Visionary: The Wright Brothers

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

When it comes to developing and finding one's vision in life and career opportunities, it always helps to have a little bit of the daredevil in you. No one ever truly succeeded without taking a certain amount of risk, especially in career building. One such example of a fine vision - with the gumption and gall to take it to that next level - is that of the Wright Brothers.

In the early part of their lives, Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbur (1867-1912) Wright were hardly poster children for a vision in life. Wilbur didn't complete his high school education because the family moved from their hometown to a larger city, and he was initially frustrated with his own lack of ambition. Meanwhile, Orville dropped out of high school to start up a printing press. Wilbur sooned joined his brother in a bicycle building enterprise that would soon fuel their growing interest in an industry that they would soon revolutionize: aviation.

Their vision in life: human flight. It was their career building goal to come up with the world's first successful pilot-steered flying machine. It wasn't easy for the two; many different people tried beforehand to make a successful flying machine. The Wright Brothers - despite not having a formal education - were driven by their vision to eventually invent and build the world's first successful airplane, thanks to their invention of controls that would enable pilots to steer the flying machines effective and maintain their equilibrium.

What can we learn from the Wright Brothers?

1) The lack of formal education is not necessarily a barrier to success. The success of one's vision in life and career building opportunities comes not with a formal education, but with a drive and desire to see their career goals to fruition. Neither Orville nor Wilbur were engineers; the two were high school drop-outs. Their vision in life drove them to self-study, and the result was an invention that would change the world.

2) Every experience is a learning experience. The Wright Brothers gained the necessary career building mechanical skills that they needed from the years of work in their own bicycle building business. Experience is one of the best teachers.

3) Swallow your fear. Many before the Wright Brothers had died in pursuit of their vision, but that did not stop Orville and Wilbur from making their vision in life a vivid reality.

My book, Bring Your Vision to Life, contains many more inspiring examples of people who dared to dream and make their visions in life smashing successes. Visit the "Book" section here for more information. | 0 comments

February 2008