Before Albert Einstein, people with uncombed hair were seen as sloppy and out of order. And before Einstein, few understood that distractedness often reflects genius.

Einstein, with his fireworks hair and acclaimed theories about the universe, has done a lot to change the perception of distracted people. Indeed, he is the icon of distractedness.
He was born in 1879 in Germany and grew up in Munich.
As a child he soon gained the reputation for being terribly distracted. Once, a few days after having stayed overnight at a friend´s place, the mother of the friend called Einstein´s mother. “I am sorry to say that your son will never amount to anything," she told Einstein's mom. "He always forgets his things. I have his suitcase, if you're wondering ... .”

Einstein on the train
Another Einstein story took place when Einstein was traveling on a train in Germany. By then, he had become a famous researcher. The conductor entered the wagon, and Einstein desperately searched his pockets for the ticket.
“Oh, but I recognize you, of course, Dr. Einstein,” the conductor said. "Don’t worry about the ticket. You can ride for free."
“Thank you," said Einstein. "But if I don´t find my ticket I won't know where to get off the train.”

The Nobel Prize and his hair
In 1921 Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, but he was unable to collect the prize that year for practical reasons. Instead, in 1923 he attended a ceremony to celebrate his achievement. But he missed his train, and when he finally arrived, the ceremony had started. He tiptoed in to escape attention, but of course everybody in the hall was waiting for him, and it did not take long before someone yelled: “There he is -- our guest of honor!”

Asked once about his hairstyle, Einstein admitted that: "It is the result of doing nothing with it."
He had other priorities, which is typical for the distracted mind: a strong focus on inner thoughts at the price of organizational failure in the physical world.