Genius distilled

Genius distilled
Is being willing and able
To see extraordinary things
Before they exist.

It's being willing and able
To believe in those things
And hold them
And pursue them
Amidst a storm of doubt
With no evidence you're right
Except for an inexpressible
Trust in your gut
That says
I'm right
Damnit.
I know it.

Of course, this is also
Insanity distilled.

With one difference.

Where
Insanity hits walls
And keeps banging into them
Genius hits walls
And finds a way over them
Or around them
Or through them
Or underneath them.

Brilliant and lasting ideas
Are nothing more than
Crazy and fleeting ideas
That were never abandoned.
That got pressure tested.
That got partially destroyed.
And that got rebuilt stronger.
Again and again.

A small fraction of
Genius distilled
Is innate skill.
Most of it is courage
To continually build and improve
Insane ideas
Until they're no longer insane.