| Let me tell you a story about Dr. Finsen and | | | | invention. Without an inquiring-minded |
| the cat. Dr. Niels Ryberg Finsen is the | | | | observer, chance alone will never produce |
| famous "light cure" specialist who started to | | | | such a result. |
| treat lupus (tuberculosis of the skin) with | | | | |
| electric light in 1895. In 1903, he received | | | | One of the great blessings of childhood is |
| the Nobel prize in medicine and physiology. | | | | the inquisitive mind. Children are |
| One summer day, Dr. Finsen gazed outside his | | | | discovering the world, without all of the |
| study window and saw a cat sunning itself on | | | | preconceptions that exist in the adult mind. |
| the roof of a shed. As he watched, the cat | | | | A child's parents are one of their main |
| happened to rise and move a little in order | | | | sources of information before they begin |
| to get out of the shadow cast by a house | | | | school, and the endless stream of questions |
| wall. A few minutes later, the cat moved | | | | can at times be difficult to endure along |
| again when the advancing sun lengthened the | | | | with all of the other responsibilities of |
| shadow. Amused and at the same time in a | | | | adult life. If you are a parent, try not to |
| questioning mood, the scientist continued to | | | | stop your children from asking "why?" all the |
| watch the cat. A third, a fourth, and yet a | | | | time. This "why?" attitude can help them to |
| fifth time he saw it change position to keep | | | | want to learn more and be more observant. It |
| in the sunlight. He noted its attitude of | | | | helps the development of their thinking |
| complete relaxation, its evident feelings of | | | | process. At the same time, don't always |
| contentment. The thought occurred to him "It | | | | answer the questions with answers. Encourage |
| must be that this cat is getting something | | | | your child to think through the "why?" |
| out of the sunlight of great benefit to it. | | | | themselves. |
| Would human beings get the same thing?" | | | | |
| Thus, the story goes, Dr. Finsen began the | | | | You can also develop the same mindset as an |
| studies that led to his Nobel prize winning | | | | adult. This mindset can lead to amazing |
| "light cure." | | | | professional opportunities as well as the |
| | | | scientific breakthroughs. Take a look at |
| It is a typical instance called "knowledge | | | | what people want and what companies are |
| by chance" that has happened to many other | | | | offering. If there is a gap in between, you |
| famous scientists, such as Daguerre, Galileo, | | | | might be able to find ways to close that gap. |
| and Sir Isaac Newton. Probably thousands of | | | | For instance, a company like Netflix changed |
| other people had seen cats basking in the | | | | the way many people rent movies. Companies |
| sun; Finsen is the only one who raised the | | | | like Paypal provide a service to enable |
| practical question about a cat's passion for | | | | online transactions more easily and securely. |
| sunlight. Similarly it is with Newton and the | | | | These companies found the un-met needs of the |
| falling apple, and Galileo and the swinging | | | | market and they fulfill those needs to great |
| lamp. Chance alone is not sufficient to | | | | success. |
| produce a scientific discovery or create an | | | | |