Speaking of Vacuums That Suck...

My Friend.

I don't know what to think of it...other than the statement is so broad that it may be meaningless. But maybe I'm missing something there.

What's wrong with what Dyson did? Nothing that I can tell. I suppose it's innovative.

But like with the vast majority of innovations 99% of the work has been done before the innovator takes a look at it.

I don't even think of the story as questionable. It's presented in a light that makes it more motivational...more inspiring....and easier to accept.

"He found a company that made a product that he added a few improvements to...then made money by positioning it as an invention". isn't as inspirational as the way the story was presented. I know this, Dyson worked tirelessly to promote his company. And determination can overcome many roadblocks.

I love [B]Think And Grow Rich[B]. It holds plenty of real insights into what makes a person successful in business. But Hill invented most of the stories in his book. He really didn't interview Andrew Carnegie. And he didn't interview most of the people in the book.

And throughout his life, Hill left a series of businesses gone bad, cheated investors, and failure. Hill died penniless.

But the story in his books is what sells the ideas. And the ideas are mostly sound. And writing several books...and several complete courses....isn't nothing.

I suspect that nearly all success stories are re-arranged, edited, emphasized, interpreted, and dramatized for effect.

I used to have vacuum cleaner salespeople visit my store to see how I sold so many vacuum cleaners. I eventually stopped letting them visit. Why? Because the truth was boring. It looked like I was doing the same things they were, with very minor changes.

These visitors were expecting to see a miracle, and what they got was competent selling and good marketing. Fun to read about...Boring as heck to watch in real time.

I've met and talked in depth with dozens of highly paid speakers. Most were wealthy. Most were experts in some field. I was always struck by how ordinary these people were. How different from their public persona.

The real take-a-way here is that it's the story that people want.....the magic. And even when it's not presented as magic, it's interpreted as magic. And that's why we get disappointed when we find the truth. Because we are looking for magic.

By the way, Napoleon Hill wrote "There is no heroic connotation to the word persistence. But the quality is to the character of man what carbon is to steel". That sentence was first read by me when I was a teenager, and it made my heart race, and made my spine straighten a little more. It was just a sentence, out of a story. Sometimes the story is the most important part.

Yup.

And he changed many of the parts so they were not interchangeable with other manufacturers. Very smart. That way, dealers had to buy parts from Dyson, and nobody else. And they could set the prices.

Also, he gave the machines a 5 year warranty, and a very well done instruction manual. Inexpensive ways to greatly boost perceived value.

I was speaking to a group of vacuum cleaner dealers years ago, they were complaining about Dyson. I told them that they should thank Dyson. He is advertising vacuum cleaners are a much higher price point that other manufacturers. So Dyson (and now Shark) are changing the price expectations of consumers for vacuum cleaners....that makes sales of higher end machines easier for all of us that sell vacuum cleaners.

Advertising a product for more than any of your competition is also a really good way to separate yourself from the pack. And Dyson was the first to do it in vacuum cleaners sold in stores. My hat is off to Mr. Dyson.

but wat if u u step on a landmine coz u were looking at ur iphone and die instantly

The majority of the time actual failure just teaches you what not to do. But humans have the real bad habit of abandoning what works in their lives and putting their effort in trying to make things work that never will work.

If Edison failed to invent the light bulb we would still have light bulb as several dozen people invented light bulbs about the same time. Air planes would have been invented without the write brothers.

Edison not only had the team of inventors working for him he knew the value of a patent then he was also great at raising money and marketing.

Bit of a nuisance if those steps are taking you aboard the wrong plane.

Hi Odahh: Thanks for the honest reply. : )

Yeah I think you're right -- many times it's scenario/story People think in their minds about "failure" --- when most of the time it doesn't happen.

I remember one time when I was having a breakdown and had to go to Hospital I said to my Dad over the phone: "Whatever happens, I'll be OK". And although it was another difficult time, ultimately I was OK. I honestly think People can come back from almost anything.

Exactly Odahh: That's a great way of looking at it. People can change their situations. No matter where a Person is in Life -- there's almost always something to be positive and grateful for.

2C