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| Coffee in a capsule? That'll never work. |
IT'S true: there's no such thing as an overnight success.
In fact, most great ideas came to fruition following rejection
after rejection. Innovation is as much about persistence and self-belief
as it is about luck or opportunity.
So if you're sitting on a brilliant idea but you don't think anyone will ever go for it, don't worry.
Here
are five, multi-million-dollar game-changers that originally met
scathing criticism or fell on deaf ears. And in some cases, it took
years of trial and error before anyone listened.
EMAIL OWNED BY A SEARCH ENGINE
Google employees enjoy somethin called "20 per cent time". Not an
official policy, it means that everyone at Google HQ is encouraged to
spend roughly 20 per cent of their work time working on special pet
projects and blue-sky ideas. After 2.5 years of working on his pet
project, engineer Paul Buchheit had the opportunity to present the idea
to Google's executives. One reportedly said at first glance: "This will
destroy our brand. This will crush our company." That idea was Google
Mail - gmail - and it didn't crush the company. In fact, much like the
iPod, it became the springboard for Google to think bigger and broader
than ever, and is now one of the company's legacy products. Who knew
gmail was so close to never happening?
A SHOW ABOUT NOTHING
‘Because it's on TV!’ Not yet. George
channels the show's co-creator Larry David by refusing to compromise his
‘artistic integrity’.
When Jerry Seinfeld was approached by NBC and given carte blanche to
develop a comedy series, the studio wasn't expecting him to come back
with the idea to write a "show about nothing". During the season 4
episode 'The Pitch', we're given a fascinating insight into the friction
felt between Seinfeld and NBC when George presents the concept for the
show.
GEORGE: I think I can sum up the show for you with one word: NOTHING.
EXEC: Nothing?
GEORGE: Nothing.
EXEC: What does that mean?
GEORGE: The show is about nothing.
*****
EXEC: Well, why am I watching it?
GEORGE: Because it's on TV.
EXEC: Not yet.
The show (within the show) doesn't get picked up, but obviously it was picked up in real life.
The Seinfeld Chronicles, later shortened to
Seinfeld,
premiered to a strong audience and - yada, yada, yada - went on to
become the greatest sitcom of all time. More importantly, it became the
summer re-run of choice and its fans became pests to their friends by
referencing
Seinfeld moments at every single opportunity. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
A RECORD COLLECTION IN YOUR POCKET
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| Newsweek cover of Steve Jobs and the original iPod. It kinda took off.
|
The iPod. It makes so much sense that it was always bound to happen,
right? Wrong. Tony Fadell, credited with inventing the iPod and iTunes,
shopped the concept to two other electronics brands and was rejected,
before finally finding a willing ear in Steve Jobs and Apple. Jobs had
already envisaged a compact music system and Fadell came along at the
right time in 2001, after being turned away by Real Networks and
Philips. With a single product, Apple was transformed from the
alternative computer brand with $500 million of debt to the most
profitable and recognised tech company in the world. Compared to the
share prices of Real ($7.67) and Philips ($31.08), Apple is a global
powerhouse ($491.70). Turns out the iPod wasn't such a bad idea.
COFFEE IN A POD
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| Why is George Clooney sipping coffee from a pod? Oh, right. That whole thing. |
You've seen the ads. George Clooney strolls into a coffee shop in a
suit, makes eyes with a pretty lady, sips on excellent coffee. And
you've probably seen the machines - operated with a lever to make coffee
in a small capsule. But despite only gaining mass-market appeal in the
last few years, Nespresso's coffee revolution didn't happen overnight.
In fact, the capsule concept was invented by a Nestle employee way back
in 1976. Eric Favre, a Swiss engineer, invented and patented the product
under the Nespresso brand. It didn't take off. Nespresso tried again in
1988, enjoying more success, but it wasn't until many years later that
the brand gained global appeal. Clooney signed on to become the
ambassador in 2006, and by 2011 Nespresso was reporting huge
year-on-year profit increases of up to 20 per cent. According to Choice,
Nespresso was the "fastest-growing brand in the fresh coffee category
in Australia in 2011" and there are now 11 Nespresso "boutique" stores
around the country.
A BOY WIZARD
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| A boy wizard at magic school? Get outta heeeeeere.
|
A destitute British writer by the name of J.K. Rowling conceived of a
boy wizard while she was on the train. Sensing a major break in her
life, Rowling excitedly submitted the first manuscript for Harry Potter.
Sadly, the publisher didn't share her optimism. And neither did the
next 11 publishing houses, all of whom sent Rowling packing. It wasn't
until the chairman from Bloomsbury handed the story to his daughter to
read that Rowling came into some luck. The eight-year-old girl gobbled
up the first chapter of the manuscript and immediately demanded the
next. The chairman then gave editor Barry Cunningham the green light to
go ahead with The Philosopher's Stone. Six books later, Harry Potter has
sold more than 400 million copies and spawned an equally successful
film franchise.
Coincidentally, 12 is the jersey number worn by a
superstar athlete who also knows a lot about rejection: Tom Brady. He
had to wait until 198 other players were taken in the 2000 NFL Draft.
Now he's heading to the Hall of Fame. The moral of this story? 12 is
your lucky number.
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