Serendipity refers to finding something good or valuable by chance, especially when you weren’t looking for it. It’s the joy of discovering unexpected and positive things unexpectedly.
The term “serendipity” has an interesting etymology. It was coined by Horace Walpole, an English art historian, writer, and politician, in a letter dated January 28, 1754. In the letter to Horace Mann, Walpole explained an unexpected discovery he had made by reference to a Persian fairy tale, The Three Princes of Serendip. In this tale, the protagonists, the three princes, while on their adventures, continuously make unexpected discoveries by accident and sagacity, often finding things they were not even searching for.
In the business world, Serendipity can play a big role in creating iconic brands and products, with curiosity and experimentation as key ingredients. In this blog, let’s take a peek into some famous accidental discoveries that gave birth to well-known brands and products.
1. Coca-Cola: In 1886, pharmacist Dr John Pemberton was attempting to create a headache remedy. The drink was initially marketed as a patent medicine sold at pharmacies, and its success led to the creation of the Coca-Cola Company.
2. Post-it Notes: 3M scientist Dr Spencer Silver was attempting to create a super-strong adhesive but ended up with a weak one instead. Later, another 3M employee, Art Fry, used this “failed” adhesive to create the Post-it Note to keep choir notes in place in a church.
3. Penicillin: The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 was entirely accidental. He left a petri dish of Staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, and mold from the air killed the bacteria. This laid the foundation for modern antibiotics.
4. Microwave Oven: Percy Spencer, an engineer at Raytheon, was conducting radar-related research when he noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. This led to the development of the microwave oven.
5. Corn Flakes: Dr. John Kellogg and his brother, Will, accidentally left a batch of cooked wheat which became puffed. To salvage it, they put it through rollers to create thin, flattened wheat flakes which are toasted, resulting in crispy, golden-brown flakes.
6. Popsicles: In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda and water out on his porch with a stirring stick in it. The mixture froze overnight, and he discovered the first Popsicle.
7. Potato Chips: In 1853, George Crum, a chef at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York, made the first potato chips when a customer kept on complaining about the thickness of his fried potatoes. Crum sliced them paper-think to upset the customer. The customer loved them.
8. Teflon: Chemist Roy Plunkett discovered Teflon in 1938 while trying to create a new type of refrigerant. Instead, he found a slippery, non-stick substance that became widely used in cookware.
9. Slinky: In 1943, naval engineer Richard James was trying to develop a spring to keep ship equipment steady at sea. He dropped some tension springs and noticed how they “walked” down a flight of stairs, leading to the creation of the Slinky toy.
10. Credit Card: In 1949, Frank McNamara faced an embarrassing situation when he was unable to pay at a hotel as he forgot his wallet. This led him to think of a solution that would allow people to make payments without using cash.
Have you ever encountered any serendipity?
