Today’s post ties into my recent post on Predictors of future success. This is the story of the Post-It®️ Note by 3M. This quote comes from the 3M in describing how the Post-It Note product came to be: “perseverance or persistence can be just as important as inspiration when it comes to bringing an idea to life.” Here are a few interesting excerpts of the story of the Post-It Note according to 3M:
“Dr. Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, was busily researching adhesives in the laboratory. In the process, he discovered something peculiar: an adhesive that stuck lightly to surfaces but didn’t bond tightly to them.”
“What Silver discovered was something called microspheres which retain their stickiness but with a "removability characteristic," allowing attached surfaces to peel apart easily.”
“For years, Silver struggled to find a use for his invention. But that didn’t keep him from touting the merits of his creation to colleagues. "I came to be known as Mr. Persistent because I wouldn't give up.”
“Silver said, that like many ground-breaking innovations, theirs was a product nobody thought they needed until they did.”
Although Silver was convinced of its usefulness, it was years before a practical application for the discovery was found. It’s an interesting example that illustrates the importance of persistence. You can read the rest of the story here.