The Wizard of Menlo Park

Thomas Edison, a prolific American inventor, who in 1869 developed the Ticker Tape machine, set up a meeting with two of the country's richest investors in hopes to sell his new invention. Before he left his home that day to discuss the deal, he had a conversation with his wife.
"How much do you think they'll pay for that?" she asked,
"I'm planning on asking $3,500.00, though I'll be happy to get $2,000.00!" he answered.
He left and closed the door behind him and he was on his way.

He brought the machine into the office and commenced with his demonstration. When he was done he was asked the price for this new invention. Instead of revealing his price, he asked how much they were willing to pay for it.

"We'd like to offer you $20,000 for your machine. What do you say to that?

Edison was motionless and emotionless and never said a word. The two men looked at each other and the second one said,

"$30,000, how does that sound?" Edison never flinched.

They continued on in frustration and said, "Very well, $40,000, that's our final offer, take it or leave it."

Edison responded by saying, "Very well, if that's the best you can do, I'll take it."

As he's walking out the office with his hand on the doorknob he heard,

"Mr Edison, we'd thought you'd like to know we were ready to pay $60,000 for your invention!"
Edison turns around and retorted, "Gentlemen, I was only expecting to get $2,000."

Edison used the money to start a research facility in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he along with his assistants came up with many more inventions to benefit the human race. He was known as "The Wizard of Menlo Park".

Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!
Thomas A. Edison

The Renaissance Man

Ludovico Buonarroti, a prominent businessman during Italy's Renaissance, walks into a warehouse with his son to conduct business with the owners. As they walk by the shop area they notice the workers and a giant block of marble.
Looking at them he says, "No son of mine will ever work with his hands!"
As they continued on, his son kept looking at the marble block.

For the next month this young man went back and for days on end would stand there and stare at this giant block of marble.
At one point one of the workers asked, "Ma che fai?" (What are you doing?)
He responded by saying, "Sto lavorando!" (I am working!)
Six months later the giant block of marble became the statue of David. That young man was Michelangelo. Michelangelo proved his father wrong.

"Lost" episode
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A girl I knew in high school who's father was a well known and successful psychiatrist, got up one morning and bought himself a $50,000 truck. He left his family and started diving across country hauling freight.
"Being a doctor was what my parents wanted me to do, I just wanted to drive a truck!"

Most of us don't know what's within us, and we may all have hidden talents that we may never discover until we try, if we try at all. Although we use our brains to do what we need to do, it's what lies in our hearts to be who we want to be.

"I am still learning!" Michelangelo