Albert Einstein's Formula for Success
“We don’t stop playing, because we grow old. We grow old, because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw.
In a 1929 interview with the New York Times, Albert Einstein presented his simple formula for success. It goes like this: A = X + Y + Z
“While A represents Success, X is Work, Y is Play, and Z is Keeping Your Mouth Shut.”
Hmm … “Keeping your mouth shut” provides some insight as to where his head was at. We can read into that some other time, but in this important formula, there’s Y. Play.
Play relieves stress and makes us more resilient. Resiliency is a huge deal. Play improves brain function, stimulates our mind and boosts creativity and overall competency. It improves our relationships and interactions with other humans. It greatly improves and fosters emotional and psychological stability and overall health. Maybe more importantly, it keeps us young and energetic.
Play is so vitally important to human nature, overall health, and longevity, but in terms of success, it’s a must. Play makes our work better. Without our “down-time”, leisure, and active play, any time we spend “working” will suffer in quality. It’s not so much about time spent working; it’s about how much we’re actually accomplishing.
This is why recess is so important. Well, adults need recess too. Maybe more so.
Play! It might just be the fountain of youth as well as the key to success.
We’ll see you on the “playground”.