#46-Enzo, Rolex, and Benz
"Meeting fidelity with fidelity has always been a cardinal principle of life for me.” -Karl Benz
Hope you are having a great weekend!
The journey to create the first automobile to be manufactured and sold to the public was full of setbacks, challenges, disappointment, and heartache.
But Karl Benz persevered with, "a youthful drive, strong will to live, and confidence in himself."
The amazing creators story of Karl Benz will give you a new perspective on dedication, hard work, and commitment.
Check out my latest podcast episode on Karl Benz -
Or, here’s the Apple Podcast link -
Hope you enjoy it!
Three Thoughts -
Here’s a few interesting things I learned this week while searching for the world’s greatest collectibles.
#1 - The King of American Coins -
They weren't even struck in 1804.
The 1804 Bust Silver Dollar wasn't created until 1835, when 8 coins were struck for gifts to rulers of Asian countries as the United States tried to make trade deals with the East.
Another coin was created by a U.S. Mint employee as an experiment in 1857.
And six more coins were created specially for collectors in 1859.
So that makes 15 known 1804 draped bust silver dollars to exist, with each one coveted by the greatest coin collectors on earth.
And that's only the beginning - but why should you care about the 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar?
Because it's called, "The King of American Coins," and collectors have spent lifetimes tracing the whereabouts of each one.
The finest known example sold at auction for $7.8 million.
#2 - Every Rolex Tells a Story -
Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, was way ahead of the game.
In 1947, Wilsdorf sent a letter to Winston Churchill offering him the 100,000th chronometer produced by his watch company as a gift.
Churchill accepted, and continued to wear his Rolex Datejust for years. Every public appearance he made with the Rolex on his wrist added untold value to the brand.
Today, it's a well-known strategy to get your product in the hands of famous personalities. Not so obvious back then. Rolex has been doing it from the start.
Not only did they redefine exceptional craftsmanship in their product, they redefined how the story was told.
Extreme focus on watchmaking, and extreme focus on the brand narrative.
Then, Rolex compounded that consistent message over decades. Over 100 years and counting.
When James Cameron created the movie 'Titanic,' he wore a Rolex.
Could he make a great movie without a Rolex? Probably.
Do you think James Cameron would wear any random watch that was given to him while he directed one of the most epic stories ever produced on film?
Not a chance.
It had to be a Rolex.
Turns out, what Rolex has been doing for over 100 years is exactly what James Cameron attempts with his movies. He explains it this way,
"Great movies are made in details. When every character, every prop, every sequence has been so carefully created and selected, when you forget it's a movie and you feel like you're really in that world, that's the ultimate goal we strive for as storytellers."
Check out any old photo of James Cameron hard at work on a movie set, and you’ll see a Rolex on his wrist.
#3 - The First Ferrari
If you google the first Ferrari car ever produced, you’ll most likely find the Ferrari 125, built in 1947. But eight years before the 125 and 125S Ferrari cars were made, there was a secret project.
It was the very beginning of the most legendary car brand in the world. It was the very first car built by Enzo Ferrari.
“In the end, I was sacked.”
After a disagreement with Ugo Gobbato, Alfa’s managing director, Enzo was out.
Enzo took his savings and invested in a small car factory to supply parts to other race teams. He called his new company Auto-Avio Costruzioni.
Although the Ferrari design was iconic from the start, it began with racing. Enzo believed it was through racing that a car could be put to the ultimate test and then improved on over and over again.
After watching dozens of interviews with Enzo, I heard him say this amazing quote,
“I don’t sell cars; I sell engines. The cars I throw in for free since something has to hold the engines in.”
BONUS - How to Stay Young -
Over 100 years ago, legendary coin collector Thomas L. Elder reminds me, and all the wellness gurus – please, please don’t forget about your collecting hobby…
If you want to stay young.
First, Elder argues the collector is –
“A most valuable member of society. One whose pursuit, study and research in connection with his hobby have magnified his imaginative, aesthetic, romantic, and intellectual qualities.”
Then he ended with a line that caught my eye –
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Thanks for reading, and have a great week!