Hello, friends. Feels good to write to you again.
If you're a new subscriber here, welcome to the productivity gang!😎
I hope you find value here, and that you stay happy nonetheless.
You haven't missed anything. The previous posts—from January 2022 till this moment—are all on the website, and yes, you'll receive subsequent newsletters directly in your mail.
How Did The Post-it® Or Sticky Note Come To Be?
In 1968, the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) was renowned for its application of science and technology to solving realistic problems.
Dr. Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M, was trying to make strong adhesives/gums that were stronger than the ones they’d made in the past.
The result of his experiment was an adhesive that stuck lightly but could be easily removed, a total opposition to his goal of creating stronger adhesives.
He didn’t know what to make out of his discovery, but he kept searching for an answer. For years, he didn’t give up.
Despite its initial lack of purpose, Silver's persistence paid off when colleague Art Fry realized its potential as a bookmark solution for his choir hymnal issues. Every Wednesday during his church choir rehearsals, he used small pieces of paper to indicate the hymns planned for the next service. However, by Sunday, he discovered that these markers had slipped out of the hymnbook.
He wanted a paper that could stick to the hymn book but didn't want to use adhesives on the book because it could tear while he was trying to open it. Imagine how overjoyed he must have been to hear about Silver’s discovery!
This collaboration birthed the Post-it® Note.
After an initial indifference to these notes, a strategic marketing move in Boise, Idaho, known as the “Boise Blitz,” proved the product's benefit, with 90% of testers indicating they would purchase it.
I see this as a blend of innovation, persistence, and strategic marketing turning an accidental discovery into an indispensable tool.
This same note is used by schools and firms worldwide; known to increase productivity and organization of thoughts, aid active recall and retention, and help with mind mapping.
Have you heard the story of Thomas Edison, who was said to have conducted over 1,000 experiments before successfully inventing the durable incandescent light bulb in 1879?
Another is the story of Alexander Fleming, who in 1928 discovered penicillin by observing how a contaminated fungus in his Petri dish killed surrounding bacteria. His discovery brought about antibiotics that have saved countless lives.
In the case of the Post-it® Notes founder, he said “I came to be known as Mr. Persistent because I wouldn't give up.”
When I read this story as well as stories of other inventions that came to be by accident, what comes to my mind is, “These individuals saw mistakes as a setback for a comeback.”
They didn't allow themselves to be deterred by these mistakes and chose to see the bigger picture. I hope you find a deeper lesson from reading this piece, too.
Thanks for reading.
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Till the very next time,
Amazing. I never knew sticky notes had such history. Thanks for sharing, Roqeebat. 💙
Indeed, not all mistakes are actual 'mistakes', and I think I should start using my sticky notes rightly. 😅
"Despite its discovery, sticky notes have a significant impact on one's life, which is why I don't joke about them".
Thank you so much Roqeebat for sharing ❤️❤️🌹🌹.