Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is

The words of An Wang, “Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is of genius,” shine with the clarity of a lantern in the night. Many imagine that success belongs only to those touched by extraordinary brilliance, as if the world yields its treasures solely to the rare few born with dazzling intellect. Yet Wang, a man of both invention and wisdom, lifts this veil of illusion and reveals a greater truth: greatness is not carved only by genius, but by the steady hand of common sense, applied with constancy, day after day.

To the ancients, this teaching would not be strange. They knew that the farmer who tends his crops with patience and care will outlast the dreamer who imagines harvest without toil. The steady merchant, careful with his weights and measures, prospers longer than the gambler chasing fortune on a single throw. Consistency and prudence, not sudden flashes of brilliance, were the virtues that built kingdoms and sustained households. Genius may blaze like lightning, but common sense, faithfully applied, burns like an enduring flame.

Consider the story of George Washington, the first leader of the United States. He was not famed for genius in philosophy or the arts of rhetoric, yet his common sense and unwavering steadiness made him a figure of unmatched influence. He held his army together through winters of despair, not by genius alone, but by practical wisdom, humility, and the constant application of sound judgment. When others quarreled for power, he refused the crown, choosing instead to return home, for he knew that the greatness of a republic depended not on a man’s glory but on the balance of its institutions. His success came not from brilliance, but from the consistent wisdom of common sense.

An Wang himself embodied this truth. Born in humble beginnings, he rose to create Wang Laboratories, a company that advanced the world of computing. His journey was not that of reckless leaps or untamed genius, but of careful decisions, practical judgment, and persistence. He proved by his life that success is not an accident of brilliance but the fruit of steady effort, guided by reason and clear-sighted choices. He understood that common sense is the compass that keeps even the brightest star from wandering into ruin.

This wisdom carries a lesson for us all. Too often we wait for the lightning of inspiration, telling ourselves that only when genius strikes will we rise to greatness. Yet Wang teaches us to look instead to the daily application of common sense: the discipline of showing up, the wisdom of planning, the humility of learning from mistakes. Genius is rare, but common sense belongs to all—and when practiced with consistency, it yields results more enduring than the brightest spark of brilliance.

Therefore, beloved, let us not worship genius alone, nor despair if it does not dwell in us. Instead, let us cultivate prudence, patience, and consistency. In your labor, take the step you know is wise, not the one that dazzles but fails. In your dealings with others, choose honesty and fairness over cleverness that deceives. In your dreams, build steadily, brick upon brick, and you shall find that what seemed impossible becomes inevitable.

So remember always: success is not reserved for the few who are called “genius.” It is the inheritance of those who walk with steady wisdom, who trust in the strength of consistent common sense. Let your life be a testament to this truth, and in the end, you will stand not only accomplished, but fulfilled—your triumph born not of lightning, but of the steady flame that never dies.