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By : S. Muralidharan, Head, Project Planning/Strategy, Knowledge Foundation
Activity:  22 comments  500 views  last activity : 04 03 2011 14:43:34 +0000
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Here are 15 companies that became famous, not for what they started doing, but for something that came later. Sure, they may be related, but the point is still valid: better to get started on something; innovative people find a way.

  • Backed by French venture capital, DuPont began making gunpowder in 1802.
  • McDonald’s. In 1927, brothers Dick and Mac McDonald opened a hot dog stand called “The Airdrome” at the Monrovia airport in California. 21 years later, the company began focusing on hamburgers.
  • Nokia was originally a paper mill in Finland.
  • Sony started as a radio repair shop named Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo in post-war Tokyo. Its first original product was a tape recorder, but its breakthrough was the first “commercially successful” transistor radio, the Sony TR-55. 
  • 3M was originally formed in 1902 to mine corundum for making grinding wheels. The “corundum,” however turned out to be anorthosite, which the company tried to use to make sandpaper. That didn’t work either.
  • IBM, formed as Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR) when three companies merged in 1911, made weight scales, automatic meat slicers, coffee grinders, time-keeping systems, and computer punch card equipment.
  • Kraft Foods. James L. Kraft started a wholesale door-to-door cheese business in Chicago in 1903.
  • Founded by Konosuke Matsushita in 1918, the company now known as Panasonic began producing duplex lamp sockets and bicycle lamps. Matsushita’s brother-in-law later founded Sanyo.
  • Toyota. In 1926, Sakichi Toyoda - the inventor of a line of highly efficient manual and machine-powered looms - founded Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. Seven years later, the company ventured into automobiles.
  • In 1919, Cornelius Vander Starr opened AIG as an insurance agency in Shanghai, China.
  • Xerox was founded in 1906 as The Haloid Photographic Company making photographic paper and equipment.
  • Motorola began life as Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in 1928. Its first product - a “battery eliminator” for battery-powered radios to run on household electricity - was sold to Sears, Roebuck and Co.
  • American Express was the first “FedEx.” It started in 1850 as an express mail company, formed by Henry Wells, William Fargo, and John Warren Butterfield. The same folks founded Wells Fargo two years later to handle California.
  • Texas Instruments began life as Geophysical Survey Inc. doing seismic exploration for the petroleum industry. GSI is now part of Halliburton.
  • In 1899, a limited partnership between Japanese investors and America’s Western Electric Company created Nippon Electric Company, or NEC, to make telephones and switching systems for the Japanese market. 

(source: Wikipedia)

Of course, none of this stuff happened purely by chance. Everyone involved in the above events had certain characteristics that ultimately weighed heavily on their actions and ultimate success.

 
23 comments on "Do you know, what these companies were upto when they began their operation?"
  Commented by  NATTERAJA R. ARIKRISHNAN, AREA SALES MANGER, UNIFLEX CABLES LTD    | 04 03 2011 14:43:33 +0000
Good information Ms.Malika and thanks for the referral.
 
  Commented by  Muhammed jabir rifahi, B.Tech/B.E. student, Calicut University Institute of Engineering and Technology    | 03 27 2011 17:59:39 +0000
A good piece of Knowledge. Thanks for posting..
  Commented by  NATTERAJA R. ARIKRISHNAN, AREA SALES MANGER, UNIFLEX CABLES LTD    | 03 27 2011 15:55:26 +0000
The business is being started based on certain criteria and continuing the business. When there is change in times and changes in technological development, the business communities are also changing their gears to suit and cope up with the ever changing business environment.Nothing harm in it and it is a question of survival & sustainability for them.
Thanks for the referral Mr.Virag Shah.    
  Commented by  Srinivas suravajhala, Secretary to the high ranking police officer, State Govt. of Andhra Pradesh    | 03 23 2011 07:58:08 +0000
Great information.  Whatever may be the distance to reach a destination one has to start his journey  with a step forward.  Once the journey starts towards the destination one day or other you will be reaching the destination and you may continue the journey beyond your set destination.  The first step forward with determination is all about.  If you are satisfied what you achieved thats the end your journey.  You just go on, sky is the limit.
  Commented by  Paul James, Sr. Manager - Design, Degremont India    | 03 23 2011 07:02:18 +0000
Are you aware, DLF, the Real Estate Development company is "Delhi Leasing and Finance Company". That is the full form of DLF !! Today  they do not lease any thing. They Build Houses and Business Centers. 
  Commented by  Nagpal Singh, Sales and Business Development, Babel Group of companies    | 03 22 2011 04:15:31 +0000
Achha hai...
  Commented by  vijayasaravanan, Partner, MS Contractors and Amway Business Owner    | 03 21 2011 16:02:58 +0000
good one
  Commented by  Mohammad Bakhsh, Project Leader/Managing Consultant, Freelancer    | 03 21 2011 11:45:12 +0000
Thanks ,Malika for referral. In our home Ambani Groups, Premji Groups,Sunil Mittal,TATAs and others lot have presented inspiring leadership and they also started humbly and took hue term to turn the table around.
  Commented by  Mathew Cherian, Research Associate/Analyst, Western Michigan University    | 03 21 2011 11:06:19 +0000
India is the only country in the world, where graduates feel they don't have to apply anything they learn in work places, they say one has to use ones commonsense and judgement. These two are developed in Academia and what you use here in India a homegrown variety of it is because one has to accomodate all sorts of illegitimate processes linked and originating from corruption and corrupt practices. When we let companies do their business independently then our Business School education will serve the country and the economy better. All these illeterate politicians don't know what they do and how to run things to scientific levels.
  Commented by  Mathew Cherian, Research Associate/Analyst, Western Michigan University    | 03 21 2011 11:02:00 +0000
Nice, thanks for posting this to me. It is always better to be a capitalist than to work your way through life, with all its uncertainities. The problem with India is the corruption level is high, a new entrepreaneur sometimes will be caught in a web of corruption with local politicians where by he won't be ultimately able to run his company to scientific standards. Even big corporataions has to pay mamool to politicians and how will one control the budget properly, one has no choice but raise prices and inflation is the result. The purchasing power of Indian rupee is so low because of corruption.
  Commented by  sunil ghodke, Construction-Residential, TDL    | 03 21 2011 10:11:49 +0000
Very good information! Thanks for referral Mallika! 
  Commented by  JAGADEESAN S, Project Leader/Managing Consultant, Project Consultant    | 03 21 2011 06:29:24 +0000
direction will be change, but ultimate final destination must be capable to market world.
  Commented by  KALIYAMOORTHY, Oil & Gas Area Coordinator, Undisclosed    | 03 21 2011 06:23:54 +0000
Mere zeal & strong business acumen drives one, to start off a business. However, the political & social scenario changes. These companies cherish their core value & according to changing scenario, PULL ALONG the core value for a Diversification successfully.Diversification strikes the Market successfully, when a congenial socio, political  &  technical environment prevails. Capitalizing the technique in opportune moment, makes everything possible.
  Commented by  Santosh A. Jadhav, Executive - Business Development, Titan Aeration    | 03 21 2011 06:22:56 +0000
very interesting, 
  Commented by  sudhakar, Head Markering, codezene (P) ltd    | 03 21 2011 06:05:33 +0000
These companies must have believed in strong ethics,human values, innovation and many parameters.
  Commented by  Akash Paliwal, Marketing Operations    | 03 21 2011 05:36:13 +0000
Much required for me....Thanks
  Commented by  Rathin Deb, Advisor/Outside Consultant, Freelance Retail Consultant    | 03 21 2011 05:30:04 +0000
Thanks malika for referral. Really good informations.
  Commented by  kasturirangan.r, Consultant, videocon industries limited    | 03 21 2011 05:26:23 +0000
Thanks S.Muralidharan for the companies operation who have made an indelible mark to others to emulate.
  Commented by  manish kumar, freelancer    | 03 21 2011 04:46:37 +0000
very good information sir, thank u
  Commented by  Darshana Sawant, HR Manager, Leading IT services company    | 03 21 2011 04:23:24 +0000
Really nice set of information Sir.. Something we can't even imagine.. Plus it is inspiring as we can see that we need to start with atleast something and eventually we can achieve what we want. 
Thanks a  lot ..
  Commented by  SHRIKANT MANOHAR DANKE, Consultant, Project Management Consultancy Firm    | 03 18 2011 07:54:07 +0000
Thanks Sir, for giving this information on TOOSTEP
  Commented by  Jasmin Pawar, job seeker    | 03 18 2011 06:23:58 +0000
it is often said that something which is most tough to be done is to start, an once you pass through this milestone, then sky is the limit. henceforth this is applicable to even the organizations which started and then reached upto great heights.
  Commented by  Virag Shah, Office coordinator, Prince pharma pvt. ltd.    | 03 18 2011 04:33:55 +0000
Yes, good and valuable information. I would like to add more that many company's are availble and they were statrted business in different field and achievd image in different field. Above mentioned all the company's have achieved brand image from different different prospects. They are also launching innovative sevices on regular inteval basis like macdonad, nokia, samsung,xerox etc..... Thanks for referal.
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