Photo by Wade Lambert on Unsplash

There have been hundreds, if not thousands of influential characters in the history of our civilization who have stressed the importance of accepting failure in the pursuit for success. But few have articulated it in such a compelling manner as the founder of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford.

One who fears failure limits his activities. Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again.

– Henry Ford

Although he didn’t actually invent the automobile, Henry Ford has been perhaps the most important figure in the automotive industry. He transformed what had been a simple utilitarian machine into a revolutionary method of transportation.

Sometimes innovation relies on other people’s ideas. The important thing is to truly believe you can add extra value to that idea, and then execute on that belief.

Ford developed and manufactured the first automobile that people could actually afford to buy and use. His vision was vast, extending far beyond the actual object he was selling. For example, his dedication to systematically lowering costs gave birth to several business innovations, including a franchise system.

Ford was also a pacifist, and an outspoken one at that. He was responsible for several antisemitic texts, including The International Jew, a four-volume set of pamphlets published and distributed in the early 1920s by Ford himself.