TBW and I just toured Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home, for the first time.  It’s one of the best tours I’ve experienced in years. The architectural beauty combined with the incredible innovation just tickled me.

Yet learning that Jefferson died owing the modern equivalent of $2.5M US and had to sell his slaves at auction was a jarring counterpoint.

Consider that the worst fate in a slave’s life was to be sold at auction. At the auction, families could be separated forever or they could be sold to the dreaded “Down River” to the feared Deep South.  So the somewhat humane treatment of the slaves by Jefferson during his life, allowing families to generally stay together and allowing slaves to learn to read if they desired, seems trumped by this final indignity.

Jefferson had one of the most brilliant minds in history. He provided much of the basic language that made the United States actually work, while  also operating as one of the best scientists and inventors of his day.  Yet he devoted tremendous energy to running his estate of Monticello and died in bankruptcy. What gives?

I found a few interesting take-aways.

1. Timing always matters…a lot. During the highly complex barter economy of the day, Jefferson made many deals backed by the asset of his land  and estate. When he died, America was in a depression and all asset values were greatly diminished. He died at the wrong time (which is probably the way most people feel).
2. Jefferson was a victim of his own success. One of the main causes of the asset devaluation was the Louisiana Purchase that Jefferson accomplished as President in 1803. By bringing a huge amount of land into the colonies at one time, the existing value of land dropped immensely. The scarcity factor was disturbed.  So he did good for others and bad for himself.
3. A brilliant mind doesn’t always make a good businessman. Not that they are mutually exclusive, I’ve worked with some brilliant folks who ran excellent businesses. But many people assume that lots of mental horsepower guarantees business success. I’ve seen over and over that it doesn’t. Brilliance often seems to get in the way of keeping attention on the simple yet essential functions of productivity (profit) and timing (cash flow).

If you get a chance to tour Monticello, take it. You won’t be disappointed. In fact, I encourage you to invest a bit of time and energy to learn something that isn’t your business or everyday life. Take some time to broaden your perspective. But learn from TJ that you still want to stick to your knitting…and don’t die at an inconvient time.