Thursday, May 23, 2013

Unrealistic Goals

"Here's To The Crazy Ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the
square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have
no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them.
About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the
human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world - are the ones who Do!"

 For those of you who remember, this was said by Steve Jobs when he was working to unveil a new ad campaign as new 'interim' CEO of Apple Computers in 1997; the beginning of the 'Think Different' campaign.  It was inspired by the original Macintosh group from the eighties and how 'crazy' they all were.  This quote perfectly illustrates the truth I wish to share with you today.  That truth is: The more unrealistic the goal the easier it is to achieve. 

Steve Jobs epitomized this truth, he was a rebel, a purist, and a control freak but the greatest attribute about him was most definitely his passion.  A passion for products, he would dream up these products and desire to make them aesthetically pleasing and tell the engineers to put in the components after wards, instead of letting the engineers create their boards and circuits then building the computer around them.  He changed the world because he never excepted 'good enough' or 'ok' .  He strived for perfection and didn't care about hurting feelings along the way.  With that we have ipods, ipads, iphones, technology that has changed the world and the way we communicate.

Another example of someone who strives for perfection and set lofty goals even though they were completely unrealistic was a man by the name of Henry Ford.  When he met with his engineers to discuss a new design for an engine they were astounded by what he had suggested, with them replying it was impossible. 

This was the incredible V8 that Ford was dreaming about, he demanded that his engineers find a way to develop an engine with 8 cylinders cast in a solid block.  Like I said they all said it was impossible, he just said to them, I don't care how long it takes I just want the plans for it so we can put it into production.  You will find a way.  For a whole year he continued to apply pressure on his engineers while they worked away and kept being met with failure he kept pushing them to continue to try no matter how much time they needed.  You will find a way.

After that year he met with his engineers and they miraculously found a way to make the V8 cast in a single block.  Amazing, determination and motivation led to; Success.  Funny how that happens, something that was impossible wasn't. 

These stories should help us realize the fact that just because it isn't accepted as possible doesn't mean it isn't.  It only means that no one has tried hard enough to complete the task to find the right applications necessary to bring the impossible into the possible.  Think about 30 years ago when no one had a cell phone, now you can buy things from your phone.

So be crazy and determined, you will change the world if your intentions are true enough.

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