The popular image of Thomas Edison as a lone genius is a damaging myth for startup founders. True success comes not from solitary breakthroughs but from effective teamwork and leadership, which is how Edison actually worked. The "Lone Genius" Myth 💡 Many startup founders are encouraged to be the "Edison of their industry." This narrative sells a compelling story of a solitary inventor having sudden flashes of brilliance. Founders often internalize this myth, pushing themselves through endless nights of solo work and believing their singular vision is all that matters. They try to be the hero who does it all. The Harmful Reality 🔥 This "lone genius" approach creates serious problems in growing companies. Founder Burnout: When a founder tries to control every detail, burnout is inevitable. Silenced Teams: Junior employees quickly learn not to share their ideas if only the founder's "vision" is valued. Flawed Products: Valuable feedback, such as marketing input, gets ignored. Products are launched with obvious errors that a team could have easily caught. This model contributes to significant dysfunction, which may explain why one in three startups reports serious team problems within their first year. The Real Edison: A Master Manager 👨‍🔬 The historical truth about Edison is quite different. He wasn't a lone wolf; he was an expert project manager. His famous Menlo Park lab was a collaborative invention factory that employed around 40 full-time staff members. His team's success, like the light bulb, was a result of systematic teamwork, not a single "aha!" moment. For instance, they methodically tested over 1,200 bamboo samples to find the ideal filament. Edison's true talent was in setting clear goals, documenting every failure, and hiring experts to solve problems collaboratively. The Honest Question for Founders 🤔 If you're a founder working endless hours alone, ask yourself this: Are you truly working like Edison, or are you just struggling to lead a team effectively? Praising the myth of the solo hero causes countless good ideas to fail, while valuing teamwork is what actually builds success.