Do not forget to dream.
Sometimes we realise that something in our lives needs to change. Often, that need gives rise to a dream. The problem is that we often give in to our fear of the unknown and close doors that are opening for us.
Back in the 1800s, things were different. Charles Tiffany finished his formal education when he was 15.
education and went to work for his father, who owned a Connecticut general store.
cotton mill. He worked long, hard hours and always learned something new. At age 25, he still
He had nothing of his own and not much money.
Let the need to act lead to action.
It was time for him to make a change in his life and make his own success. I can picture what was said
he had with John Young, his friend and new business partner.
"New York, here we come!"
"To do what?" asked John with doubt.
"We're going to open our own stationery and notions store on Broadway!"
"With what money?" John asked, looking at him like he was crazy.
"I talked my dad into giving us a loan of $1,000."
"$1000! So, that's it? How can we start a new business and make enough money to live?
just $1000?"
Charles said the right thing. "Either that or we'll be stuck here for the rest of our lives."
It was 1837, and the two young men went to New York.
"B": "Increase your hopes"
Their new store on Broadway did not do well in its first three days. Tiffany &
Young raked in a dismal $4.38 in sales. No matter. With success in mind, the young people
Men had to work hard to make things that people wanted. Two years later, they were selling glasses,
Things like silverware, china, clocks, and jewellery.
They also knew a lot more than they did before. They knew to look for every possible chance. They knew it.
to make use of opportunities to grow their business. They knew that every year would be different.
There are both problems and chances. But Charles didn't know what they would turn into yet.
Look for ways to grow your business.
In 1841, they took on a new partner who would go abroad to help them buy more things.
Six years later, they saw that there was more demand for good gold jewellery and started to
make what they need.
In 1847, just one year later, there were uprisings in Europe. Diamonds were one of the results.
Paris's population has dropped by 50%. They took advantage of the situation to buy a lot of things, making a lot of money.
huge profits back in the United States.
They were moving into bigger and better stores the whole time. In 1867, they moved to the
Tiffany's is a well-known store that is still on Broadway.
The young man who left Connecticut to open a stationery shop now has a $2 million fortune.
a million-dollar business, which would be the same as a multi-billion-dollar business today.
as the top jewellery business in North America.
"Room to Grow" (B):
Sometimes your first dream is just a shadow of what it could really be. Tiffany never thought that
to make the best jewellery business in North America. He just walked toward each
opportunity - he kept his mind and heart open to everything that could happen.
Do what you want to do. Follow the steps to make it happen. But don't rely on your ability to do
dream limit you. Give room for the dream to grow. Give it all the chances it needs to grow. Take
Take the lessons you've learned and keep moving forward.
