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#TheUnknownHustle: James Dyson

He made 5,126 vacuum prototypes before he "got it right"

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Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Dyson

Sir James Dyson, the man behind the home and hair company whose technology has forever changed both the blow *and* suck games, is one of the richest men in Britain and an expert in failure. 

In 2007, he told Fast Company, "I made 5,127 prototypes of my vacuum before I got it right. There were 5,126 failures. But I learned from each one. That’s how I came up with a solution. So I don’t mind failure. I’ve always thought that schoolchildren should be marked by the number of failures they’ve had. The child who tries strange things and experiences lots of failures to get there is probably more creative."

Dyson believes that in order to come up with innovative products and ideas, you have to let yourself think outside the box...or vacuum. "Initiate a failure by doing something that’s very silly, unthinkable, naughty, dangerous," he said. 

Established officially in 1991, after 15 years of tinkering around in a garage, the Dyson product line is robust, beautiful and efficacious. They have broken barriers with their innovative. vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, hand dryers, bladeless fans, heaters, hair dryers and lights. According to Bloomberg, Sir Dyson is now worth over $13 billion.

Take a lesson from Sir James Dyson. Failure doesn't suck. 

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