Innovators are very important to humanity. From the man who invented the first light bulb to the artist who painted the famous Mona Lisa, innovators have played a vital role in the advancement of the human race.
Innovation is the process of creating something new that makes life better. Innovation is impossible without passion. Innovators see the world differently. They become obsessed with making the world better.
Many innovators in the for-profit sector focus incessantly on bringing value to the market. Others focus incessantly on the core research needed to push the human race forward.
Below, we have picked out 6 of the greatest innovators of all time. Check them out:
1. Thomas Edison
One of the most significant innovators and inventors in American history, Thomas is perhaps best known for inventing the first long-lasting, commercially practical, the incandescent light bulb.
He was the father of many other breakthroughs, including the first phonograph and the motion picture camera. In addition, he was influential in developing the first economically viable way of distributing light, heat, and power from a central station.
2. Steve Jobs
The iconic American entrepreneur and founder of Apple will go down in history as one of the great innovators.
As CEO of Apple in the 1980s and again in the late 90s and 2000s, Steve played a central role in the personal computer revolution. He developed its essential products, including the McIntosh, the iPod, and the iPhone.
3. Nikola Tesla
A great inventor, engineer, and futurist, Nikola helped develop the AC electrical delivery system. Infamous for his wild experiments and colorful personality, Tesla‘s creative work regarding the production and transmission of power was far ahead of his time. Innovation is impossible without passion.
4. Bill Gates
One of the great businessman/philanthropists of the last century, Bill founded and built Microsoft into an unmatched software behemoth before leaving to start the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a multi-billion dollar philanthropic enterprise working to enhance global healthcare and reduce poverty.
5. Benjamin Franklin
One of the founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin was a brilliant polymath, inventor, political theorist, scientist, statesman, and writer.
He had a prodigious scientific mind, and his interests varied widely, but in addition to politics, he is perhaps best known for his experiments with lightning and electricity.
6. Leonardo Da Vinci
The original “Renaissance man,” Leonardo is best known for his paintings (the Last Supper, the Mona Lisa), but he was also a philosopher, engineer, and inventor.
He left behind a collection of extraordinarily prescient drawings depicting future technologies (helicopter, tank, solar power).
READ: Top 6 Innovators of All Time [Pt. 2] HERE
This article was written by Ryan Allis and published on his website in 2012.
