Try, Try, Try!

Dr Bill Robinson of Robinson Seismic, inventor of the lead rubber bearing, explains one of his most simple yet most powerful philosophies – try, try, try! This philosophy holds true for all scientific endeavours.

Transcript

DR BILL ROBINSON There is only one rule and that is try, try, try and that is it, that is all there is. After a certain time you have got to decide well it’s not worth continuing with that. Before my time at Sussex University in the UK after doing my PhD I spent two years trying to do a particular experiment, it failed, and after two years I thought two years was enough and it turned out that it was an impossible experiment, but you need to try and give it a decent go, but do not be frightened of failure. I've invented more devices which have failed than devices which have been a success. You’ve got to be willing to actually try and fail, and learn from your failure.

Acknowledgements: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Television New Zealand Limited (TVNZ)