What if we had listened to What if we had listened to these guys?these guys?

NewsweekNewsweekJanuary 27, 1997January 27, 1997

““We don’t like their sound.We don’t like their sound.

Groups of guitars are on Groups of guitars are on their way out.”their way out.”

Decca RecordsDecca Records

Rejecting the Beatles, 1962Rejecting the Beatles, 1962

““Who the hell wants to hear Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?”actors talk?”

Harry M. WarnerHarry M. WarnerWarner Brothers, Warner Brothers,

19271927

““Everything that can be Everything that can be inventedinventedhas been invented.”has been invented.”

Charles H. Duell, U.S. Charles H. Duell, U.S. commissioner of patentscommissioner of patents

““For the majority of people,For the majority of people,the use of tobacco has a the use of tobacco has a

beneficial effect.”beneficial effect.”

Dr. Ian G. MacDonaldDr. Ian G. MacDonaldLos Angeles surgeon, Los Angeles surgeon,

quoted inquoted inNewsweek, Nov. 18, 1963Newsweek, Nov. 18, 1963

““Television won’t be able to Television won’t be able to hold on to any market it hold on to any market it

captures after six months. captures after six months. People will soon get tired of People will soon get tired of

staring at a plywood box every staring at a plywood box every night.”night.”

Darryl F. Zanuck, head of 20Darryl F. Zanuck, head of 20thth Century FoxCentury Fox

““Stocks have reached what Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently looks like a permanently high plateau.”high plateau.”

Irving FischerIrving Fischerprofessor of economics professor of economics

Yale University, Yale University, Oct. 17, 1929Oct. 17, 1929

““I have no political I have no political ambitions for myself or my ambitions for myself or my

children.”children.”

Joseph P. Kennedy, 1936Joseph P. Kennedy, 1936

““Airplanes are interesting Airplanes are interesting toystoys

but of no military value.”but of no military value.”

Marshal Ferdinand FochMarshal Ferdinand FochFrench Military Strategist & French Military Strategist &

Future World War I Future World War I commander, 1911commander, 1911

““Nobody fears that a Nobody fears that a Japanese fleet could deal an Japanese fleet could deal an

unexpected blow on our unexpected blow on our Pacific possessions…Radio Pacific possessions…Radio

makes surprise impossible.”makes surprise impossible.”

Joseph DanielsJoseph Danielsformer U.S. Secretary of the former U.S. Secretary of the

Navy, Oct. 16, 1922Navy, Oct. 16, 1922

““Believe me, Germany is Believe me, Germany is unable to wage war.”unable to wage war.”

Former British Prime Former British Prime MinisterMinister

David Lloyd George, David Lloyd George, Aug. 1, 1934Aug. 1, 1934

““Man will never reach the Man will never reach the moon regardless of all moon regardless of all

future scientific advances.”future scientific advances.”

Dr. Lee DeForestDr. Lee DeForestinventor of the Audion tubeinventor of the Audion tube

and a father of radio,and a father of radio,February 25, 1967February 25, 1967

““Computers in the future Computers in the future may…may…

only weigh 1.5 tons”only weigh 1.5 tons”

Popular MechanicsPopular Mechanicsforecasting the forecasting the

development of computer development of computer technology, 1949technology, 1949

““The horse is here to stay, but the The horse is here to stay, but the automobile is only a novelty– a automobile is only a novelty– a

fad.”fad.”

A president of the Michigan Savings A president of the Michigan Savings Bank advising Horace Rackham (Henry Bank advising Horace Rackham (Henry Ford’s Lawyer) not to invest in the Ford Ford’s Lawyer) not to invest in the Ford Motor Co., 1903. Rackham ignored the Motor Co., 1903. Rackham ignored the

advice, bought $5000.00 worth of advice, bought $5000.00 worth of stock and sold it in several years for stock and sold it in several years for

$12.5 million.$12.5 million.

““What use could this company What use could this company make of an electrical toy?”make of an electrical toy?”

Western Union President William Western Union President William Orton, rejecting Alexander Graham Orton, rejecting Alexander Graham

Bell’s offer to sell his telephone Bell’s offer to sell his telephone company to Western Union for company to Western Union for

$100,000$100,000

““I must confess that my I must confess that my imagination…refuses to see imagination…refuses to see any sort of submarine doing any sort of submarine doing anything but suffocating its anything but suffocating its

crew and floundering at crew and floundering at sea.”sea.”

H. G. WellsH. G. WellsBritish Novelist, 1901British Novelist, 1901

““The election of Hoover…The election of Hoover…should result in continued should result in continued

prosperity for 1929.”prosperity for 1929.”

Roger W. Babson,Roger W. Babson,American financial American financial

statisticianstatisticianand founder of the Babson and founder of the Babson Institute, Sept. 17, 1928Institute, Sept. 17, 1928

““There is no reason for any There is no reason for any individual to have a individual to have a

computer in their home.”computer in their home.”

Kenneth Olsen, president Kenneth Olsen, president and founder of Digital and founder of Digital

Equipment Corp., 1977Equipment Corp., 1977

““I confess in 1901, I said to I confess in 1901, I said to my brother Orville that man my brother Orville that man

would not fly for fifty would not fly for fifty years…Ever since, I have years…Ever since, I have

distrusted myself and distrusted myself and avoided all predictions.”avoided all predictions.”

Wilbur Wright, U.S. aviation Wilbur Wright, U.S. aviation pioneer, 1908pioneer, 1908