Following a business discussion with someone at work today, I was told to not lose any more weight. The reason? My face would look too gaunt. While I thanked the person for noticing, I asked why do you think my face will become too thin? Her response was sort of matter of fact, "well if you try to lose too much weight your face will get too thin and that doesn't look good." I was puzzled by that statement. In fact, it really made no sense to me. (Suffice it to say, I know I need to lose another 10-15 pounds. Diminishing as it is, a spare tire doesn't lie.) I know she didn't mean any harm by her statement, but her I wondered how many people don't take the right steps because of bad advice.
As I thought about her advice, I recalled having a document filed away somewhere which was filled with all sorts of 'bad calls.' After much searching, I found the document and have posted some of them for your reading pleasure. Some of them just leave you scratching your head. Enjoy!
"Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau."
-- Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
-- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
-- Ken Olson, president CEO and founder of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977
"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."
-- Western Union internal memo, 1876.
"The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C', the idea must be feasible."
-- A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)
"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
-- Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.
"So we went to Atari and said, 'Hey, we've got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or we'll give it to you. We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we'll come work for you.' And they said, 'No.' So then we went to Hewlett- Packard, and they said, 'Hey, we don't need you. You haven't got through college yet.'"
-- Apple Computer Inc. founder Steve Jobs on attempts to get Atari and HP interested in his and Steve Wozniak's personal computer.
"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy."
-- Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value."
-- Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
-- Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.
"The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon".
-- Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon- Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873.
"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
-- Bill Gates, 1981.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Craig-when i start gaining weight than lose it again, it always seems like the first 5 pounds are lost in my face but i am still left with a pooch-thats the last to go. it all balances out. besides, i climb much better when i am thinner, and i would rather climb good than look good.
Later-Kent
Post a Comment