No Good Deed

Nikola Tesla probably encapsulates the famous saying, “No good deed goes unpunished” as well as almost anyone.

Despite groundbreaking achievements in electrical engineering, particularly in the development of alternating current (AC) electricity, Tesla's life was marked by a series of misfortunes and unreciprocated “good deeds.”

Tesla's altruistic nature often led him to focus more on the pursuit of scientific discovery than on personal gain. He once famously tore up a royalty contract with George Westinghouse, which would have made him immensely wealthy, to help save Westinghouse's company from financial ruin.

Despite the superiority of Tesla's AC system over Edison's direct current (DC), Edison's aggressive marketing tactics and smear campaigns during the “War of Currents” ensured that DC would win, and that Tesla’s reputation would be tarnished.

Tesla can even make a case for inventing the radio, but his early patents were overlooked in favor of Guglielmo Marconi's work. It was only after Tesla's death that he was rightfully credited for his contributions to radio.

In his later years, Tesla lived in relative obscurity and poverty, a stark contrast to the fame and fortune that many of his contemporaries enjoyed. His dedication to advancing science and his willingness to sacrifice personal gain for the sake of his inventions ultimately led to a life of financial struggle and social isolation.

“No good deed goes unpunished” is such an interesting turn of phrase. It’s more cynical than most of our sayings in English, conceding a harsh reality: the world does not have any intrinsic sense of justice.

The phrase first crops up in the 12th-century De nugis curialium, where Walter Map (the author) has inverted morality, using used a common literary device to flip the conventional wisdom on its head. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the phrase became common wisdom.

There’s another 20th century phrase that I think would be much more useful for Nikola Tesla. “Put your own oxygen mask on before helping others” reframes the “no good deed” conversation in a much more useful way.

There’s not much mystery behind where this one originated. If you’ve ever flown, you probably know it by heart. The rationale behind this instruction is straightforward: ensuring you can breathe is essential to being able to effectively help others. If someone were to pass out from lack of oxygen while trying to assist someone else, they would not be able to help, and two people would be at risk instead of one.

During my own lifetime, I’ve observed how this phrase has also become a metaphor in various aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of taking care of oneself first in order to be able to care for others effectively. Language evolves right in front of our eyes and ears, and all we have to do is pay attention to observe it.

We business owners can often become cynical. It’s our armor against bitter disappointment, and it’s probably a useful thing not to have expectations for a rosy outcome, especially in situations where you don’t have as much control over said outcome.

I’ve heard “No good deed goes unpunished” dozens of times over the years, and just saying it can help a business owner shrug off some pretty tough times.

Still, I think I like “Put your own oxygen mask on before helping others” more. It doesn’t contain wisdom for dealing with an inevitable part of life, but instead offers a way to avoid some of that pain in the first place.

Let’s try to turn commiseration into action. Instead of lamenting an outcome, let’s prevent them at the onset.