The notion of the solitary genius and lone world changer is 98% myth. If you look at the biographies of great thinkers, inventors, innovators, revolutionaries, and artists throughout history, you're bound to find that these individuals were situated in communities that encouraged, challenged, and held them accountable to be the best version of themselves.

For example, most historians agree that the fire of the Enlightenment was lit and spread in the cafes, coffee houses, pubs, and restaurants of urban centres in European cities. Largely because these locations created a neutral space for thinkers to meet, trade ideas, edit each other's work, and muse within the context of free thinking and creativity enhancing community.

Whether it's visual art, literature, psychology, or science, spaces like these become think tanks and breeding grounds where thought leaders and pioneers can take their wildest notions and projects and grow them into something great with the help of others; something that can form entire movements that usher in new ways of thinking and being in the world.

And yet today, many of us still cling to the notion of the solitary genius. Perhaps it's because most of us would like to believe that we can be brilliant on our own, or perhaps it's because we've fallen in love with the image constantly represented in popular media of the brilliant recluse forming works of magic in their workshop, office, or lab. But whatever the reason for us holding onto this illusion, I think believing in this myth is very counterproductive, and in some cases, dangerous.

The best way to do your best work is to find a space, invite key people to join you there, and start working together to start a movement.