Stick to your dream like Velcro.
Welcome back!
In 1948 a machine shop manger name George de Mestral went on a hike near his home in the Swiss Alps with his dog. At the end of this hike both George and his dog were covered with burrs. George suddenly got a burning curiosity; he put one burr under his microscope. Because he wanted to find out how the burrs stuck to his pants.
Through his microscope, George saw all the small hooks that enabled the seed-bearing burr to cling so viciously to the tiny loops in the fabric of his pants. The idea of “hook and loop fastener was born.
George got his dream in designing a unique, two-sided fastener, one side with stiff hooks like the burrs and the other side with soft loops like the fabric of my pants. And he would call his invention ‘velcro’ a combination of the word velour and crochet.
The road to Velcro was not as easy as George thought it was going to be. He went to Lyon, France; to present his concept to textile experts. The experts laughed at him. But one weaver from a textile plant took an interest in George’s idea. The two began working together and succeeded in producing a workable prototype.
George then found a Swiss loom manufacturer who agreed to manufacture their product. Than the manufacturer found the prototype to be too difficult to duplicate and they decided to give up on George’s invention. George was forced to take on the task alone, for months he carried out various experiments. Months went by, still no solution. George had lost all of his backers support. He went broke and in his desperation, George retreated to a mountain cabin to think the problem over.
When George return, he re contacted his weaver friend to work on a new approach to Velcro. By trial and error, the two found a solution and as a result they build a special loom that would work and George found an investor who agreed to finance the venture.
In 1955 George De Mestral patented Velcro and since 1959 over 60 million yards of Velcro were sold per year. Today the company has over $250,000,000 annual sales, and it employed 3,300 employees.
So many people laughed in George’s face, all of his ups and downs including going broke. Yet, George’s never gave up. Thank goodness for his Velcro like stickiness to his dream and eight years of determination and actions. George De Mestral’s reward is a multi-million dollar industry. I wonder what would some those textile experts back in Lyon, France have to say about Velcro now.
Stick to your dream like Velcro. Do let anyone crush you. Not even the experts. Take action on it everyday, so what if it takes eight years….remember George De Mestral.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
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I have never heard of this story but it’s amazing, it inspiring and motivating. The best part was, he never quit when the “experts” laughed at him. Eventually he succeed in his idea.. Thanks for having this story here.
Hiya Giovanna
You’ve given me another inspiring story and a timely reminder to develop and stick to my dreams. Your posts are as sticky as velcro. Which is a compliment!
Thanks
Jens
Hi Gio .. thanks for this information .. I hadn’t known how it came to be invented .. interesting story. It’s wonderful that people stick to their dreams, their ideas develop and we all benefit ..even from such a ’simple’ concept ..
Many thanks & another story for my Ma ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters
Hello Giovanna,
What a great story on persistence! Everyone is familiar with velcro but unfamiliar with the inventor. George de Mestral kept going with Imperfect Action until he perfected it!
Thank you for your enlightening post!
Pete Baca
The Car Enthusiast Online
Great story of sticking to it! Thanks for sharing!
Great story and post. I love the title of your blog. The image really sticks with me (haha). I was very inspired by this story. I love hearing about how others persist — it makes me want to do it more.
http://positivelypresent.typepad.com
Hi Jens,
I am sooo glad you like the story. Shoot for the moon, and stick to your dreams like velcro!
Thank you for your comment and for joining the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Peter,
It is a great story on persistence. We can all learn something from George de Mestral as his dedication and determintation paid off.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It means a lot to me to have support from kind people, such as you.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Mark,
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts with us.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hello~
I am glad that the story inspired you. Shoot for the moon, and stick to your dreams like velcro!
Thank you for your comment and for joining the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Love this story Giovanna! And your title is very catchy. I’d heard about the walk with the dog but didn’t know the other details. What an inspiring story. Thanks!
Where do you get all these amazing stories every day?!! Love it.
I really like the metaphor and story … and it’s a catchy title.
Hi Daphne
I’m glad you liked the story, it’s catchy isn’t it? I am very glad you got a chance to learn more.
Thank you for your comment and joining the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Christopher,
I’m lucky and just happen to come across some great stories, new and old.
I am glad you enjoy them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Hilary
You are welcome, I hope your enjoy the velcro story
Stick to your dream, no matter how long it takes.
Thanks for your comment and support.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi J.D.
I am glad you enjoy this story.
Thanks for your comment and being a part of this post.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Positively Present
I enojoy story of real people’s determation truns there dream comes true as well. Thanks for the kind words, it inspire me to keep doing my work.
Giovann Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Giovanna. This is a great story, and so true. The best way I can see to stick with our “dreams” meaning fulfillment, is to wear it every day as part of us. Nothing can separate us from that. Thanks for this image.
Hi Davina
I agree wear our dream everyday
it is a part of us.
Thank you for your comment and joining the conversations.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
best invention ever george