Famous Innovators Who Fought Change

“AC electric current is dangerous and not as effective as my DC current.” -Thomas Edison’s public statements and smear campaign against Nikola Tesla’s invention of the far superior AC current used today.

“Who would ever want to use a telephone?” President Rutherford B. Hays, after testing out Alexander Gram Bells new invention of the telephone.

“The three guitar sound is on it’s way out boys... sorry.” -Decca record executive, following the Beatles audition.

“It is entirely impossible to put a man on the moon.” -NASA engineer’s statement following President Kennedy’s speech declaring the future achievement.

“Computers and computer science is a fad, we don’t see a reason to invest in it” University of Notre Dame-mid 1980’s 

“Reliable overnight delivery service is not feasible.” -Yale University MBA professor in response to Fred Smith's business plan for the Federal Express Corp.

"Everything that can be invented has been invented," Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, US Office of Patents, 1899.

"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction." Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872.

Realize that all the changes that occurred from just the few innovations listed on this page resulted in billions, maybe trillions in fortunes earned. Imagine the additional support industries and businesses started and people employed around these revolutionary advancements. It’s truly endless. What is the reason your company does not have an innovation team?

Common reasons for not changing are that powerful groups are afraid of loosing their financial position. They will make sure they get their profit margin before they allow you to change the industry. The so-called experts or critics advise against it, fear of the unknown, unwillingness to change, belief that everything will be OK, laziness. Fear of loss, the list goes on.

Some leaders tend to think they don’t need to pay attention to changes in their market and that it will always be the same or that it will never change so fast that they can not keep pace. Ask anyone in the housing and construction market today if they saw changes occur at the speed of light?

More often, owners and leadership teams don’t really know how to change and innovate. They don’t understand why change is a natural part of the evolution of an organization’s success. The thought of starting and committing to an innovation program is overwhelming. People don’t have time, they are too busy as it is. We just don’t have the resources to do it.
Can your organization really afford not to innovate!

Innovate with Idea Firm

“We know the impossible is possible – we do it every day”

If you want to discuss innovation and change and you don’t know where to start, you have come to the right place. Our business is change. We are the change experts. Idea Firm guides innovation and change in companies, products, markets and people.

We can lead and structure innovation teams within your company or our we can assess your needs and bring you new ideas on direction and opportunity.

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