Samuel Goldwyn repeatedly said, “Never make predictions especially about the future!” Nobody has really predicted future. Here is a list of some major blunders in ‘forecasting’ made by some of the world’s most prominent persons:
In 1926, Lee de Forest, the man who invented the cathode ray tube, said, “While theoretically Television may be feasible, I consider it an impossibility!”
In 1943, Thomas. J. Watson, Chairman of the Board of IBM said, “I think there is a world market for about five computers!”
In 1945, Admiral Leahy said this about the atomic bomb: “This is the biggest foolish thing we have ever done. The bomb will never be made, and I speak as an expert on explosives!”
Said a recording company executive, turning down the Beetles in 1962: “We don’t think they will do anything in this market. The Guitar groups are on the way out!”
The Business Week wrote in 1968: “With over fifteen types of foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry is not likely to carve out a big share of the market for itself!”
As history has proved, none of the above predictions came true. Truly the future is full of surprises!
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