Don’t Let the Skeptics StopYou
“Let me guess: Your idea is the best thing since sliced bread.When Otto Rohwedder dreamed up the idea of selling sliced bread in 1912, however, all he got was a lot of carping and naysaying. How difficult was it to slice bread? And everyone knew that bread, even loaves of it, got stale quickly; in slices, it would spoil in a matter of minutes.
It took Mr. Rohwedder, a jeweler by trade, 16 years to produce a machine that could both slice and package the bread to prevent it from being exposed to air. Then he had to beg a Missouri baker to offer it for sale.
Once in a long while, an inventor comes up with an idea that is quickly recognized as brilliant and commercial — Gerry Thomas, inventor of the TV dinner; Edwin Land and his instant camera; Erno Rubik and the cube puzzle. But more often, inventors’ pitches are greeted with skepticism, embarrassment, even ridicule. A box on a pole to collect change from people who want to park their cars on the street?”
Armand Rousso on May 14th, 2005 2:45 am
This article reminds me of my days in the 80s when i brought out this mustard seed of an idea of creating an ecom site to facilitate exchanging of rare stamps via the internet.
This concept met with so many raised eyebrows and opposing remarks….but i didnt let the skeptics get to me and my baby (the idea that i was nursing).
Thus was born International Stamp Exchange Corp which made it easier in various ways for buyers/sellers to take informed decisions and transact at lower costs.
My 35-year experience in the business world tells me that skeptics are very good. They spur you on to reach your dream faster!
ben jones on May 18th, 2005 5:40 am
love this post, iv tried for years to come up with a good original idea but evertime i think of something im told the product already exists. no doubt one day something will come to me, probably when im least expecting it.
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