#190 Henry Ford and Thomas Edison

In the early 20th century, automotive pioneers Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone, dubbed the "Vagabonds," embarked on annual promotional road trips, exemplifying the freedom and adventure that automobiles offered to ordinary Americans. These excursions served dual purposes: leisure and business marketing. The Vagabonds' journeys, which spanned from 1914 to 1924, were widely publicized, fostering a national car culture and boosting sales for their respective products—cars, light bulbs, phonographs, and tires. Despite personal eccentricities and complex legacies, especially Ford's, their collective impact on consumerism and leisure remains significant. Jeff Gwynn's book, "The Vagabond," chronicles these influential figures and their decade-long road trip adventures, revealing their shrewd marketing strategies and the societal shifts they helped catalyze.

• Edison suggested future car trips with friends after enjoying a drive from Los Angeles to San Diego.
• The trips would be free-form, without a strict itinerary, allowing for camping and exploration.
• John Burroughs, a naturalist, was proposed to join to share knowledge about plants and birds.
• Henry Ford immediately supported the idea, seeing both recreational and business benefits.
• The trio understood their public appearances would attract media attention and saw it as a marketing opportunity.
• They self-nicknamed "the vagabonds" and saw these trips as a way to connect with ordinary Americans.
• The trips were intended for fun but also served as a shrewd marketing strategy for their respective businesses (cars, light bulbs, phonographs, and tires).

"The three men were pragmatic enough to realize that they couldn't go anywhere, particularly as a group, without attracting constant notice." This quote highlights the trio's awareness of their public influence and the inevitable media attention their trips would garner, which they could use to their advantage.

"Their main goal was to have a good time. But few business magnets in America had a shrewder understanding of marketing than Edison, Ford, and Firestone." This quote underscores the dual purpose of the trips: enjoyment and the opportunity to promote their products through the resulting publicity.

• The book "The Vagabond" by Jeff Gwynn covers the ten-year road trips of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
• The book offers insights into the personalities and business activities of Ford, Edison, and Firestone.
• Henry Ford is recognized as a master marketer and the original influencer, effectively using his fame to promote the Model T.
• Ford's road trips served as both a leisure activity and a publicity tool to showcase the capabilities of his products.
• The book contains digressions that provide deeper understanding of the three men's business strategies and personal quirks.

"Henry Ford was immediately in favor. And besides recreation, the trips would suit business purposes, too." This quote indicates Henry Ford's quick support for the idea of the vagabond trips, recognizing the potential for both personal enjoyment and business promotion.

"Ford's probably the greatest of all marketers out of the three of them. And you can really think of Henry Ford as like the original influencer." This quote emphasizes Ford's marketing prowess and his ability to influence public perception and consumer behavior, akin to a modern social media influencer.

• Henry Ford had a singular vision to make cars affordable for the masses, which he achieved through mass production and the assembly line.
• Ford's Model T revolutionized the automobile industry, making cars accessible to ordinary people.
• Ford's assembly line reduced production time from several hours to just two and a half minutes per car.
• Ford's one idea was to build a car so inexpensive that everyone could afford it, despite not initially knowing how to achieve it.
• Ford's commitment to continuous improvement and cost reduction led to the Model T's iconic status as an affordable, utilitarian vehicle.
• The book "My Forty Years with Ford" by Charles Sorensen reveals Ford's gradual development of mass production techniques.
• Ford's marketing strategy included reducing the price of the Model T instead of traditional advertising, which garnered free media coverage.

"He would definitely do very well with social media." This quote suggests that Henry Ford's marketing strategies and ability to engage with the public would have translated well into the realm of social media.

"At the Ford plant, a completed Model T rolled out the line every two and a half minutes." This quote exemplifies the efficiency of Ford's assembly line, which was a key factor in his ability to mass-produce affordable cars.

• Ford idolized Edison and received early encouragement from him, which fueled his determination to succeed.
• Both Ford and Edison had humble beginnings and shared a disdain for Wall Street, prioritizing public good over profit.
• The two men bonded over their common values and mutual respect, despite their individual peculiarities.
• Ford and Edison's friendship was genuine, as Ford was already wealthy and famous, negating any suspicion of ulterior motives from Edison.
• John Burroughs, the fourth member of the vagabonds, had a close relationship with Ford despite their differences.

"Ford's admiration for Edison blossomed into virtual worship as a result." This quote captures the profound impact Edison's encouragement had on Ford and how it shaped their enduring friendship.

"Like Edison, Ford did not have many friends. Ford was a prickly man and also a complicated one." This quote reflects on the complex nature of Ford's personality, which made him difficult to befriend, with Edison being a notable exception.

• Ford's business acumen and marketing strategies made him significantly wealthier than Edison.
• Ford's focus on a singular vision and his persistence in expanding the automobile market contributed to his success.
• The book highlights Ford's odd personality traits, suggesting that while he was a business genius, he might have been difficult to get along with on a personal level.
• Edison's tendency to jump between projects is contrasted with Ford's steadfast focus on the automobile industry.
• Ford's and Edison's common backgrounds and shared disdain for traditional education in favor of hands-on experience bonded them as friends.

"Ford was a cannier businessman than his hero and much wealthier." This quote acknowledges Ford's superior business acumen compared to Edison, which resulted in greater wealth.

"Both were poor boys who had made good. Neither had a college degree, and both were disdainful of those who believed classroom education was superior to hands on work experience and common sense." This quote highlights the shared experiences and values that underpinned the friendship between Ford and Edison, including their self-made success and skepticism toward formal education.

• Henry Ford was known for his strong convictions and self-belief.
• He was not open to disagreement from employees and disregarded external opinions.
• Ford had a deep interest in birds and nature, dedicating time to observe them despite his work-centric lifestyle.
• His personality traits are consistently highlighted across various biographies.

"Ford never doubted his own beliefs and decisions. He forbid disagreement from employees and would ignore any outsiders."

This quote underscores Ford's unwavering confidence in his own ideas and his reluctance to consider others' viewpoints, which was a defining aspect of his leadership style.

• Ford was not a believer in charity but was exceptionally generous to his close friends.
• He used his actions, such as giving cars to influential individuals like John Burroughs, as a form of advertising.
• His generosity also served as a message to the public, suggesting that if someone like Burroughs appreciated cars, others would too.
• Ford's actions were also motivated by ulterior motives, often serving as strategic marketing moves.

"Ford sent a message to America."

This quote indicates that Ford's actions were not just acts of friendship but were also calculated moves to send broader messages to the American public and promote his cars.

• Ford and the naturalist John Burroughs formed a mutually beneficial relationship.
• Burroughs, an expert on birds and nature, received a Model T from Ford, which helped promote car ownership.
• Ford's support helped Burroughs expand his audience, similar to his experiences with Teddy Roosevelt.
• The relationship between Ford, Firestone, and Edison was likened to Burroughs' relationship with Ford, where both parties benefitted from each other's fame and influence.

"If old fashioned John Burroughs loved to ride in them, how much more might younger, more progressive individuals savor the kind of outdoor adventures made possible by car ownership?"

This quote reflects the marketing strategy behind Ford's relationship with Burroughs, using his image to appeal to a broader, more progressive customer base.

• By 1919, Ford owned 100% of the Ford Motor Company, valued at around $500 million at that time.
• His wealth was immense, and his influence extended beyond the automotive industry.
• Ford's financial capability allowed him to act generously towards friends and pursue his business strategies without constraint.

"He owns a hundred, I think by the year 1919, if I'm not mistaken, he owns 100% of the Ford Motor Company."

This quote highlights the extent of Ford's ownership and control over his company, which was a testament to his success and dominance in the automotive industry.

• Ford was inspired by Thomas Edison and sought to surround himself with influential people.
• The podcast mentioned by the speaker compared Ford's in-person inspiration to seeking historical mentors through reading biographies, as Elon Musk did.
• Being around Edison re-energized Ford and helped him overcome skepticism from other successful men.

"And so being around Thomas Edison greatly inspired Ford."

This quote emphasizes the positive impact that Edison had on Ford, providing him with inspiration and validation despite his outsider status in the business world.

• Ford's self-belief was a double-edged sword; it led to his early successes but later became a liability.
• His refusal to adapt the Model T in response to changing consumer demands allowed competitors to fill the gap he left.
• Ford's unwavering confidence in his own ideas prevented him from recognizing the need for change and innovation.

"The problem is that trait never left him, even when the circumstances changed."

This quote captures the issue with Ford's persistent self-belief; it did not adapt to changing market conditions, ultimately hindering his company's progress.

• Ford trusted his own instincts over the opinions of educated men and experts.
• He believed in the potential of affordable cars for the middle class, contrary to the prevailing wisdom of the time.
• His success validated his instincts, but his unchecked ego led to a disregard for the contributions of others and an overconfidence in his own opinions.

"No one ever considers himself an expert. If he really knows his job."

This quote reflects Ford's skepticism towards self-proclaimed experts, suggesting that true knowledge is accompanied by an awareness of one's own limitations.

• Ford's unchecked ego led him to ignore the contributions of his partner, James Cousins, and others who helped build the company.
• He began to offer opinions on a wide range of topics, believing in his own wisdom.
• His ego also led to the publication of controversial views, including anti-Semitic beliefs, which damaged his reputation.

"Cousins believed that Ford became so convinced of his own brilliance that he forgot others also made critical contributions to his company's success."

This quote illustrates the negative impact of Ford's unchecked ego, which led him to undervalue the contributions of his colleagues and ultimately to make poor judgments in areas outside his expertise.

• Ford's influence extended to social and cultural aspects of American life.
• His car trips, known as vagabonding, were a means of promoting car ownership and exploring the country.
• The trips highlighted the changing American landscape, including lingering resentment from the Civil War and the evolution of transportation.

"So right now in this 1918 trip, they're as close to the Civil War as we are to the year 1970."

This quote provides historical context, showing how Ford's vagabonding trips were not just about cars but also about bridging cultural divides and understanding American history.

• Harvey Firestone's success paralleled Ford's in some ways, as he was also self-made and identified a market need for better car tires.
• Firestone's realization about the potential for rubber tires led to the founding of his company.
• The story of Firestone exemplifies the identification of market opportunities and the overcoming of "Schlep Blindness" as described by Paul Graham.

"By 1918, Harvey Firestone was a businessman of considerable national stature."

This quote underscores Firestone's status as a prominent figure in the business world, similar to Ford, and his role in revolutionizing the tire industry.

• Edison discusses the concept of sleep blindness, which leads people to overlook simple solutions.
• Firestone's story is cited as an example of overcoming sleep blindness by envisioning better tires.
• Edison emphasizes the unchanging nature of human reluctance to consider alternative solutions.

"Because sleep blindness prevented people from even considering the idea of fixing payments."

This quote highlights the tendency of people to overlook problems that are ripe for innovation due to a lack of awareness or imagination.

"People didn't even think, hey, instead of inventing a better tire, let me hire a guy that has to drive me around."

This quote illustrates how people often overlook straightforward solutions due to preconceived notions or lack of creative thinking.

"Firestone envisioned better, longer lasting tires."

Edison points out that Firestone was able to see past the sleep blindness and focus on creating a superior product.

• Firestone developed a new tire with better tread and traction but faced marketing and distribution challenges.
• The tires were only compatible with Firestone rims, limiting their market.
• Firestone strategically partnered with Henry Ford, providing Ford with quality tires at a competitive price.

"Firestone, this is another thing. So the tires, Firestone tires, would only fit Firestone rims."

This quote details a significant limitation in Firestone's product that affected its market potential.

"If I could induce Ford to put these cars with our rims, then we would have 2000 customers who had to use our tires to the exclusion of all others."

Edison recounts Firestone's strategic thought process, demonstrating his solution to the distribution problem by partnering with Ford.

"Ford found them preferable both for their road performance and their price."

This quote explains why Ford chose to use Firestone's tires, emphasizing the importance of product quality and cost-efficiency in business partnerships.

• Both Ford and Firestone disdained planned obsolescence and focused on customer loyalty through reliable products.
• They believed in high wages and profit sharing to ensure employees felt invested in the company's success.
• Ford and Firestone operated under a business model where a single leader's directives were executed by efficient subordinates.

"They shared several business philosophies."

Edison highlights the common business strategies between Ford and Firestone that contributed to their success.

"Both believed that companies could be efficiently run by only one man, whose orders must be carried out by efficient subordinates."

This quote underlines the leadership style preferred by both Ford and Firestone, emphasizing a streamlined hierarchical structure.

• Ford had strong opinions on diet and nutrition, disapproving of sweets.
• Ford's behavior exemplifies his need for control, even in the personal habits of his associates.
• Ford's desire for control extended to his business, where he aimed to be the sole voice of the Ford Motor Company.

"Ford loathed sugary soft drinks, but couldn't bring himself to criticize his idol's indulgence."

Edison describes Ford's internal conflict between his personal beliefs and his respect for Edison.

"Ford was determined to be the sole controlling voice of Ford Motor Company."

This quote conveys Ford's ambition to have complete control over his company, reflecting his autocratic leadership style.

"Ford shocked America by resigning as company president."

Edison recounts the dramatic steps Ford took to gain full control of his company, showcasing his unyielding determination.

• Ford's optimism led him to undertake ambitious projects, such as starting his own newspaper.
• Ford aimed to outdo major publications but eventually had to close or sell the paper after significant financial loss.
• Ford's newspaper mainly served as a platform for his personal views, which did not translate into widespread circulation growth.

"Ford had his own newspaper, and he put the Dearborn Independent to work on his behalf."

Edison notes Ford's attempt to use media as a tool for personal influence and business advantage.

"Our circulation is going to pass that of nationally influential papers like the New York Times."

This quote reflects Ford's ambitious and unrealistic goals for his newspaper venture.

"He winds up either closing or selling the paper, I want to say, eight years later."

Edison acknowledges the failure of Ford's newspaper, which did not achieve the success Ford had envisioned.

• Edison and the host discuss the importance of knowing one's circle of competence and focusing on it.
• They highlight the dangers of stepping outside one's circle of competence and the benefits of excelling in a specific area.
• The concept of service in business is emphasized as a means to achieve success by improving people's lives.

"You only have to be good at one thing."

This quote summarizes the idea that specializing in a particular skill or product can lead to success.

"A business is just an idea that makes someone else's life better."

Edison cites Richard Branson's quote to underline the fundamental purpose of a business.

"You're just in service of others, and so you never lose focus of that."

The host reflects on the concept that businesses should focus on serving others, which is a key to achieving success.

• Edison is criticized for not maintaining focus on his inventions, leading to missed opportunities.
• He often moved on to new projects without fully capitalizing on the market potential of his previous inventions.
• Edison's lack of focus is contrasted with Ford's single-minded pursuit of success in the automotive industry.

"Edison invented things with long term market appeal, only to lose interest or miscalculate what form of his inventions consumers wanted to buy."

This quote highlights Edison's tendency to shift focus too quickly, which cost him potential business dominance.

"He created an unbelievable amount of value for humanity."

Despite Edison's contributions to humanity, this quote indicates that he failed to capture the financial rewards of his inventions.

"He knows nothing of business."

Ford's assessment of Edison's business acumen points out Edison's weakness in commercializing his creative genius.

• The process of entrepreneurship involves creating something of value and then capturing that value.
• Analyzing transactions is crucial to determine which side one would prefer to be on.
• Control is a key theme in the history of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of not relying on others' good graces but controlling critical business decisions.

You have to create something valuable and then capture that value.

This quote summarizes the essence of entrepreneurship, which is the creation of value followed by the mechanism of capturing that value for business success.

• Henry Ford's approach to avoid borrowing from banks during economic downturns.
• Ford dealers had to pay for cars in advance, incentivizing them to work harder to sell the cars.
• During the 1920 economic slump, Ford enforced strict financial arrangements that put the burden of risk on dealers instead of the company.
• The Model T's high demand allowed this strategy to work, although it placed dealers in a difficult position during economic downturns.

And so this is, we're going to see what Henry Ford did to avoid borrowing money from banks during an economic downturn.

This quote introduces Henry Ford's strategy to maintain financial stability for his company during economic downturns by shifting the financial risk to the dealers.

• The Fords' marriage and mutual support throughout their lives.
• Henry Ford's early life, including his dislike for farming and his move to Detroit for an engineering job.
• Claudia Ford's unwavering support for Henry's automotive dreams, even during his failures and obsessions.
• The relationship dynamics that allowed Henry Ford to maintain focus on his work, including overlooking personal failings.

Ford was 23 and Claudia was 20. He was farming and he hated it.

This quote provides context on Henry Ford's early life and his initial career path before moving into the automotive industry.

• Ford's impatience, focus on details, and self-assurance are highlighted.
• His relationship with Thomas Edison was based on mutual respect and non-admission of uncertainty or weakness.
• The Model T reflected Ford's personality traits, being built to last, efficient, and dependable.

Patience was never Ford's strength. Ford had no interest in Laurel resting. Ford fixated on even the smallest details.

These sentences outline some of Ford's key personality traits, which influenced both his business practices and the products he created.

• Billy Durant and Alfred Sloan's contributions to the automobile industry.
• Ford's stubbornness provided an opening for competitors like General Motors.
• Alfred Sloan's emphasis on consumer choice and personal expression in car ownership.
• The shift in consumer preferences from the Model T to cars that reflected individuality.

Ford's stubbornness gave competitors the opening they needed.

This quote highlights how Ford's resistance to change allowed competitors to gain a foothold in the automobile market.

• The concept of auto camping and its popularity in the early days of car ownership.
• The transition from camping to motels as cars improved and consumer preferences evolved.
• The role of entrepreneurs in catering to the new demands of American motorists.
• Henry Ford's refusal to acknowledge market changes contributed to the decline of the Model T's dominance.

The gradual demise of autocamps and the emergence of motels.

This quote describes the societal shift from the early days of car travel, where people camped, to the desire for more comfort provided by motels.

• The Vagabond summer car trips exemplified the new possibilities for leisure and entertainment.
• The end of the trips was marked by a combination of factors, including the aging of Thomas Edison and the diminishing public appeal.
• The legacy of the Vagabonds continues to inspire the pursuit of dreams through their example.

The Vagabond summer car trips ended for good on August 20, 1924.

This quote marks the end of an era for the Vagabonds, the group of influential individuals who showcased the potential of automobile travel for leisure.

• Introduction of a lifetime plan for podcast subscribers.
• The use of Readwise to maintain a database of highlights from books and podcasts.
• The option for listeners to review lessons learned from the podcast on the host's personal website.

I'm now offering a lifetime plan.

This quote informs listeners about a new subscription option for the podcast, which allows for lifetime access with a one-time payment.

• The host's decision to link to personal website show notes for better accessibility.
• The use of show notes as a reference tool to reinforce learning from podcast episodes.
• The potential for listeners to join the host's personal email list for updates on highlights and show notes.

Instead of just putting the show notes, like my highlights in some of my highlights, into the actual show notes... I'm actually just going to link to my personal website that has the show notes for whatever particular book.

This quote explains the host's new approach to sharing show notes and highlights, enhancing the value of the podcast as a learning resource.