A Story about the Wright Brothers
For millennia, man has stared at the heavens longing for the freedom to traverse the skies through the power of aviation. Over that time, many had tried, some had even given their lives, but none had succeeded.
So how is it that in December 1903 two brothers had successfully built and piloted a plane in North Carolina without anyone knowing? What’s worse, in the following months, these brothers constantly flew their airplane in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio, very near a major commuter station and a news outlet, and yet no one bothered to look up and take note?
The Wright Brothers
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the fascination with flying had swept the globe. Many now ventured to tackle this feat. Companies began investing small fortunes into developing a vehicle that could accomplish aerial travel. Countries viewed it as the next necessary component of war, and wanted to be sure to beat others to this development. But as more and more attempted and failed to achieve flight, the sentiment began to pervade that it was impossible.
Then, in the early 1900’s, two brothers who owned a bicycle shop in Ohio began spending their winters in the Outer Banks of North Carolina in an attempt to reach the skies.
These two brothers spent their time tethered to a glider and watching birds, making steady strides. Eventually, they mastered gliding and fully grasped how to design wings that would give them lift, allow them to stay in the air, and how to be able to turn a plane. They made several groundbreaking discoveries over the years., and after they developed a lightweight, high powered engine, and propellers, they finally were ready to fly.
On December 17, 1903, with Orville piloting, the Wright Flyer successfully took to the skies for 12 seconds, traveling 120 feet. Later that day they flew further and longer. Eventually lasting 59 seconds in the air and flying over 800 feet.
The Wright brothers and their family began to notify the press that man had finally achieved flight. That all too allusive adventure that had escaped so many had finally been grasped. But no one took note of it. The newspapers dismissed it, as did the army, and their friends back home.
The following year the brothers felt confident with their plane, and no longer needed the strong winds that the Outer Banks provided. They constructed a catapult system to get the plane to a higher speed, faster, so that they could make use of the short runway in the field they had rented, and consistently took their plane for flights in the Dayton, Ohio skies.
They mastered turning the plane in a full circle, which was a big deal. And began taking their flier on longer and farther trips.
As mentioned, they were flying close to a major station of the commuter trolley, where many passengers would travel every day. There were also multiple news outlets in the area that should have taken note. This was, after all, quite the story. Soon, the Wright brothers would fly their plane in front of huge crowds; it would have been great to be the journalist to break this story.
James Cox, publisher of the Dayton Daily News recalls that reports would come into their office of humans flying, but the news staff didn’t believe the stories, and didn’t bother to go investigate. In fact, the first person to publish an account of the first airplane flying in the air was James Root, who did so in his magazine “Gleanings in Bee Culture.”
Struggling with What to Write? Or what to Make for your TpT Store?
Think back to those journalists working for the Dayton Daily News, all hoping to make it big. To publish a big story. To get their big break. And there it was, flying over their head every day.
They wanted a big story, and it was there, for the taking. But the journalist’s eyes weren’t open to see it. They did recognize the opportunity that was right in front of them.
Sometimes, all we need to do is look up.
If you’re struggling with what to write, we talk about pillar content in great detail in my membership. The activities I present there will give you dozens of ideas for things to write.
But I’m going to challenge you to look around your school and pay attention to some of the things happening and conversations you’re having.
What are you doing that’s working? What are you doing (or maybe someone else is doing) that isn’t working? Have you figured out something that would help another person? Has someone come to you asking for help? Share those things.
What do you do that helps your students? What are you frustrated with your administration about, that if they would do it would help the school? What conversation did you have that provided insight for another teacher?
I bet if you just look around, you’ll find something worth sharing with others.
A Common Hold Up
Often, we don’t think the thing we have to say is novel or big enough to publish. I want to challenge you to think differently. The thing you think isn’t that profound, might be just the thing that someone else needs to hear.
Start making notes of these little things, and then publishing them as blogs and social media posts to add value to your audience. Don’t worry that it’s not ‘good enough.’ As long as it’s something that will help someone, it is worth sharing.
More Resources on Writing
If you want more help with your writing. Or to go through a training that will give you tons of ideas on what to write for your TpT business, I have some resources that will help.
You can enroll in the 5 Post Challenge for free. This is an online, video based challenge that will give you five different ideas for what to write for your blog or email list.
You can also check out my free eBook on email marketing.
I also have courses on Copywriting, Blogging, and Email Marketing for TpT Sellers.
