1. Amazon
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore that was run completely out of his garage. In July of ’95, he sold his first book and packed it in the same garage. Amazon is now the world’s largest online retailer.
2. Harley Davidson
William Harley and his friend Arthur Davidson built the engine-powered bike out of a wooden shack, founding Harley-Davidson in 1903.
3. Microsoft
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft inside a garage. They licensed their first operating system to IBM for $80,000.
4. Yankee Candle
Michael Kittredge started making candles for his parents from melted crayons in 1969. When neighbours expressed interest in buying the candles he used his parents’ garage and started producing them in mass. In 2013, Yankee Candles was purchased for $1.75 billion.
5. Apple
In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, then 21 and 26 years old, took over the garage and hand-built 50 computers in 30 days for a local retailer. They sold them for $500 each. You know the rest of the story…
6. Disney
Walt and Roy Disney moved in with their uncle, Robert Disney, in 1923. In his one-car garage they set up “The First Disney Studio”and started filming the Alice Comedies, part of the original Alice’s Wonderland. Today Disney is the highest grossing media company in the world.
7. Google
Larry Page and Sergey Brin started working on Google during the summer of 1998. They borrowed Susan Wojcicki’s garage and started creating what would be the most trafficked site in the history of the Internet. When the project started interfering with school work they attempted to sell Google to Excite for $1 million. Excite rejected the offer. #WHOOPS
8. Patagonia Clothing
Yvon Chouinard became a climber in 1953 at the age of 14. He bought a forge and anvil, which he operated out of his parents’ garage and back garden. Yvon started to make and sell pitons for $1.50 each. By 2012, Patagonia had netted $500 million, becoming one of the biggest names in outdoor apparel.
These inspirational stories prove that no matter how ridiculous the idea may seem to others, or how massive something will eventually become, that most big ideas started with humble beginnings. These should be enough to push you to do whatever it is that your heart desires!
