportanceofmanufacturingtotheoverallsuccessoftheAmericaneconomy,whichinformshisshiftofcapitalandinteresttoironworking.Overthenextthirtyyears,Carnegie’sinnovationssetthestandardforcheap,efficient,andprofitablemassproductionofsteel,achievementsthatforgethemostextensiveironandsteeloperationseverownedbyanindividualintheUnitedStates.

ThephilosopherEdmundBurkesaid“thereisaboundarytomen’spassionswhentheyactfromfeelings;butnonewhentheyareundertheinfluenceofimagination.”Imaginationisthelifeforceofthegeniuscode.Thisforceamplifiesandcolorseveryotherpieceofthecode,andunlocksourpotentialforunderstandingandability.It’snocoincidencethatgeniusesnotonlydaretodreamoftheimpossiblefortheirwork,butdothesamefortheirlives.They’reaudaciousenoughtothinkthatthey’renotjustanordinaryplayer.

Fewstoriesbetterillustratethisbetterthanthelifeofthefatherofthemodernworld,amanoflegendaryimaginativepowerandwonder.

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NikolaTeslastrolledthroughtheVarosligetcityparkofBudapestwithafriend,recitingGoethe’sFaust,unawarethathewasabouttochangethecourseofhistory.

Theyearwas1882.Onlytwoyearsearlier,Edisonhadpatentedasystemforelectricitydistributionusingdirectcurrentgenerators,whichproducedaflowofelectricityinonedirection.Edison’sbreakthroughwasamodernmiracledespitehavingseriouslimitations.Namely,thegeneratorshadnoefficientwaytochangethevoltageofdirectcurrentcircuits,sogenerationplantscouldonlyservecustomerswithinatwo-mileradius.Thus,itwasunlikelythatthisformofelectricitywouldeverbeavailableinnon-metropolitanareas.

TelsawasadmiringtheprismaticraysoftheHungariansunsetwhenavisionstruckhim.Followingablindingflashoflight,hesawthecompleteworkingsofamotorthatusedarotatingmagneticfieldtoproduceanelectriccurrentthatalternateditsdirectionmanytimespersecond.Hegrabbedastickanddiagrammedthemotorinthesandwhilehisfriendwatched,unsureofwhattothink.Afterall,suchamachinewastheoreticallyimpossible.Infact,sevenyearsearlier,hisprofessoratacollegeinAustriaridiculedhimforsuggestingthatdirectcurrentgeneratorscouldbemodifiedtoproduceanefficientalternatingcurrent.Telsadroppedoutofcollegeayearlater,buthisimaginationneverquit.

ShortlyafterhisVarosligetparkrevelation,Teslatookthefirststeptomakeitareality:herelocatedtoParistoworkfortheContinentalEdisonCompanyinstallinglightingsystemsincommercialproperties.Hispassion,however,wasdesigningimprovementstotheequipmentbroughtoverseasfromEdison’sideas.Ifhecouldcatchtheattentionofhissuperiorswithhiswork,therewasachancehecouldpresenthisrevolutionarymotorandwinfundingandsupport.Tesla’saptitudeforelectricalengineeringwasquicklynoticed,andseveralideasofhiswereimplementedtoimproveEdison’sdirectcurrentdynamos.

Ayearlater,TeslawasinStraasbourg,Francetorepairarailwaylightingsystem.Hemadethenecessaryrepairs,butthatwasn’tallhedid.Hebuiltthefirstprototypeofhisvisionaryalternatingcurrentmotor,whichworkedexactlyashehadconceiveditinhismind.Hisownmiraclein-hand,Teslaimmediatelycourtedinvestorsforhisradicaldevice.Onebyone,wealthybusinessmenthatcouldn’tunderstandthedeviceanddidn’tseethecommercialvalueinitrejectedhim.Teslawasundaunted.Heconcludedthattheonlywayhecouldrealizehismotorwastomeettheworld’sgreatestelectricalengineer,ThomasEdison,directly.

There’salessonhere.Ineveryfieldofhumanendeavor,themorevisionarythework,thelesslikelyitistobequicklyunderstoodandembracedbylesserminds.Foronereasonoranother,manypeoplejust“don’tgetit.”Teslatookthisinstride.Ashesawit,hewasofferinganopportunitynotonlymakeanuntoldfortune,buttochangetheworldforever.Insteadofwastingtimetryingtoconvinceignorantnaysayerstoseetheforestforthetrees,Teslachosetotakehisworktoanotherextraordinarymindwhowould,heassumed,immediatelyrecognizeitforwhatitis.

Laterthatmonth,TeslaarrivedattheStraasbourgrailwaystationtotraveltotheharborandboardtheoceanlinerSaturnia,whichwouldtakehimtoNewYorkCity—toEdison.Hisuncleshadgivenhimsomemoney,andhisbosshadgivenhimaletterofrecommendationthatread,“Iknowtwogreatmenandyouareoneofthem;theotheristhisyoungman.”

Afteralmostmissinghistrain,losingallhismoneyalongwithhisticket,passport,andluggage,Teslastillmanagedtomakeitaboardthesteamship.Amutinybrokeoutduringthevoyage,andhegotcaughtinthemiddleofabattleroyalebetweencrewmates.Teslawasarrested,pleadedinnocence,andwasreleased,andfinallyarrivedtoNewYorkCityonJune6,1884.Hehadnothingbutafewcentsinhispocket,afewpoems,calculationsforaflyingmachinehedreamedofbuildingoneday,andtheletterofrecommendation.Hewentstraighttomeethishero,Edison,andwasstarstruck.HebrieflydescribedtheengineeringworkhehaddoneforEdison’scompany,andtalkedabouthisplansforanalternatingcurrentmotor.

DirectcurrentwasbarelyadecadeoldwhenTeslashookhandswithEdison.HisdistributionnetworkinManhattanwasnotonlyimmenselyprofitable,butitwastheonlyoptionifyouwantedelectricity.So,whenTeslaexplainedthatalternatingcurrentwouldbethefutureofelectricity,Edisondismisseditasfancifulandunnecessary.Directcurrentwasgettingthejobdone,peoplelikedit,anditwasmakingEdisonandhisfinancier,J.P.Morgan,exorbitantsumsofmoney.InEdison’seyes,anythingthatchallengeditwasseennotasapraiseworthyadvancementofscienceandindustry,butathreat.

Despitehismonopolisticperspective,EdisonlikedTeslaandhiredhimonthespottoworkwithhiselectricalengineers.Tesla’sworkbeganwithsimpletaskssuchasrepairinglightingsystems,butwithinseveralmonths,hewasoneofEdison’smostvaluableengineers,andwassolvingsomeofthecompany’smostdifficultproblems.Edisonreferredtohimasa“damngoodman.”

In1885,TeslainformedEdisonthathecouldgreatlyimprovehisdirectcurrentgeneratorsbyredesigningkeyelements.EdisonthoughtitimpossibleandpromisedTesla$50,000ifhecoulddeliveronhisclaims.Teslaworkedtirelesslyforthebetterpartofayeartoimprovethegenerators,installingpartsofhisowndesign.Oncecompleted,hisgeneratorswereavastimprovementoverEdison’s.Theywerefarmoreefficientanddurable,andthusfarmoreprofitable.Edisonwasthoroughlyimpressed,butwhenTeslaaskedtobepaid,Edisonlaughedandclaimedhewasonlyjokingaboutthereward.

“Tesla,youdon’tunderstandourAmericanhumor,”hesaid.Instead,EdisonofferedTeslaaraiseof$10moreperweek,tobeaddedtohiscurrentsalaryof$18perweek.Teslawasdisgustedandimmediatelyresigned.Thiswasthebeginningofalifelongfeudbetweenthesetwogreatinventors—onethatEdisonwouldlaterlamentashis“greatestmistake.”

Betrayedbymenhetrusted,Teslafoundhimselfunemployedandindesperateneedofworktosurvive.Ironically,hetookajobasaditchdiggerforanEdisoncompany,andwaspaid$2perday.Hedescribedthistimeasoneof“terribleheadachesandbittertears,”adarkperiodsogrimthathebegantoquestionthevalueofhiseducationandknowledge.Butdespitehisheartbreak,hecontinuedtoexpandonhisdesignsforanalternatingcurrentsystemofgenerators,motors,andtransformers,butlackedthemoneytobuildprototypesandapplyforpatents.

WordslowlyspreadamongManhattan’selitethatamanofincomparablegeniuswasdiggingditchestosurvive.Sensinganopportunity,abandofwealthyinvestorseventuallyapproachedTeslatodevelopanimprovedsystemofarclighting.Althoughitwasn’ttheidealopportunityforTelsa,itbeatshovelingdirt.Plus,thegroupwaswillingtofinancetheTeslaElectricCompany,soTeslaagreed.Astheproudownerofanewcompany,heimmersedhimselfintheventureanddevelopedauniquearclampofbeautifuldesignandefficiency.

Oncethecompanybecameprofitable,Teslarealizedthathehadbeenswindled.Thevastmajorityoftheearningsweregoingtotheinvestors,andwhenhetriedtointeresttheminfinancinghisalternatingcurrentmotor,theynotonlyrejectedhisideasbutalsoejectedhimfromthecompany.Teslawasagain

dejected,unemployed,andbroke.Buthisluckwasabouttochange.

TwomenapproachedTesla—AlfredBrown,directorofWesternUnion,andCharlesPeck,aNewYorkCityattorney—in1887tolearnmoreabouthisalternatingcurrenttheoriesanddesigns.Teslapassionatelydescribedhowtheentiresystemwouldwork,fromgenerationtotransmission.Themenwereimpressedandagreedtoinvestintheproject.TheysetupTelsawithasmalllaboratoryclosetoEdison’soffice,wherehequicklydevelopedallthenecessarycomponentsforthesystem.

“ThemotorsIbuiltthere,”Teslalatersaid,“wereexactlyasIimaginedthem.Imadenoattempttoimprovethedesign,butmerelyreproducedthepicturesastheyappearedtomyvisionandtheoperationwasalwaysasexpected.”

InNovember1887,TeslafiledforsevenU.S.Patentsforhisinventions,whichweresooriginalthattheywereissuedwithoutchallenge.Thesepatentscomprisedacompletesystemofgenerators,transformers,transmissionlines,motors,andlighting.Theywouldbecomethemostvaluablepatentssincethetelephone.Inaccordancewiththeiragreement,Teslasplittheownershipofthepatentsonafifty-fiftybasiswithhisinvestors.

Teslahadwonthebattletoproducehisrevolutionaryalternatingcurrentmotors,butthewarwasfarfromover.

Wordoftheextraordinarypatentsreachedtheacademicworld.TeslawassooninvitedtolecturebeforetheAmericanInstituteofElectricalEngineers.Hispresentationswerelaudedasvisionary,breakthrough,andincrediblypractical.Engineersaroundtheworldwereabuzz,andthiscaughttheattentionofbusinessmagnateGeorgeWestinghouse,theinventorofrailroadairbrakes.HehadadreamofprovidingelectricitythroughouttheentireUnitedStates,andhebelievedthatalternatingcurrentwasthefutureofelectricalgenerationandlong-distancetransmission.

WestinghousevisitedTesla’slabandmadeanofferforhispatents:$25,000incash,$50,000instockinhiscompany,andaroyaltyof$2.50perhorsepowerofalternatingcurrentmotorssold.Thetermsweremorethanacceptable—ifhismotorsweregoingtobeassuccessfulasheandWestinghouseenvisioned,theroyaltiesalonewouldmakehimoneoftherichestmenintheworld.

Teslahappilyaccepted,spenthalfofhiscashpaymenttoconstructanewlab,andoversawthebuildingandinstallationofalternatingcurrentsystemsacrossthecountry.Healsoimmediatelybeganresearchintowhathetermed“radiantenergy.”HisstudiesledhimtodiscoverwhatwenowknowasX-rays,andhowtousethemtoproduceradiographs.Hedidn’tmakehisdiscoverieswidelyknown,however,whichiswhytheywouldlaterbeattributedtoGermanphysicistWillhelmRontgen.X-rayswerethefirstofseveralgroundbreakingdiscoveriesofTesla’sthatwouldwindupmisattributedtoothers.

Teslawasneveronetochaserecognition—hewasafterthepurethrillofdiscoveryandcreation.Hisimaginationwasafactorywithunlimitedresources,andtheworldanexcitingplaygroundwithunlimitedpossibilities.HewasexcitedtoseemenlikeRontgenpioneernewfieldsofunderstanding,andwashappythathisworkcontributedtotheriseofothergreatmen.

WithTesla’selectricalrevolutionpoisedtoredefinetheworldofindustrialdevelopment,EdisonandMorganlaunchedafull-scalepropagandaassaultagainstalternatingcurrent.Edisonknewthatdirectcurrentwouldhavetostampoutalternatingcurrenttosurvive.Morepersonally,hewasheavilyinvestedbothfinanciallyandemotionallyinhisdirectcurrentnetworkofgeneratorsanddistributionlines.

Edisondeclaredpubliclythatalternatingcurrentdeliveredtoahomewouldkillacustomerwithinsixmonths.Leafletsaboutthedangersofalternatingcurrentweredistributed.LobbyingeffortsweremadeinNewYorktolimitlevelsofelectricityto800volts“asamatterofpublicsafety,”whichwouldconvenientlymakelong-distancealternatingcurrenttransmissionimpossible.

Edison’seffortsthentookaturnforthegrisly.HebeganholdingweekenddemonstrationsofthehazardsofTesla’sworkbyelectrocutinganimalsfoundroamingthestreets.Hedirectedtwotechnicianstodothesame,includingtheexecutionofcattleandhorses.Themorbidcampaignclimaxedin1890withEdison’sinvolvementintheuseofaWestinghousegeneratortoexecuteaconvictedax-murderer.Thevoltagetokillhadbeenmisjudged,leavingthecriminalbadlyinjured,andtheprocesshadtoberepeated.Ajournalistdescribedtheeventasan“awfulspectacle,farworsethanhanging.”Thetorturousmethodofexecutionwasdubbed“Westinghousing,”andMorganandEdisontriedtopopularizetheterminthemedia.

DisgustedbyEdison’sshamelesscrueltyanddishonesty,Teslabeganperformingregularexhibitionsofhistechnologyinhislaboratoryinwhichhelightedlampsbyallowingalternatingcurrentelectricitytoflowthroughhisbody.Publicopinionswungtoandfro,unsureofwhomtobelieve.

Inthiswecanseethenecessityofbeingwillingtofightforyourcreations.MorganandEdisonweren’tsatisfiedwithtryingtoruinTeslathroughcapitalisticcompetition—theywereresortingtooutrightdepravityanddishonesty.ImaginethepressureTeslafaced:boththeworld’smostpowerfulfinancier—oneofthelastenemiesyou’dwant—andtheworld’sgreatestinventorweretryingtodrawabeadonhimandpullthetrigger.Mostmenwould’vequietlyresigned,orbeggedforscraps,butnotTesla.

Ultimately,noamountofoppositioncouldstifleTesla’screativepowers.EnthusedbyhisdiscoverieswithX-rays,hedevotedhisenergiestotherealmofhigh-frequencyelectricity.Twodecadesearlier,JamesClerkMaxwellhadprovenmathematicallythatlightwaselectromagneticradiation—electricitythatwasvibratingatanextremelyhighfrequency.In1888,HeinrichHertzhadconfirmedthatanelectricsparkemitselectromagneticwaves.Teslaknewthatthisunexploredterritorywouldyieldastoundinginventions—lightscouldglowbrighter,energycouldbetransmittedmoreefficientlyandevenpassthroughthebodyharmlessly.

ThefirstmilestoneinthisnewresearchwasTesla’sinventionofwhatbecameknownasthe“Teslacoil.”Itwasadevicethattooknormalsixty-cycle-per-secondalternatingcurrentelectricityandsteppedituptoanultra-highfrequencyofhundreds-of-thousandsofcyclespersecond,andextremelyhighvoltages.Teslausedhiscoiltoinventthefirsthigh-efficiency,high-frequencyfluorescentlamp.Thisdiscoverypalesincomparisontowhatheuncoverednext,however.

In1891,inhisNewYorkCitylab,Teslaprovedthatenergycouldbetransmittedthroughtheairbywirelesslylightinglamps.ThisdiscoveryfascinatedTesla,sparkinghislifelongobsessionwithwirelessenergy.Heimmediatelyenvisionedanetworkoftransmissionstationsthatwouldprovidefree,wirelessenergytonotonlytheUnitedStates,buttheworld.

Hiscoilshelpedhimdiscoveryetanotherphenomenonthatwouldchangetheworld:radiowaves.WhenTeslatunedtwocoilstoresonateatthesamefrequency,hefoundthathecouldsendandreceivesignals.Hehadaccidentallybuiltthefirstradiotransmitterandmadethefirsttransmissions,methodshewouldpatentwithintwoyears.

Tesla’scontinuedresearchinthefieldofultra-high-frequencyenergyledhimtoconcludethatitwasonlyamatteroftimeuntilsciencewoulddiscoveraveritablesourceofinexhaustible,freeenergy—a

waytoattachmachineryto“theverywheelworkofnature.”

WhileTeslahadbegunenvisioningthedawnofanelectricaleraofunimaginablesophistication,heandWestinghousestillhadtoprovethatalternatingcurrentwasaworthyheirtodirectcurrent’sthrone.The“WaroftheCurrents”wasatafeverpitch.Edison’sgruesomestuntsandvigorouspropagandacampaignweredrivingwaveafterwaveofnegativepress,butalternatingcurrentwonanopportunitytoonceandforallproveitsvalue.

TheWestinghouseCorporationwonabidforilluminatingthe1893ChicagoWorld’sFair,whichwastobethefirstall-electricfairinhistory.Thefairwasalsotobeacelebrationofthe400-yearanniversaryofColumbus’discoveryofAmerica.BecauseoftheefficiencyofTesla’sinventions,Westinghouse’sproposalwashalfofwhatEdison’snewlyformedGeneralElectriccompanyrequiredforthejob.Edisonwasfuriousthathelostthebid,andforbidtheuseofhislightbulbsinthefair.WestinghousewoulduseTesla’sfluorescentbulbsinstead,andTeslaevenhadtheideatobendtheglasstubesandthusspellthenamesoffamousscientists.Thus,theworld’sfirstneonsigns.

OntheeveningofMay1,1893,over27millionpeopleanxiouslyawaitedtoseethefutureofelectricity.WhenPresidentGroverClevelandpushedabutton,over100,000lamps,wiredto12newthousand-horsepoweralternatingcurrentgenerators,turnednighttoday.Attendeeslookedoninawe,dubbingthewonderthe“CityofLight.”

Duringthefair,Teslaamazedthemillionsoffairgoersbyallowingelectricitytoflowthroughhisbodytoilluminatelightbulbs.Healsousedhiscoilstoshootlarge,harmlesslightningboltsintothecrowd,frighteninganddelightingtheaudience.Heevendemonstratedwirelessenergybylightinglampsthathadnowires.

Withinaweek,theentirenationwasravingaboutalternatingcurrentasthefutureofelectricity.ThefairwasadebilitatingblowtoEdison’sdirectcurrent,andforeshadowedthecoupdegraceintheWaroftheCurrents.

Westinghousewascontactedlatein1893bytheNiagaraFallsCommission,whichhadbeenchargedwithdevelopingapowerplantthatwouldharnesstheforceofthefalls.Thecommissionhadsolicitedandrejectedproposalsfromaroundtheworld,reviewingschemesthatrangedfromusingpneumaticpressuretoconstructingbizarredevicesofropes,springs,andpulleys.LordKelvin,thefamousBritishphysicist,headedthecommissionand,afterinspectingTesla’swork,wascertainthatthefallsneededtoproducealternatingcurrentelectricity.

ItwasadreamprojectforTesla,andWestinghousewasawardedthecontract.Constructionbeganimmediately,andTeslawouldoverseeit.Progresswasslow.Theprojectwasperilousandfraughtwithsetbacks,doubts,andfinancialcrises,despitehavingthebackingofopulentfinancierslikeJ.P.Morgan,LordRothschild,JohnJacobAstor,andW.K.Vanderbilt.Afterfiveyears,theventureapproachedcompletion,buttheinvestorswerelessthanoptimisticthattheunprovenandexpensivemachineswouldwork.Tesla,however,assuredthemthattheywouldworkjustastheydidinhismind.

Ayearlater,theNiagarapowerplantwasreadyforoperation.Whentheswitchwasthrown,allworriesandanxietiesmelted.ThefirstpowerreachedBuffaloatmidnightNovember16,1896,nearly22milesaway.PlanswereimmediatelysetinmotiontopowerallofNewYorkCitywiththestation.Teslawaspraisedworldwideasahero,andwasreferredtoasthe“WizardoftheWest.”

Morgan,whocontrolledEdison’sdirectcurrentpatents,wasnowfullyconvincedthatalternating

currenthaddefeatedEdison’swork.HeapproachedWestinghousetostrikeadeal.Morgandidn’tcarewhatkindofelectricitywasusedintheworld,aslongashecontrolledit.

OneofMorgan’smanagers,CharlesCoffin,gloatedtoWestinghouseabouthoweasilyMorganhadestablishedEdison’smonopolybybribinglocalpoliticiansandinstallingsystemsthataretooexpensivetochange.ThesamecouldbedoneforWestinghouseandalternatingcurrent,Coffinclaimed.WestinghouserebuffedMorgan’soffersandmadeitclearthattheirstylesofbusinessweren’tcompatible.

Morganretaliatedwithastrategythatwouldbecomeoneofhishallmarks.HespreadrumorstoWallStreetthatWestinghouse’scompanywasfinanciallyunstable,whichdissuadedinvestorsfromgivingWestinghousethecapitalthatheneededtoexpandtheproductionandinstallationofhisalternatingcurrentgenerators.Morganthenbegananattackthroughstockmanipulation,andmovedtogaincontrolofTheWestinghouseCorporation,andthusTesla’spatents.

Bytheendof1897,Westinghousewasnearlybankrupt,anditlookedasthoughMorganwouldusurpeverythingthatTeslaandWestinghousehadbuilttogether.WestinghouseowedTeslaover$1millioninroyalties,anamountthatgrewdaily.WhenWestinghousedescribedtoTeslathedesperatesituation,Teslarepliedwiththefollowing:

“Mr.Westinghouse,youhavebeenmyfriend,youbelievedinmewhenothershadnofaith;youwerebraveenoughtogoaheadwhenotherslackedcourage;yousupportedmewhenevenyourownengineerslackedvision....Hereisyourcontract,andhereismycontract.Iwilltearthembothtopieces,andyouwillnolongerhaveanytroublesfrommyroyalties.”

Intime,theseroyaltieswould’vemadeTeslatheworld’sfirstbillionaire.Instead,theyenabledWestinghousetosavehiscompany.Tesla’sselflessnesswasatestamentnotonlytohisgenerosityandgoodwill,buthisbeliefinhisabilitytocontinuetocreatehisfuture.Hewascertainthathisbestworkstilllayaheadofhim,andthathewouldsooninventmachinesthatwoulddwarfeverythingthathehadaccomplishedthusfar.

Thisisthebeautyofimagination.Anunexpecteddeadendinonejourneyismerelyanopportunitytosetanewcourseforanother.Losingwhatwehavecanonlydousrealharmwhenwefeelwecan’tcreateit,orsomethingequallyvaluableorcompelling,again,andthatabilityresidessquarelyinourimagination.

“Thereissomethingwithinmethatmightbeillusionasitisoftencasewithyoungdelightedpeople,butifIwouldbefortunatetoachievesomeofmyideals,itwouldbeonthebehalfofthewholeofhumanity,”Teslawrote.

Tesla’simaginationinspiredhimtofocusalargeportionofhiseffortsonradio,high-frequencyelectricity,andradiation.Heformulatedprinciplesthatledtothediscoveryofcosmicrays,andinventedan“electricigniter,”orsparkplug,forinternalcombustionengines.

In1898,Teslaannouncedhislatestinvention:awaytoremotelycontrolmachineswithradiotechnology.SkepticismwaswidelyexpressedandquicklydiffusedthankstohisMadisonSquareGardendemonstrationofremotelydrivingasmallmetalboatthroughanindoorpond.Manyspectatorsbelievedthathewassomehowcontrollingtheboatwithhismind.

Thebrandnewuseofradiotechnologycouldbeusedformanythings,Teslasaid.Heenvisionedoneorseveraloperatorsdirectingscoresofvesselsormachinesthroughradiotransmittersandreceiverstunedtodifferentfrequencies.WhenaNewYorkTimeswritersuggestedthatTesla’sdiscoverycouldbe

usedinwartocreatearemote-controlledtorpedo,Teslaquicklyrefutedhim,“Youdonotseethereawirelesstorpedo,youseetherethefirstofaraceofrobots,mechanicalmenwhichwilldothelaboriousworkofthehumanrace.”

InhisnewManhattanlab,fundedmeagerlybyfriends,Tesla’swondrousimaginationledhimtoresearchtheresonantfrequenciesoftheearth.Hemistakenlycausedanearthquakethatengulfedthesurroundingcityblocks,breakingwindowsandshakingtheplasteroffofthewalls.Heannouncedthathehaddiscoveredhowtoturntheearthintoagianttuningfork,andthat,intheory,theprinciplescouldshattertheEmpireStateBuildingorevenpossiblycausetheearthto“splitopenlikeanapple.”

Teslathensuspectedthattheupperatmosphereoftheplanetcouldbeusedtotransmitelectricalpowergreatdistancesduetothinner,moreconductiveair.Hedecidedthattofullyexplorethesepossibilities,hewouldneedtoestablishalabinrelativeseclusionsoastonotendangerneighboringbuildingsandpeople.

Withmoneyfromhisfriendandpatentlawyer,LeonardCurtis,andmagnateJohnJacobAstor,TeslaandseveralassistantsmovedtoColoradoSpringsandbeganbuildinganewexperimentalresearchstation.HetoldlocalreportersthatheintendedtosendaradiosignaltoParis,butprovidednodetails.

Whilehislabwasunderconstruction,Teslastudiedthephenomenonoflightning,andmadewhatheconsideredhismostimportantdiscoverytodate.Hefoundthattheearthwas“literallyalivewithelectricalvibrations,”andthattheentireplanetcanbe“thrownintovibrationlikeatuningfork.”Teslawasabsolutelycertainthatthisphenomenoncouldbeusedtotransmitunlimitedelectricalpowerandtelecommunicationsignalsanywhereintheworldwithvirtuallynosignallossordegradation.

“Whenthegreattruthaccidentallyrevealedandexperimentallyconfirmedisfullyrecognized,thatthisplanet,withallitsappallingimmensity,istoelectriccurrentsvirtuallynomorethanasmallmetalballandthatbythisfactmanypossibilities,eachbafflingimaginationandofincalculableconsequence,arerenderedabsolutelysureofaccomplishment,”hewrote.

Oncecompleted,hisnewlab’smostprominentfeaturewasawoodentowerthatstoodover80feettallandsupporteda142-footmetalmastthatwascappedbyalargecopperball.Insidethetowerwastheworld’slargestTeslaCoil,whichwastobeusedtosendpowerfulelectricalsurgesintotheearth.

Tofurthertesthistheoryoftheconductivityoftheearth,Teslaneededtocreateelectricaleffectsonthescaleoflightning.Theresultwasthecreationoftheworld’slargestman-madelightningbolts,whichshotoutfromhistowerover100feetintotheair,andwhichblewoutthegeneratorofthelocalpowercompany.TheexperimentwasaresoundingsuccessforTesla;hislightning“flashedacurrentaroundtheglobe,”provingthathecouldindeeddeliverpowertoanypointonthesurfaceoftheplanet.

Forthenextninemonths,TeslaconductedawidevarietyofexperimentsatColoradoSprings.Hewirelesslylitover200lampsfromadistanceofover25miles,provingthatelectricitycouldbetransmittedgreatdistancesthroughtheair.Throughthetransmissionofultra-low-frequencysignalsthroughthespacebetweenthesurfaceoftheearthandtheionosphere,hecalculatedthattheresonantfrequencyofthisareawasapproximatelyeighthertz—adiscoverythatwasdismissedinhistimebutconfirmednearly50yearslater.Hisresearchindicatedthatifhecouldsendachargedbeamofelectricityabout50milesintothesky—intotheionosphere—thatitcouldbecarriedaroundtheworldanddrawnuponforpower.

Whileworkinglateonenight,Teslanoticedthathispowerfulradioreceiverwaspickingupastrange,

rhythmicsignalforwhichhehadnoexplanation.Onethingwascertain:thepulseswerenotofnaturalorigin.Heconcludedthattheymustbecommunicationsfromthestars.Whenherevealedthisincident,hewaswidelyridiculedforsuggestingsuch“nonsense.”

AfterTeslaleftColoradoSpringsinJanuary1900toreturntoNewYorkCity,hewroteasensationalarticleforCenturyMagazineinwhichheeagerlydescribedhisplansforafuturewherewecouldtapthesun’senergy,controltheweatherwithelectricity,endwarwithmachinesthatwouldmakeitanimpossibility,wirelesslytransmitpowerandradiosignalsaroundtheentireglobe,engageininterplanetarycommunications,andevenconstructrobotic“automatons”thatwouldconductthemselvesindependentofoperators.Tomanyreaders,thisvisionwasalmostincomprehensible,butTeslawasfullyconvincedthatitall—andmore—couldbeaccomplished,andthatheknewhow.

ThearticlecaughttheattentionofJ.P.Morgan,whocalledonTesla.TeslametwithMorganandexplainedthathecouldbuilda“worldsystem”ofwirelesscommunicationstorelaytelephonesignals,news,privatemessages,securemilitarycommunications,andevenpicturestoanypointintheworld.“Whenwirelessisfullyappliedtheearthwillbeconvertedintoahugebrain,capableofresponseineveryoneofitsparts,”Teslapromised.

MorganofferedtofundtheconstructionofthepowerplantandtransmissiontowernecessarytopursueTesla’sfantasticalclaims.OnewouldthinkthatTeslawouldbalkatanyofferingsofMorgan’sasheclearlycouldn’tbetrusted—hewasoneofthedrivingforcesbehindthepropagandausedagainstTeslaintheWaroftheCurrents.Andjustthreeyearsearlier,MorganmaneuveredtostealWestinghouse’scompany,costingTeslahislucrativeroyaltyagreement.Nevertheless,TeslachosetopartnerwithMorgan,adecisionthatwouldprovetobethebiggestmistakeofhislife.

Teslacalculatedthathewouldneedabout$1milliontoconstructthepowerstationandtransmissionequipment.Morganoffered$150,000insteadand,inexchange,wanted51%ownershipinallofTesla’sexistingandfuturepatentsandinventionsrelatingtobothelectriclightingandwirelesstelegraphyortelephony.TeslaacceptedMorgan’shard-fistedtermsandwenttoworkimmediately.

Teslaacquired200acresonthecliffsofLongIslandSoundand,inDecember1901,beganconstructionontheproject.Themostprominentfeatureoftheinstallationwouldbea187-foottowercappedbya55-tonsteelspherehousingamassiveTeslaCoil.Beneaththetowerwastobeashaftthatwouldplunge120feetintotheground.Sixteenironrodswouldbedrivenover300feetdeeperforsendingelectricalcurrentsdeepintotheearth.“Itisnecessaryforthemachinetogetagripoftheearth,otherwiseitcannotshaketheearth,”Teslasaid.“Ithastohaveagrip...sothatthewholeofthisglobecanquiver.”

ConstructionoftheWardenclyffeTower,asitbecameknown,wasslowandexpensive.DelaysinreceivingequipmentplaguedTesladuetothecomplicatedandunusualnatureofhisdesigns.In1903,thetowerstructurewasnearlycomplete,andthetransmitterwasoperational.Astestingbegan,residentsintheareareportedseeing“allsortsoflightning”flashingfromthetower’spoles,fillingtheairwith“blindingstreaksofelectricitywhichseemedtoshootoffintothedarknessonsomemysteriouserrand.”

“Assoonasitiscompleted,itwillbepossibleforabusinessmaninNewYorktodictateinstructions,andhavetheminstantlyappearintypeathisofficeinLondonorelsewhere,”Teslaexplainedinaninterview.“Hewillbeabletocallup,fromhisdesk,andtalktoanytelephonesubscriberontheglobe,withoutanychangewhateverintheexistingequipment.Aninexpensiveinstrument,notbiggerthanawatch,willenableitsbearertohearanywhere,onseaorland,musicorsong,thespeechofapoliticalleader,theaddressofaneminentmanofscience,orthesermonofaneloquentclergyman,deliveredin

someotherplace,howeverdistant.Inthesamemanneranypicture,character,drawing,orprintcanbetransferredfromonetoanotherplace.Millionsofsuchinstrumentscanbeoperatedfrombutoneplantofthiskind.Moreimportantthanallofthis,however,willbethetransmissionofpower,withoutwires,whichwillbeshownonascalelargeenoughtocarryconviction.”

Last-minutedesignchangeswererequired,however,necessitatingmoremoney.TeslahadalreadyobtainedasecondloanfromMorgan,andwhenthosefundsranout,heagainapproachedthefinancierforadditionalcapital.InanattempttoconvincethepowerfulMorgantoinvestanotherlargesum,Teslaexplainedthatthetowercouldbeusedformorethantransmittingradiosignals—itcouldbeusedtosaturatetheentireglobewithelectricityharmlesstolivingthingssothateveryonecouldobtainusablepowerbysimplystickingwiresinthesoil.

MorganconsideredTesla’swordscarefullyandcoldlyreplied,“Ifanyonecandrawonthepower,wheredoweputthemeter?”HerefusedTesla’spleadingsformoremoney,forcingTeslatousehisownfunds,whichheknewtobeinsufficienttocompletetheproject.Undaunted,Teslaapproachedotherpotentialinvestors,includingJohnJacobAstor,butnobodywasinterestedinpickingupaprojectabandoned,andnowcondemned,bythemostpowerfulmaninAmerica.Despitehiscontinuedefforts,TeslawatchedinhorrorashisWardenclyffedreambegantofade.

Onlymonthslater,in1904,theU.S.PatentOfficestrippedTeslaofhisradiopatentsandawardedthemtotheItalianinventorGuglielmoMarconi,instead.MarconihadusedradiotechnologypioneeredbyTesla11yearsearliertotransmittheletter“s”inmorsecodeover2,000miles,whichgavehimnoclaimtothepatents,ofcourse.Whatdidgivehimclaim,though?HehadthefinancialbackingofMorgan,Edison,andsteelbaronAndrewCarnegie,allofwhomheldswayineverylevelofgovernment.

By1905,TeslaranoutofmoneyandwasforcedtolayofftheWardenclyffeworkersandshutdownthefacility.Newspapersdecrieditashis“milliondollarfolly,”towhichTeslaresponded,“Itisasimplefeatofscientificelectricalengineering,onlyexpensive...blind,faint-hearteddoubtingworld.”

Hismalaisecouldn’tsnuffhisimaginationandloveofhiswork,however.Herefocusedhiseffortsoncommerciallyviablemachineryand—in1906,onhis50thbirthday—presenteda200-horsepowerbladelessturbineenginetotheworld.HewasalsocontractedbytheWalthamWatchCompanytobuildtheworld’sfirstandonlyair-frictionspeedometer,whichhepatented.

MarconiwasawardedaNobelPrizein1911forhis“achievements”inradio,andwashailedasthe“fatherofradio.”Teslawasinfuriatedand,in1915,suedMarconiforinfringementonhispatents.Hedidn’thavethemoneytotakeontheflushMarconi,however,andthesuitwasdismissed.Inthesameyear,itwasannouncedthatTeslaandEdisonwerepotentiallaureatestosharetheNobelPrizeof1915.Bothmenrefusedtoaccepttheawardtogether,orseparatelyiftheotherweretoreceiveitfirst.

Ayearlater,Teslawasforcedtodeclarebankruptcyduetobacktaxesowed,incitingthemediatodisparagehimasapennilesswizard.Humiliatedanddefeated,TeslabegantospendmoretimevisitingtheNewYorkCityparks,rescuinginjuredpigeonsandnursingthembacktohealthinhishotelroomattheHotelNewYorker,wherehelived.Thisfueledrumorsthathehadlosthismind,andthatnothingmorewouldcomefromhisextraordinarygenius.Theywerewrong.

TheNewYorkHeraldTribuneranastoryonOctober15,1911called“Tesla’sNewMonarchofMachines.”Init,Teslaproclaimedthathewasworkingonaflyingmachinethat“willhaveneitherwingsorpropellers”oranyon-boardsourceoffuel,andthatwouldresembleagasstoveinshape.UsingthegyroscopicactionofanenginethatTeslahadbuilt,andassistedbydevicesthathewas“notpreparedto

talkabout,”themachinewouldbeableto“movethroughtheairinanydirectionwithperfectsafety,higherspeedsthanhaveyetbeenreached,regardlessofweatherandobliviousof‘holes’intheair.”Further,itwouldbeableto“remainabsolutelystationaryintheair,eveninawind,forgreatlengthoftime.”

AllisChalmers,anAmericanmanufacturingcompany,andtherailwayandlightingdivisionoftheWestinghouseCompanycontractedTeslatobuildhisflyingmachine,buttheprojectneverbeganforunknownreasons.

AftertheoutbreakofWorldWarI,in1917,theU.S.governmentwaslookingforawaytodetectGermanU-boatsandputEdisoninchargeoffindingaworkablemethod.ItwasTesla,however,thatproposedtheuseofradiowavestodetecttheships—thefirstdescriptionofradar.Edisonrejectedtheideaasludicrous,andtheworldhadtowaitnearlytwodecadesbeforeEmileGirardeauwoulddevelopanobstacle-locatingradiodevice“conceivedaccordingtotheprinciplesstatedbyTesla,”asheputit.

Teslaspentthe1920sworkingasanengineeringconsultant,regularlyfindinghimselfatoddswithhisemployersduetothe“impracticalnature”ofhisplansanddesigns.In1928,attheageof72,hereceivedhislastpatent,“ApparatusForAerialTransportation.”Thiswasaningeniouslydesignedflyingmachinethatwasahybridofahelicopterandairplane.Thevehiclewouldweigh800pounds,ascendvertically,andthenrotateitsenginestoflylikeanairplane.Thiswasthepredecessorofwhatwenowknowasthetiltrotor,orVSTOL(VerticalShortTakeoffandLanding)plane.Unfortunately,Teslalackedthefundstobuildaprototype.

TIMEMagazinefeaturedTeslaonitscoverforhis75thbirthday,in1931,andEinsteinpraisedhimas“aneminentpioneerintherealmofhighfrequencycurrents.”Laterthatyear,Teslaannouncedthathewasonthevergeofdiscoveringanentirelynewsourceofenergy,andwhenthepressaskedhimtodescribeit,hisreplywas,“Theideafirstcameuponmeasatremendousshock...Icanonlysayatthistimethatitwillcomefromanentirelynewandunsuspectedsource.”

Thefollowingyear,thePierce-ArrowautomobilemanufacturerandGeorgeWestinghousecommissionedTeslatodevelopanelectricmotortopoweracar.Themotorhebuiltmeasuredamere40incheslongand30inchesacross,andproducedabout80horsepower.Underthehoodwastheengine:asmall,12-voltstoragebatteryandtwothickwiresthatwentfromthemotortothedashboard.

Teslaconnectedthewirestoasmallblackbox,whichhehadbuilttheweekbeforewithcomponentsheboughtfromalocalradioshop.“Wenowhavepower,”hesaid.Thismysteriousdevicewasusedtorigorouslytestthecarforeightdays,reachingspeedsof90mph.Heletnobodyinspectthebox,andcrypticallysaidthatittapsintoa“mysteriousradiationwhichcomesoutoftheaether,”andthattheenergyisavailablein“limitlessquantities.”Thepublicrespondedsuperstitiouslywithchargesof“blackmagic”andallianceswithsinisterforcesoftheuniverse.Affronted,hetookhisblackboxbackwithhimtoNewYorkCityandspokenothingfurtherofit.

Meanwhile,Europewasagainmarchingtowardwar.Teslahadlongdreamedofawaytomakewartechnologicallyimpossible.OnJuly,111934,theNewYorkTimesranafront-pageheadlinethatread,“TESLA,AT78,BARESNEW‘DEATHBEAM,’”anddescribedanew“teleforce”inventionthatwouldsend“concentratedbeamsofparticlesthroughthefreeair,ofsuchtremendousenergythattheywillbringdownafleetof10,000enemyairplanesatadistanceof250miles...”Teslasaidthatwarwouldbeunfeasiblewheneverycountryhadhis“invisibleChinesewall.”

Theannouncementgeneratedconsiderablecontroversy,andTeslawaswidelycriticizedasa“mad

scientist”whosesanitywasslipping.Undaunted,heapproachedJ.P.MorganJr.insearchoffundingforaprototype,butunsurprisingly,MorganJr.wasn’tinterested.RumorsspreadthatTeslahadinterestedthePrimeMinisterofGreatBritain,NevilleChamberlain,butthisprospectevaporatedwhenChamberlainresignedfromhisposition.

Frustratedbythelackofinterestinhis“superweapontoendallwar,”TeslasentdetailedschematicstoanumberofAlliednations,includingtheUnitedStates,Canada,England,France,andtheSovietUnion.Nonewerewillingtomaketheinvestmentrequiredtobuildthedevice,buttwoyearslater,onestageoftheplanwastestedbytheUSSR.TheysentTeslaacheckfor$25,000,gavelittledetailsoftheirexperiment,andcommunicatednothingfurther.

Teslacontinuedtoworkdiligently,andin1937,statedtothepressthathehadcompleteda“dynamictheoryofgravity,”andthathewouldhopetosoongiveittotheworld.Itwouldneverbepublished.HealsocriticizedEinstein’stheoryofrelativity,callingita“magnificentmathematicalgarbwhichfascinates,dazzles,andmakespeopleblindtotheunderlyingerrors.”

OnJanuary5,1943,Teslaplacedasmall“donotdisturb”signonhisdoorintheNewYorkerHotel.Twodayslater,thesignremained.Themaidenteredtofindhimdeadinhisbed.Hewas86yearsold.Despitereceivingover800patentsinhislifetime,andquiteliterallyinventingthetwentiethcentury,hediedpennilessandalone.Amedicalexaminationdeterminedabloodclotinhisheartwasresponsibleforthedeath,andthattherewerenosuspiciouscircumstances.

Whenhiscousin,SavaKosanovic,arrivedathisroomthenextmorning,Tesla’sbodywasalreadygoneaswerehiseffects.Papersandnotebooksweremissing,includingatreasuredblacknotebookthatcontainedhundredsofpagesoftechnicalresearchnotes.Twodayslater,theU.S.OfficeofAlienPropertyseizedallofTesla’spossessions,andhispapersweredeclaredtopsecretbytheWarDepartmentduetothenatureoftheinventionsandpatents.

Oneyearlater,nearlythreedecadesafterTeslabeganthefight,theU.S.SupremeCourtconfirmedthatMarconi’sradiopatentsindeedinfringedonTesla’sandthereforedeclaredTeslaasthetrue“fatherofradio.”

---

Einsteinsaidthat“imaginationismoreimportantthanknowledge,”because“knowledgeislimitedtoallwenowknowandunderstand,whileimaginationembracestheentireworld,andallthereeverwillbetoknowandunderstand.”

Allgreatgeniusesareincrediblycreativeintheirownways.They’reabletotakewhatisknown,dreamofnewpossibilities,andbringthemintotheworld.Everymathematicalenigmasolved,everymasterfulsymphonycomposed,everyrevolutionarymachineinvented,everybrilliantphilosophypenned,everygreatcorporationbuilt...theyallsprangfromapersonwithanextraordinaryimagination.

MarcusAureliusoncesaidthataperson’slifeis“dyedwiththecolorofhisimagination.”Yourjourneytogreatnesscertainlywillbetoo.Stopandthinkforasecondthefrontiersthatlieaheadforourspecies.TheEarthhasbeenthoroughlyconquered.Theonceradicalphilosophiesofequality,tolerance,andindividualismareembracedbymuchofthecivilizedworld.Thesecretsoftheatomhavegivenustheabilitytoextinguisheverylivingthingontheplanet.Whatisnext?Welooktotheimaginationofgeniusesfortheanswers.

Whatisimagination,though?Michelangelosaidhesawangelsinthemarbleandcarveduntilhesetthemfree.Mostofusregardcreativityinthesamewayweregardthatstatement—asamysteriousgiftthatcan’tbeexplainedorcultivated.Butwe’rewrong.Likegeniusitself,creativityisaprocess,notaprovidence.

TheSecrettoCreativity

Dylan’sLikeaRollingStone.Shakespeare’sHamlet.Bell’stelephone.Pythagoras’theorem.

Howdidtheycomeupwithsuchunique,profoundideas?Well,there’sananswer,andit’sprobablynotwhatyouthink.

SteveJobssaidcreativityis“justconnectingthings.”

SalvadorDalisaid“thosewhodonotwanttoimitateanything,producenothing.”

Picassosaid“goodartistscopybutgreatartistssteal.”

MarkTwainsaid“allideasaresecond-hand,consciouslyandunconsciouslydrawnfromamillionoutsidesources.”

Nomagnificentproductoftheimagination—whetheramachine,painting,orphilosophy—wascreatedinacompletevacuum.Theinventionofthetelegraphtooktheeffortsofathousand,butthelastman,whoaddedthatfinalinspiredtouch,gotthecredit.

Whenyoustartviewingcreativityasaprocessofcombination,andimaginationastheabilitytoconnect,stretch,andmergethingsinnewways,creativebrilliancebecomeslessmystifying.Acreativegeniusisjustbetteratconnectingthedotsthanothersare.

That’swhythecoffeehouseintheAgeofEnlightenmentandtheParisiansalonsofmodernismweresuchenginesofcreativity;theywerespaceswheremanypeoplefrommanydifferentbackgroundsandareasofexpertisecametoswap,join,andborrowmanydifferentideas.

Don’tconfusecreativityandimaginationwith“thinking”either.RayBradburysaidthatthinkingistheenemyofcreativitybecauseit’sself-conscious.Whenyouthinkyousitcalmlyandtrytoreasonthroughsomethinginastructured,logicalway.Creativitydancestoadifferenttune.Onceyouflipthatswitch,thingsgetabitchaotic.Ideasstartbuzzing.Imagesstartpoppingintoyourhead.Fragmentsofallkindsofdatafindtheirwayintoorbit.We’repulledinonedirection,thensuddenlyourinstinctssendusflyinginanother.Materialcollidesandfuses,disappearsandreappears.Thischaosisessentialtothecreativeprocess.Abreakthroughoccurswhenpieceshappentocometogetherinuniqueandharmonicways.

“Ourfirstendeavorsarepurelyinstinctivepromptingofanimaginationvividandundisciplined,”Teslawrote.“Aswegrowolderreasonassertsitselfandwebecomemoreandmoresystematicanddesigning.Butthoseearlyimpulses,thoughnotimmediatelyproductive,areofthegreatestmomentandmayshapeourverydestinies.”

There’sacatchto“combinatorialcreativity,”though.Beforeyoucanconnectdots,youneedtohavedotstoconnect.Themorematerialyou’reexposedtointheworld,themoregristyou’llhaveforyourimaginationmill.Teslafullyimmersedhimselfintheworldofelectricity.Hereadhundredsofbooks.Heconductedthousandsofexperimentsandtookcopiousnotes.Themorevariedyourknowledgeand

experiencesare,themorelikelyyouaretobeabletocreatenewassociationsandfreshideas.

Yourmindhasanincredibleabilitytocross-pollinate—thatis,toconnectdisparatethingstosolveproblemsinuniquewaysorenvisionnewcreations.Einsteinattributedmanyofhisphysicsbreakthroughstohisviolinbreaks,whichhebelievedhelpedhimconnectideasinverydifferentways.

Thisbringsusbacktothebeginningofthegeniuscode:curiosity.It’sanessentialpartofbecomingmorecreative.Expandyourinterestsinlife.Seekoutnew,interestingexperiences,nomatterhowmundaneorinconsequentialtheymightseemtoothers.Readbooks,watchdocumentaries,anddiscussyourideaswithothers.Nosubject,nomatterhowspecializedoresoteric,isofflimits.Youneverknowwhereyourimaginationwillfindpiecesforitspuzzles.

“Theairisfullofideas,”HenryFordsaid.“Theyareknockingyouintheheadallthetime.Youonlyhavetoknowwhatyouwant,thenforgetit,andgoaboutyourbusiness.Suddenly,theideawillcomethrough.Itwasthereallthetime.”

Byexposingyourselftoanabundantvarietyofideas,facts,art,andstories,andbypullingfromyourvastcollectioninmanydifferentways—byentertaininganyideanomatterhowseeminglyabsurd—youcanbringyourimaginationtolife.Andwhenyoudo,there’snotellingwhatnewthingsyoucanbringintotheworldandhowitwillchange.Or,asTeslaputit,“Asinglerayoflightfromadistantstarfallingupontheeyeofatyrantinbygonetimesmayhavealteredthecourseofhislife,mayhavechangedthedestinyofnations,mayhavetransformedthesurfaceoftheglobe;sointricate,soinconceivablycomplexaretheprocessesinNature.”

Ittakescuriositytofindyourcalltoadventure,ittakescouragetoventureintotheunknown,andittakesimaginationtocreateyourpath.Andto,likeTesladid,createitexactlyasyouenvisionit,nomatterhowmuchworkittakes,orhowmanypeopletrytostopyou.

Whatendswillyouworktowardonyourjourney,andwhy?Wherewillyoudivergefromthetrailslaidbypeoplebeforeyou,andwherewillyougoinstead?Howwillyoutackleproblemsfacedbyyourpredecessors,andwhatwillyoudothattheydidn’t?Whenwillyoureurekamomentsstrike?

Ageniusanswersthosequestionsaudaciouslyandlavishly.Shedarestoimagineeverythingandanythingaspossible,andcarriesourculturetoworldsthatneverwere.Youcandothesame.

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HowHippocrates’epicquesttoreformmedicineinancientGreecewasfueledbyhisunparalleledjudgment,andhowyoutoocansharpenyourabilitytomaketherightdecisionsattherighttimesandthusmoveclosertoyourdreams,onegoodcallatatime.

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Inthisbookyou’regoingtolearnsomethingmostpeoplewillneverknow:Whatitreallytakestofindandfollowyourbliss,andhowyoucanusethelessonspasseddowntousbysomeofhistory’sgreatestgeniusestosystematicallyrisetotopofyourfields,activities,andendeavors.

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