The Autobahn Comes to America
The Power of an Idea - #2
Prior to June 29, 1956, the 47,000+ miles of expressways we currently enjoy in America today did not exist… except in the form of an IDEA.
The IDEA of “expressways” actually originated in Germany during World War II. Hitler had a PROBLEM. He needed a way to move his armies quickly from one side of Germany to the other. One single individual offered Hitler an IDEA, a possible solution to the PROBLEM. The IDEA was to build what became Germany’s Autobahn. What we, in America, now call “expressways.”
General Eisenhower was head of all allied military forces in Europe during the war. He was impressed with the IDEA of Hitler’s Military Defense Highway Network. In 1919, as a younger officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Eisenhower had been responsible for moving a military convoy from one side of the US to the other. It took him just over 30 days to successfully move all of the vehicles in his convoy from coast-to-coast. Even then, the lieutenant-colonel knew there had to be a better way to accomplish this task.
When General Eisenhower was elected President of the United States, he SOLD Congress on the IDEA of funding the first few miles of a Military Defense Highway Network with the ultimate GOAL of these so-called “expressways” to connect every part of country to every other part of the country. This was an IDEA of epic proportions!
There are really two huge lessons buried in this story. (1) This story is another example of “The awesome power of a single IDEA.” (2) In life, even “your biggest enemies” may have IDEAS you can use to improve the quality of your own life.
The trick is you have to pay attention to what is going on around you… at all times. You never know when you’ll be exposed to an IDEA that can change the rest of your life… for the better. Life’s better lessons are everywhere but, again, you have to pay attention at all times or you might miss something really-really important. Every IDEA has the potential to change your life in some way.
IDEAS are truly unique. Can you think of anything else, other than an IDEA that can be divided… and then, shared equally with an infinite number of people… without diminishing its original value? Only an IDEA can pass that test.
You never know when you’re going to have an IDEA, make a DECISION and take some form of ACTION that impacts the lives of millions of people for generations to come.
Jim Vaughan, Editor
The IDEA of “expressways” actually originated in Germany during World War II. Hitler had a PROBLEM. He needed a way to move his armies quickly from one side of Germany to the other. One single individual offered Hitler an IDEA, a possible solution to the PROBLEM. The IDEA was to build what became Germany’s Autobahn. What we, in America, now call “expressways.”
General Eisenhower was head of all allied military forces in Europe during the war. He was impressed with the IDEA of Hitler’s Military Defense Highway Network. In 1919, as a younger officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Eisenhower had been responsible for moving a military convoy from one side of the US to the other. It took him just over 30 days to successfully move all of the vehicles in his convoy from coast-to-coast. Even then, the lieutenant-colonel knew there had to be a better way to accomplish this task.
When General Eisenhower was elected President of the United States, he SOLD Congress on the IDEA of funding the first few miles of a Military Defense Highway Network with the ultimate GOAL of these so-called “expressways” to connect every part of country to every other part of the country. This was an IDEA of epic proportions!
There are really two huge lessons buried in this story. (1) This story is another example of “The awesome power of a single IDEA.” (2) In life, even “your biggest enemies” may have IDEAS you can use to improve the quality of your own life.
The trick is you have to pay attention to what is going on around you… at all times. You never know when you’ll be exposed to an IDEA that can change the rest of your life… for the better. Life’s better lessons are everywhere but, again, you have to pay attention at all times or you might miss something really-really important. Every IDEA has the potential to change your life in some way.
IDEAS are truly unique. Can you think of anything else, other than an IDEA that can be divided… and then, shared equally with an infinite number of people… without diminishing its original value? Only an IDEA can pass that test.
You never know when you’re going to have an IDEA, make a DECISION and take some form of ACTION that impacts the lives of millions of people for generations to come.
Jim Vaughan, Editor
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