Guest guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Abe was a Winner Surely every schoolboy in America knows the story of Abe Lincoln and the trials he went through before he became president of the United States. Most people also have the seeds of greatness within them, but for whatever reason they're never inspired, encouraged or committed to doing anything with what they have. Yet opportunity lies around us in many strange and interesting forms. In 1919, Strite, a Minnesota factory worker, got sick of the burnt toast in the company cafeteria. I'm confident there were other workers in the same plant who complained and demanded that "they" do something about the toast. Strite, however, viewed the situation a little differently and went a few steps further. He started working at perfecting a toaster that would not burn the toast. Out of his frustration with burnt toast came the pop-up toaster. You probably suspect that he did not continue working in the factory for someone else, and you are right. He took his invention and went into the business of manufacturing toasters. Incidentally, just because Strite had an idea, it didn't guarantee success, even though the first toaster apparently worked well. But it does say that everything starts somewhere and every company in the world, regardless of its size, started first in the mind of one person who shared it with others, who caught the dream. So, the next time your "toast is burned" don't just fuss about it, think about a solution. Who knows -- maybe you can do what Strite accomplished. Give it a try, and maybe, just maybe, I'll see you at the top! To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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