A Daily Dose of the American Dream Sample 4

Eddie Bauer

"Ideas must work through the brains and arms of good and brave men, or they are not better than dreams."

-Emerson

Eddie Bauer was an experienced hunter and fisherman, but one fishing trip almost cost him his life. It was in 1928 when his partner went ahead to the car while Bauer stayed to pack 100 pounds of fish. A sudden cold front came through and Bauer found himself becoming sleepy and disoriented. His partner saved him, but the experience gave Eddie an idea. His family had emigrated from Russia, and he remembered stories of Russian soldiers who wore down-filled jackets to survive the freezing temperatures of Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904. Eddie designed a down jacket for himself and began making a few for his hunter friends. The idea was so successful that Bauer patented it.

    When World War II arrived, Bauer contracted with the United States government to make goose-down insulated sleeping bags, flight suits and high-altitude bags. Thinking of his future, Eddie made sure that his name was on each product that he made. After the war, his products had instant recognition to thousands of former servicemen. The end brought an end to Eddie's war contracts and almost meant the end to the business. But Eddie survived by developing mail-order sales. With a "100 percent, unconditional, money-back, lifetime satisfaction guarantee," Eddie Bauer was considered a friend by nearly every  outdoor sportsman who has ever used his products.

CONSIDER THIS: Opportunity may get you started, but you will have to keep finding new opportunities to replace the old ones that pass.

This story is adapted from A Daily Dose of the American Dream, by Alan Elliott, published by Rutledge Hill Press. The book contains 366 stories, one for each day of the year.

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