Prepare For Rejection On The Road To Innovation!
Updated: Jun 7
Transcript
00:06:00:49 - 00:06:21:21
Speaker 1
Hey Team! For today's weekly Reminder. I want to talk to you guys about innovation. Now, this is one of my personal favorite topics. It lights me up every time I talk about it because I just love thinking about new ideas and looking at problems and thinking about ways that we can solve them. But if you're wondering if you're an innovative type of person, I think it's a skill that can be developed and learned.
00:06:21:22 - 00:06:42:48
Speaker 1
Personally, even though I love innovation so much, it doesn't just come to me randomly. I have to actually put myself in a space where I'm ready to think and be creative. Most of the time we just go about life and just follow the same pattern over and over again. We don't really question why we're doing stuff, but I want to encourage you guys to stop doing that and think about how you can make things better.
00:06:42:49 - 00:07:06:25
Speaker 1
I want to share with you two stories that are really inspiring to me about innovators who have changed the game and in turn changed the world. The first story is about a man called Steve Wozniak. He was a computer engineer and he worked for HP Computers. He had an idea to create the first personal computer, the PC, and he pitched it to his company, HP, three times, but got rejected every single time.
00:07:06:26 - 00:07:32:47
Speaker 1
He eventually moved companies and got to work alongside Steve Jobs to help develop the world's first personal computer. His net worth is now over $15 million. If HP listened to him, they would have been way ahead of the game. And maybe Apple would have never existed. The next story is one of my favorites set in the 1950s, a man named Farruccio here, I think that's how you pronounce it, was so innovative that he created tractors out of parts of abandoned war machines.
00:07:32:48 - 00:07:50:08
Speaker 1
This was after World War Two, so there was plenty lying around. He just had to create something with it. Eventually, he became successful and made millions of dollars. But that's not the best part. Once he had enough money, he wanted to buy his dream car, which was a Ferrari. Years down the track he actually got to meet Enzo, who is the founder of Ferrari.
00:07:50:17 - 00:08:08:33
Speaker 1
They had a brief conversation. He told Enzo how much he loved his Ferrari, but he said “there is one problem. The clutch always gets stuck. But don't worry, I know how to fix it....” What Enzo said next was savage. Enzo cut him off and said, “You may be able to drive a tractor, but not a Ferrari. You stick to making trucks,
00:08:08:33 - 00:08:32:27
Speaker 1
I'll stick to making cars”. That would have hurt rejection coming from your hero. Someone you look up to would hurt so bad. But Ferruccio, he's last name was Lamborghini. And I know you can guess what he created next. On that note, let me know in the comments. Do you prefer Ferraris or Lamborghinis? The rest is history. But the principles are the same.
00:08:32:27 - 00:08:48:08
Speaker 1
When you innovate, you will get rejected. That's just how it is sometimes. But it's important to not give up on your dreams and your ideas. I'm excited to see the new products, processes and ideas you guys come up with this week, so let me know in the comments and I'll speak to you soon. Bye.
Feb 16th is Innovation Day, and I’ll be taking this time to put my creative power to good use!
For those who don't know, 'Innovation' is when you “create a new method, idea or product”.
It doesn't have to change the world;
it can streamline your life, business or one activity that you do.
If you are wanting to make small improvements, innovation is easy!
Here’s my advice:
Stop the pattern of just doing ‘the thing’ because “that’s the way it’s always done”, and start to think about how you can get a great result in a different way.
You’ll be surprised at what you come up with!
If you are a big idea’s person and like thinking of concepts that don’t just come together overnight, I have a tip for you!
Strap yourself in to get rejected!!
😅😅😅😅
It’s a harsh reality that creative thinkers get rejected often.
When you innovate, sometimes your ideas won't be taken seriously at first.
If you work for someone else, your ideas may even be rejected MULTIPLE times.
But it’s important not to give up!
A man named Steve Wozniak pitched to his employer (HP computers) 3 times about an idea he had about creating a product the world had never seen before….
The PC (Personal Computer).
He was rejected each time.
He later went on to build the world’s first PC with Apple and his net worth is said to be over $15 million.
Crazy right!! Persistence is key!
My favourite rejection story comes from a man named Ferruccio, who built tractors in the 1950’s.
He was so innovative he created tractors out of abandoned war machines left behind in the aftermath of WWII.
Eventually he became a millionaire and bought himself his DREAM CAR….
A Ferrari!
One day he was lucky enough to meet Enzo Ferrari (the Founder of Ferrari) and he said to him;
‘I love your cars, but Ferrari’s have such a terrible clutch. Don’t worry, I know how to fix it though!”
Enzo’s response was savage…
“You may be able to drive a tractor, but not a Ferrari. You stick to making trucks, I’ll stick to making cars”
What makes this story so legendary though is Ferruccio’s full name….
Ferruccio Lamborghini
I’m guessing you can guess what he created next!
So whether you are trying to streamline your admin processes at work or you are dreaming of changing the world with your next idea, remember to never give up!
If you liked this Weekly Reminder, comment below with a game changing idea that someone should invent!