Nikola Tesla is often regarded as one of the greatest electrical engineers the world has ever known. His contributions to the world of technology are vast, including the Tesla coil, modern radio, the induction motor, and most famously, the alternating current (AC) electrical supply system that powers much of the world today. Tesla spent much of his life battling for recognition, facing both personal and professional struggles in pursuit of his brilliant ideas.

Tesla’s life offers valuable lessons for all aspiring technologists who, like him, seek to bring the benefits of innovation to the broader community. Here are four timeless lessons drawn from his life and work:

Lesson No. 1: Believe

Throughout his career, Tesla consistently challenged established scientific norms. It was his creative and independent thinking that enabled him to create technologies that others believed impossible. Tesla had the grit to challenge the most famous inventor of his time, Thomas Edison, advocating for the use of his AC electricity delivery system in place of the DC system that Edison championed. He also had the foresight and ingenuity to harness the power of Niagara Falls to generate electricity for an entire city. Even when his financiers doubted him, Tesla stayed true to his vision and ultimately proved them wrong.

Remember Tesla when you’re told that something cannot be done, even though you know it can.

Lesson No. 2: Quit

When Tesla first worked for Edison, Edison promised him $50,000 if he could improve the efficiency of his direct current electrical plants. When Tesla succeeded, Edison laughed and said Tesla didn’t understand American humor, offering him only a modest salary increase instead. Tesla promptly quit. His inventions, which revolutionized the industry, ended up 4costing Edison a fortune in both time and money. In fact, Edison later admitted that his greatest mistake was not adopting Tesla’s AC system sooner.

Remember Tesla when you’re not being valued for your contributions or when promises made by stakeholders or clients go unfulfilled. While quitting can be daunting, sometimes it’s the right decision.

Lesson No. 3: Find the Critical Path

Edison famously said that genius is “1% inspiration and 99% perspiration,” but Tesla disagreed. When Edison passed away, Tesla was quoted in the New York Times as saying, “His method was inefficient in the extreme…just a little theory and calculation would have saved him 90 percent of the labor.” Tesla believed that invention should involve careful planning and the application of knowledge to problems before jumping into implementation, rather than relying on trial and error.

Remember Tesla when you’re being rushed to develop something without a clear understanding of the critical path. Don’t be afraid to pause and figure things out before moving forward.

Lesson No. 4: Don’t Be Nikola Tesla

While Tesla’s brilliance, courage, and accomplishments are beyond question, his life also offers a cautionary tale. Despite being one of the most important inventors in history—attended by heads of state at his funeral, having an automotive company and a planet named after him—Tesla died in poverty, alone, and living in a hotel, largely because of his poor career decisions.

Tesla made several choices that, in hindsight, hurt him. He tore up his contract with Westinghouse for the royalties he was owed on the Niagara Falls Power Project because he was grateful that Westinghouse believed in his idea when no one else did and wanted to see the project succeed. His disputes with J.P. Morgan led to the end of his nearly unlimited financing from the banker, who, like all stakeholders, needed to be managed properly. Tesla also never married, believing that a personal life would distract from his calling as an inventor. He struggled with losing patents for his inventions, including the radio patent to Marconi. Unfortunately, Edison and Marconi often receive more credit for Tesla’s discoveries than he did.

The takeaway? While we may all aspire to be as technically brilliant as Tesla, that brilliance is no substitute for the business and social acumen needed to achieve peace of mind, influence, and financial security. Tesla’s lack of resources and social influence ultimately prevented him from bringing many of his greatest inventions to the world. It’s a shame to be thwarted not by scientific limitations, but by missteps in business and social management.

As we reflect on the incredible genius and life of Nikola Tesla, let us strive to be more like him—but also avoid the mistakes that left him without the rewards he so richly deserved.