Henry Ford: a Product of Fantastic Circumstances in a Lucrative Environment
Dr. Brook Haley, Writing 39C
Critical Biography Essay
10 June 2010
Henry Ford: A Product of Fantastic Circumstances in a Lucrative Environment Throughout an individual’s lifetime, one strives for any modest amount of success that is attainable in a specific time and place. A particular set of circumstances, largely outside of anyone’s control, often determines the triumph or failure of a given subject. In the acclaimed Outliers: The Story of Success, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell thoroughly examines numerous overlooked causes for fame and achievements of legendary figures. Henry Ford, one of the most significant industrialists in world history, undoubtedly realized his level of fortune, at least to an extent, due to such fortuitous means. He capitalized on what his environment had to offer and took advantage of perpetual good luck before he fathered the assembly line, patented hundreds of inventions, and revolutionized modern transportation. In spite of his natural talent, Henry Ford’s personal associations, epitomized during the favorable location and time period, primarily defined his legacy as one of the celebrated innovators in all of human history. Henry Ford’s family owned a farm, and he invested a majority of its time into operating and maintaining it. As a young boy, Henry lent a helping hand whenever needed, frequently assisting his parents with tedious farm work. However, he quickly grew disillusioned with such labor, much to the dismay of his father. The elder Ford expected him to take control of the estate in the decades to come, and gave his son forty acres of timberland. Nevertheless, Henry simply despised working in this field, and converted the land into a workshop that served his own interests. After he repaired his father’s watch several times, he developed a fascination for mechanical labor and began to devote every spare minute to perfecting the necessary skills. The mere fact that Ford was allowed to deviate from his family’s work
Critical Biography Essay
10 June 2010
Henry Ford: A Product of Fantastic Circumstances in a Lucrative Environment Throughout an individual’s lifetime, one strives for any modest amount of success that is attainable in a specific time and place. A particular set of circumstances, largely outside of anyone’s control, often determines the triumph or failure of a given subject. In the acclaimed Outliers: The Story of Success, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell thoroughly examines numerous overlooked causes for fame and achievements of legendary figures. Henry Ford, one of the most significant industrialists in world history, undoubtedly realized his level of fortune, at least to an extent, due to such fortuitous means. He capitalized on what his environment had to offer and took advantage of perpetual good luck before he fathered the assembly line, patented hundreds of inventions, and revolutionized modern transportation. In spite of his natural talent, Henry Ford’s personal associations, epitomized during the favorable location and time period, primarily defined his legacy as one of the celebrated innovators in all of human history. Henry Ford’s family owned a farm, and he invested a majority of its time into operating and maintaining it. As a young boy, Henry lent a helping hand whenever needed, frequently assisting his parents with tedious farm work. However, he quickly grew disillusioned with such labor, much to the dismay of his father. The elder Ford expected him to take control of the estate in the decades to come, and gave his son forty acres of timberland. Nevertheless, Henry simply despised working in this field, and converted the land into a workshop that served his own interests. After he repaired his father’s watch several times, he developed a fascination for mechanical labor and began to devote every spare minute to perfecting the necessary skills. The mere fact that Ford was allowed to deviate from his family’s work
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