Reading Reflection Numero Uno

The Wright Brothers- David McCullough

I chose this book because it was the shortest and because I was in North Carolina last weekend, which was "first in flight" thanks to the entrepreneurs this book is about. Ohio also tries to lay claim to this title as well, because they were from that state and spoke highly of it in quotes included from the book. 

1) I read about two entrepreneurs: Orville and Wilbur Wright

• What surprised you the most?
  
  That the two Wright brothers were inseparable, but very different personalities. Their family was very conservative (old fashioned) and close knit.
• What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
  They were all very well educated, but not hung up on formal schooling. They learned mostly from the family's expansive book collection. When Orville Wright got an interest in printing, the whole family pitched together to help him peruse that short lived passion. That support is important, and it shows their attitude towards education and ingenuity. They believed in independence from others (somewhat libertarian mindset, which I relate to).
  
• What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
  
  No social life. Didn't want to marry or have a family of their own. The brothers loved to ride bicycles, which I hate. It was a fad in their time.
• Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
  When the brother's printing business never became highly profitable, they very naturally transitioned to  a new business relating to a fad, and a new hobby- a bicycle shop. They kept moving on or kept trying, no matter what. They never kept idle.
  They were victims of FAKE NEWS during the first successes of their "flying machine" attempts. They continued with their bicycle shop to make a living, but didn't let the inaccurate press stop their endeavors. They had to make many sacrifices to save costs when times were tough (off-seasons).

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 
They had natural ingenuity, determination, resourcefulness, and education. They were true experimenters. Trial and error, after educated guesses and personal risks is what led to their success. They didn't care about public interest or opinion. 

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.
That Orville had many doubts about his own ability to be what he assessed a good businessman should be. He didn't feel he was aggressive enough to be a businessman, yet that's how he always made his money- until being an inventor. 

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
Was your invention for the sake of pure intellectual curiosity? Belief it would change the world? For profit? To prove everyone wrong? I'm just curious WHY they were so focused on it. I think it was the first reason, based on how other sources in the book describe them.

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
What I imagine them saying: "Hard work is a part of life. Hard work is the means to an end of a better life, or at least just surviving. Hard work is what you do after you've used your mind to decide what you want or ought to do."
I do think I agree, although I'm so far less dedicated to it than them.