Be Careful What You Say!

In our enthusiasm or ignorance we can be guilty of making some rather bizarre statements when put to the test of time. Leaders can particularly make some statements in a moment of “inspiration” that would be better left unsaid. People often remember our remarks and it can be used in uncomfortable ways in the future. Here are a few things that I would think the author wishes had not been said:

•  “Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground and try and find oil?  You’re crazy.” – workers to Edwin Drake before he drilled the first successful U.S. oil, 1859
•  “Everything that has been invented has been invented.” – Charles Duel, director of the U.S. patent Office, 1899
• “The world is coming to an end in 1950.” – Historian Henry Adams, 1903
•  “A rocket will never be able to leave the earth’s atmosphere.” – The New York Times, 1936
•  “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” – IBM’s Thomas Watson, 1943
•  “Television won’t last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.” – producer Darryl Zanuck, 20^th Century Fox, 1946
• “You ain’t going nowhere, son.  You ought to go back to driving a truck.” - The Grand Ole Opry’s Jim Denny to Elvis Presley, 1954
• “By 2000, politics will simply fade away.  We will not see any political parties.” – visionary and invention R. Buckminster Fuller, 1966
•  "There is no need for any individual to have a computer in their home.” – Ken Olson, president of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
•  “You will never become a minister.” – my neighbor, spoken to me in 1961

–Harry F. Wood, District Superintendent, Penn-Jersey District