Michael Flatley

Love him or hate him, Michael Flatley, the ex-Riverdance dancer is a great innovator, and a master when it comes to giving out words of wisdom. One of his particularly memorable quotes was this one: "When somebody tells me that it won't work, I know that I am getting close to success."

He must have been thinking of these blokes when he said that. Look what they said when faced with innovations:

"Who the hell wants to hear actors speak!" - H.M. Warner, Warner Bros., 1927 when presented with the idea of "talking movies."

This one about the railways is kind of long, but incredible nonetheless:

Dear President Jackson,

The canal system in this country is being threatened by a new form of transportation known as “railroads” . . .

If the canal boats are supplanted by railroads, boat builders would suffer, and towline, whip, and harness makers would be left destitute . . .

God never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed.

Sincerely,

Martin Van Buren
Governor, State of New York, 1829

(Source: Treese & Lawrence, 1998)

What is so amazing about these, is that those guys believed they were right. And the guys who are rejecting today's innovations with the same certainty also believe they are right.