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Those who read this column regularly know that many of my theories and conclusions are derived from the notion that things should be kept simple. Everything can be divided into simpler, more manageable elements; achieving goals comes through disassembling the parts, understanding them, and then reassembling them.
I have also observed that any solution to a particular problem, even a current one, has usually been seen previously.
For example, many people believe Henry Ford “invented” the automobile; however, the truth is there were people (whose names are still prevalent in the auto industry today) like Dodge, Rolls, Bendix, and others who were just as far along in their research as Ford. Although it is endearing to envision Ford putt-putting along a cobblestone path with horses rearing up and children running after this newfangled motorized wonder, it probably didn’t occur that way. Historically, people who were developing motorized vehicles at that time were more interested in designing tractors that enhanced and eased farm work. Since many “similar” ideas were floating around, the final prototype of the car likely was a combination of many of these ideas (e.g., the Bendix company became brake specialists, etc.).