After we had conducted thousands of experiments on a certain project without solving the problem, one of my associates. . . Expressed discouragement and disgust over our having failed to find out anything. I cheerily assured him that we had learned something. For we had learned for a certainty that the thing couldn't be done that way, and that we would have to try some other way. Which characteristic of a successful entrepreneur does Edison exhibit in this quote? drive, self-confidence, and a clear vision of a goal an ability to learn from mistakes and adapt to new knowledge a willingness to take responsibility for success or failure a sense of responsibility to society.