Two Inspirational Stories of Perseverance
The Super Soaker:
Lonnie Johnson would make a toy that would generate billions of dollars in sales. However, the journey took lots of perseverance. It would take him seven years to get his concept to shelves. He left his job at NASA; he described it as hard times for him. To manufacture the Super Soaker would cost him $200,000; working for the military then did not provide him with enough financial capital to put the prototype into production. He faced a mountain that had to be climbed to make it a beautiful summit view. With perseverance, things would improve; he went to the National Toy Convention and found a key partner to manufacture a high-tech water gun. He made the prototype for them with a two-liter soda bottle.
Learning insights: From Mr. Johnson’s story, we learn that find other key partners who can help you execute your vision or dream. Suppose you lack in a critical area, financial or human capital; finding a partner can make a big difference. Teamwork makes the vision a reality. The book of Ecclesiastes states, “two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor,” and another place says, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
The Dyson Company:
James Dyson’s story of redesigning the vacuum cleaner is another story with the vital ingredient of perseverance in hard times. He had made some 5,127 prototypes of his invention and still had the heart to keep going. With his wife’s financial support, he could continue with his vision to make a better vacuum cleaner. When he presented his idea for approval, it was initially rejected, but he did not give up. Now Dyson’s worth billions, he still has not given up on improving products. His motivation is a deeper baritone than financial gain. He has a passion for creating products that make people’s lives better.
Learning insights: From Mr. Dyson’s story, we find that deep passion creates perseverance, and perseverance creates opportunities. He keeps being persistent, design after design and design after design, until he reaches his goal of a better vacuum cleaner. Like Mr. Johnson, he also made his prototype with humble beginnings; he used cardboard to make his first designs.
Business Tips: by ContractRight.com
1. Start simple; make a prototype.
2. Enlarge your knowledge base to use the fundamentals of (STEAM) Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math to solve your current business problems.
3. Find critical partners to help you execute the dream or vision.
4. Keep improving your product or service until it works, many times better than the current solutions offered in the market.
5. Keep improving until you get a sustainably better version.
6. Maintain perseverance even when rejected; keep moving forward.
7. Discover an industry or field of study that you are passionate about, increasing your probability of continuing with perseverance in the hard times.
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