Are Your Ideas More Important Than Others’?

Do you ever find yourself getting too comfortable with your current lifestyle? We tend to be creatures of habit and frequently forget how important it is to step outside of our box filled with familiarities. Fear may get in the way of progressing beyond our perceived limitations. You see: we place limits on ourselves and forget to be different to those around us. Be the person who is always looking to improve in areas. Be innovative! Do not doubt yourself about achieving new heights in this life.

Henry Ford once said, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” Before the first automobile appeared, the world only knew of horses as the fastest means of transportation, whether that was horses alone, or horses and carriages. Fortunately, some people around the world have big dreams that may scare them, yet they do not let fear impede. Ford went after his goals, despite what other people may have thought. Instead of focusing on our limitations, we have to act in accordance with our goals. People often give up on their dream if they see others doing the same thing. However, Ford was determined to be more innovative than his predecessors.

Back in the old days, all they knew was to ride horses to get them to their destination as fast as possible. So, those who sought more speed had horses that were trained to be particularly quick. Eventually, the first automobile by Carl Benz set the scene in 1885, one of the greatest inventions in history. The invention opened up opportunities for other expansions on roadways and traffic signals. Mind you, for many years after the release, only those who were wealthy could afford an automobile. The majority of the world was still riding in horse-drawn carriages.

Henry Ford eventually noticed a need for the people, and that is when he invented the Model T Ford car. Ford did not only stop at building cars; he wanted to step outside the box. In 1903, he created the Ford Motor Company, where he combined an assembly line with car manufacturing. What a genius! His vision was coming alive: nearly every working family would be able to afford an automobile.

It does not matter if people are doing the same thing around you; you have to find a way to meet the needs of people at a more general level. Think about the different brands of products – breads, stores, cars, shoes, etc. You can do the same thing, but add a twist to it to stand out.

Ford had the vision to create “a motorcar for the multitude.” He continued to improve on car manufacturing and eventually shortened the time to build a car from 12 hours to 2.5 hours! Consequently, supply and demand were more balanced, and the cost of the Ford car was more affordable. Although Ford did not invent the first car or assembly line, he revolutionized the car industry. Ransom E. Olds created the first stationary assembly line, but Ford expanded on Olds’ idea and developed the first moving assembly line. Now that is how you make current services better for society! Picture how greatly you can improve the lives of others with ideas that you may be keeping to yourself.

Ford’s quote lends itself to a multitude of interpretations. Generally, I think it is safe to say he wanted more for his customers than what they imagined. Nevertheless, it is essential to listen to customers’ feedback and apply some of the mass concerns for company growth and innovation. When companies do things their way, that is when another one comes along and wins over their customers. Competition eventually arose and caught the attention of society: General Motors defined their target audience and positioned the company to provide value for families. Many people became interested in something different, something more contemporary. The lesson is to continually evolve and involve others in order to keep the momentum of a service or product, yet incorporate your innovative ideas too.