Just to add to Heath's blog below, did anyone catch PBS's "American Experience" special on Cyrus Field, "the father of the transatlantic cable"? Amazing film about an amazing man who failed, failed and failed again. In the process he lost millions, burned countless bridges and watched his professional reputation destroyed in humiliating front-page stories and silent solitary defeats. Then he proved everyone wrong.
Field was a paper merchant - one of ten kids - who saw an opportunity in linking the US and Europe with a cable for telegraph communications. His eventual success lead PBS to call him the man who "ushered in a new era of international communications." It's an inspiring entrepreneurial story -- something that wouldn't be out of place in an MBA course. Check it out - I read a dozen pitches a day about entrepreneurs, and this obscure, compelling tale trumps them all.
Related Stories: | Topics:Leadership, United States, Europe, Business, Entertainment, Movies |
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Recent Comments | 7 Total
April 14, 2005 at 1:51pm by Andre Jenkins
I agree Lucas. Field's story is a fascinating one. The fact that his was a communication's story really helped a lot. There is something to be said for fortune (not simply luck), as well. The details of how Field discovered the break in his cable halfway to England, through loss of contact with Ireland, seem contrived. The fact that this is really what happened and that they salvaged the damaged cable and succeeded in the venture was remarkable to say the least. Hopefully, lessons have been and will be learned from a real pioneer.
April 14, 2005 at 2:39pm by Andre Jenkins
I agree with Lucas. Field's story is a fascinating one. The fact that his was a communication's story really helped a lot. There is something to be said for fortune (not simply luck), as well. The details of how Field discovered the break in his cable halfway to England, through loss of contact with Ireland, seem contrived. The fact that this is really what happened and that they salvaged the damaged cable and succeeded in the venture was remarkable to say the least. Hopefully, lessons have been and will be learned from a real pioneer.
April 14, 2005 at 10:54pm by L.A Gaddis-Armour
mail to P.O box 1753 Alexander City Al,35011
April 14, 2005 at 10:54pm by L.A Gaddis-Armour
mail to P.O box 1753 Alexander City Al,35011
April 25, 2005 at 7:31pm by Frederick Montano
I also saw he PBS special re Cyrus Field last week. I have a more personal story re Field. In my Jr. year at a Los Angeles public High School, I wrote a paper regarding Field. I came across his name and accomplishments while reading the Reader's Digest. This was many many years ago. Naturally, my paper, did not have the depth of the PBS piece. Even so, he has stuck in my mind over the years. About 10-12 years ago, I was living in NYC at the time, I was returning home from work and was walking there through Gramercy Park. Only by chance, did I see a bronze plaque that indicated "here lived Cyrus Field, etc". For those who do not know NYC or Gramercy Park, the house/mansion is still located on the corner of 20th and Gramercy Park East. I haven't read all the posts on this blog so I can say if I am repeating this location information. I am now back on the west coast. A nice reliving of earlier memories for me. Thanks for reading this.
Fred
July 25, 2008 at 9:39am by mark singley
Hi Lucas,
It is an irony of history, that sometimes those who can brand themselves almost combatively can destroy those whose real genius has formed the basis of our very lives. I am reminded of Edison and Tesla, and the hapless Elephant that Edison executed to curry the public's trust of his form of current, but to ensure the primacy of his name in history. But, as we see now, Tesla is getting the respect he deserves. I think your new book "Obsessive Branding Disorder" (Lucas Conley 2008) captures some of that irony very well. Perhaps the next conley book can be lost brands, those that truly changed history, but get no street credibility.
July 25, 2008 at 9:39am by mark singley
Hi Lucas,
It is an irony of history, that sometimes those who can brand themselves almost combatively can destroy those whose real genius has formed the basis of our very lives. I am reminded of Edison and Tesla, and the hapless Elephant that Edison executed to curry the public's trust of his form of current, but to ensure the primacy of his name in history. But, as we see now, Tesla is getting the respect he deserves. I think your new book "Obsessive Branding Disorder" (Lucas Conley 2008) captures some of that irony very well. Perhaps the next conley book can be lost brands, those that truly changed history, but get no street credibility.