Failures That Benefit a Writer
I thought I would take a different approach to this month's theme of "favorite failures" by highlighting three corporate failures that ended up benefiting those of us in the writing community. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has come to rely on these products to get us through revisions, and our personal writing failures.
1. INK JET PRINTER: When a Canon engineer rested his hot iron on a pen by mistake, ink ejected from the pen's point moments later. This principle led to the ink jet printer we all know and love/hate.
2. While trying to create a strong adhesive, Spencer Silver - a researcher at 3M Labs - ended up with a formula weaker than what was already available. It stuck to objects but could be easily pulled away. It wasn't until years later that a colleague spread the substance on pieces of paper to mark his place in a hymn book that the idea for this popular product was born.
3. Finally, when failure has gotten the best of us, and we just need something to make us feel better, here is one of the world's tastiest failures. Created by Ruth Wakefield, a baker at the Toll House Inn, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES were created when Ruth ran out of baking chocolate while making a batch of cookies. So she broke sweetened chocolate into small pieces and added them to the dough. Instead of melting, they held their shape.
The rest, as they say, made history.
Our next failure may very well lead to something bigger and better.
1. INK JET PRINTER: When a Canon engineer rested his hot iron on a pen by mistake, ink ejected from the pen's point moments later. This principle led to the ink jet printer we all know and love/hate.
2. While trying to create a strong adhesive, Spencer Silver - a researcher at 3M Labs - ended up with a formula weaker than what was already available. It stuck to objects but could be easily pulled away. It wasn't until years later that a colleague spread the substance on pieces of paper to mark his place in a hymn book that the idea for this popular product was born.
3. Finally, when failure has gotten the best of us, and we just need something to make us feel better, here is one of the world's tastiest failures. Created by Ruth Wakefield, a baker at the Toll House Inn, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES were created when Ruth ran out of baking chocolate while making a batch of cookies. So she broke sweetened chocolate into small pieces and added them to the dough. Instead of melting, they held their shape.
Our next failure may very well lead to something bigger and better.
This is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope my next failure ends up with chocolate chip cookies! Maybe I should make a point of celebrating failures with a fresh-baked batch....
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a proven fact that chocolate enhances creativity? It ought to be!
DeleteO, this is fantastic!! I did not know this about the cookies. Chocolate chop cookies takes on a whole new meaning. Thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDelete