Henry Ford: assembly line, mass production, big business. Ford made changes in business that have permanently shaped the growth and wealth of every developing nation in the world. He changed the daily lives of millions of people and left a permanent mark that spread all around the globe.

He was an innovator.

Innovators are people that make lasting changes to real people through unceasing creativity, daring, and a fearless attitude that explores the unseen and questions the unquestionable without respect for the status quo. They’re the crazy ones that push the rest of the human race forward.

Do you want to change the lives of others? Do you want to leave Earth (which you will) having made an impact?

Popular theory states that to become exceptional human beings, we must:

Have a working knowledge of the history of your field
Learn from others’ successes and mistakes
Have a significant level of inborn talent or ability
Work incredibly hard
Never give up

Popular theory is wrong. That bullet list is wrong. (Stay with me.)

A friend of mine told me a couple of weeks ago his definition of experience: time + paying attention.

That means that some people are highly experienced at a young age because they’ve been paying close attention all along. That means that some people have little experience, despite their age because they’ve been distracted and unfocused.

A 25 year-old who has more experience than a 50 year-old. A student who has more experience than his professor. If you pay attention to life, these things can happen. And they do.

Real wisdom: it’s not popular, it’s just wisdom

On the invention of the Model T: “If I’d asked people what they wanted, they would have asked for a better horse.”

Never sit still. “It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.”

Opportunity is hidden only by our inability to see it. “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

Hope that becomes action is priceless. “I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done.”

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Do what matters, and only that. “I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn’t need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.”