What office supply can you not live without? Your answer is probably the same as mine, the Post-it Note. Art Fry explains how he brought this ‘new to the world’ product to market with Dr. Spencer Silver’s adhesive help and created a whole new way of how we communicate!
Art was working at 3M for 21 years before the idea surfaced of the Post-it® Note in 1974 using an adhesive that was invented in 1968. Experimenting, selling management on the idea, pulling ad hoc teams together, test marketing, and lots of other activities led to its national release in 1980. (3M: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company; a company culture of innovation) Download
How did Art’s family culture foster curiosity and experimentation? How was a water heater used to test ideas quickly? Our conversation will take you back to a time of side-cars, schools with one classroom, bobsleds, and dog carts with a mixture of 3M’s culture, proprietary skills, inventions that never made it to market, less known inventions, and the unleashing of the best leaders in the company.To be around Art is to engage in the joy of ‘working under a streetlamp.’ The street is illuminated. Somebody goes out into the darkness and drags an idea into the circle of light that is new product development; that is the mind of Art Fry at work. He is one of the most brilliant intrapreneurial inventors and chemists of our time.
F.Y.I. On July 24, 2018 3M’s market cap was $119.9 billion (total dollar marketing amount of outstanding shares). They produced 55,000 items with 91,000 employees worldwide in 2017.
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give the people the room they need.”
— William L. McKnight
Mentoring Tips
After listening to our conversation:
- Ask yourself, how can I create a culture of innovation at work and at home?
- What parameters would I need to put in place for employees, so they can invest time and energy in creating new ideas on a regular basis for end-users?
- At home, what are ways I can foster creativity and experimentation with new ideas that would help society?
- For example, when the three of us volunteer, we each plug into a role. This turned into a bigger deal than we thought when we volunteered to run the Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion Elementary School Chess Club. We grew the club from 45 students to 180. Matthew and I divvied up our roles, Olivia (our daughter) played chess and then helped teach chess to others. We organized a team of coaches, taught, organized the operation, and worked with the school, parents, and district administration to spread the benefits of playing chess and pass on something fantastic for children. You can start with a much smaller idea, but I think you get my point.
- Growing a business is challenging. Why not grow yourself as you grow your business? Join a WeMentor Entrepreneurial Leadership and Mentoring LAB! Become the leader you have always envisioned yourself to be, Join HERE!
- Subscribe to this podcast. You get special discounts on WeMentor activities, especially one-on-one mentoring. Subscribe HERE!
Arthur Fry, Inventor of 3M’s Post-it Note, Part I Episode 143
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Resources
- “In 1907 William L. McKnight (1887-1978) joined Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) as an assistant bookkeeper. He rose quickly through the ranks and became president in 1929 and chairman of the board in 1949. His timeless management philosophy encouraged 3M management to “delegate responsibility and encourage men and women to exercise their initiative.” (3M’s Basic Rule of Management)
- 3M’s History of 100,000 Patents
- 3M 2017 Annual Report
- Minnesota Science and Technology Hall of Fame
- How 3M Makes Its Money
Podcast Guest Mentor
About Arthur Fry. Art Fry is a retired chemical engineer and inventor from 3M. In 1974, Art used an only-slightly sticky adhesive invented by Dr. Spencer Silver to secure bookmarks in his church hymnals. When the bookmarks were removed, they left a sticky residue on the hymnals’ pages, so Art tinkered with the chemical formula to make the adhesive even less sticky. It took several years for supervisors at 3M to see the value in a glue that did not stick well. Post-It® Notes were introduced in 1980, in 1985 sales topped $100M, and by 1998 annual sales of Post-It notes and other products based on Silver’s adhesive generated a billion dollars in sales annually. Fry and Silver, being employees, never received any royalties, but in 1986 Fry was honored with the company’s top technical title, corporate researcher. “My biggest reward,” he said, “is to see so many people use and appreciate my product.”
Art has received the following recognition and awards for his inventions.
- Elected to 3M Circle of Technical Excellence and Carleton Society
- Outstanding Alumni Award, University of Minnesota
- Premio Smau Industrial Design Award, Italian Office Design Association
- Inducted in the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame
- 1996 National Medal of Technology awarded to 3M, citing Post-it Notes and Microreplication Technologies
Episode 143: Arthur Fry, Inventor of 3M’s Post-it Note, Part I
Author: Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.
Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything). Nancy’s compassionate and collaborative approach reinforces resilience while maintaining accountable conversations supporting how you redefine your lead while redesigning your business. Nancy calls this “Dual Innovation Leadership.” Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring in Dual Innovation Leadership. She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today! Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are while inspiring them to breakthrough into new dimensions: As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator), As a Competent Business Owner (Practitioner) As a Mentor (Role Model) As a Spiritual Being and Self-Leadership Master! Start by subscribing to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and...
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