Dean Kamen spent 10 years of life and $100,000,000 developing the Segway, a gyroscopically balanced transportation device.
Investors predicted it would crush golf carts, wipe out global warming, and render cars obsolete in big cities. It was hyped through the roof as some kind of “mystery transportation device” that would “revolutionize how we travel.”
They invested in factories to crank out 480,000 Segways per year to make way for what would surely be an explosive phenomenon.
Personally I too was excited at the time, thinking someone had at long last invented the hover board from one of my favorite movies, Back To The Future 2.
Imagine my complete disappointment when, in 2001, the Segway was released… to the thrill of no one. Consumers took one look at it and yawned. It was nothing more than a $3,000 glorified scooter… and one that made you look like a total dork at that.
Eight years later now in 2009, sales just passed 50,000… TOTAL. It’s target customers are fat mall cops.
(Since then, Dean has moved on, working to invent a water purifier that runs on bull shit… literally.)
I mention this catastrophic failure because it demonstrates in gory detail THE biggest money secret of all time.
…A secret so valuable that once you truly figure it out and put it to work, you will be envied… you will be hated… and men and women from all walks of life may even seek to murder you for it.
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Ask any successful person about the people they admire and they’re sure to fire back more quotes from those personal heroes than any well-adjusted human brain could possibly handle.
"Better than Cosmo! Others just recite facts, but I like your posts best because of the in-depth analysis."
"Great work! Your stuff is a sight for sore eyes in this wash of dumbed down crap for the masses I see all the time on the internet."
"Greg is a dapper gent, intelligent, and easy to hang with. He made me feel right at home in his film noir-esque lair. We talked at great length about books, influences (we both write), and on a broad range of topics that might cause one to raise an eye brow while pondering. He was great fun to roam the city with. I'm looking forward to another round of pursuing art exhibits and deep dialog over late night coffees the next time we cross paths."
"Greg! Thank you so much! I will not forget this! Your help will make it easier for me to secure a job when I get back home from Switzerland!"
"Dude I hate to write you about this again but those nutrition tips you sent me were a fucking godsend. Anyway, I do appreciate ya... you're a good egg."
"Dear Mr. Greg: You are creative and amusing... two things I find irresistible. If I didn't live so far away, I'd go after you myself! Thanks for all the laughs."
"Hey thanks for all the stuff on girls and relationships. I was up reading last night for like 3 hours. We had an earthquake not too long ago here in California, but man, some of the stuff you wrote shook me more than the quake!"
"I have to say, you provided several hours of entertainment for me just now. It is a great thing to know there are other people with similarly twisted senses of humor and intelligence. Thank you very much Greg Thompson, and good luck with the woman of your dreams. Should you ever feel the need to entertain me again, please feel free to do so, I'll take it any way I can get it."
"He may not have the following like many of the guru's out there, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that Greg is one of the best copywriters in America today."
"You're a very quotable man, Greg. I loved some of your bits of wisdom so much I posted them on my Facebook! It's easy to tell many of the things you say come from a place of true experience."
"Greg did work for our tour company for several years. What impresses us most about him is his ability to combine the technical know-how with the creative side of advertising to produce results faster. Instead of hiring a copywriter, artist, and web guy, we can get all of that and more in one savvy individual."
"The best thing I like about your writing is how I feel the presence of your heart among the words. You say what you mean and do what you say. I admire the authenticity of your beliefs even though I don't always agree completely."