Henry Ford carried out a vision with the Model T, which changed the face of the twentieth century in American life.  In 1914, Ford was producing nearly 50 percent of all automobiles in the US. 

Fords entire story of growth, is not all about positive achievement, Ford did not embrace the Law of Empowerment.   His stubbornness kept the company from growth.  The Model T that he envisioned and created was kept in its original design, he wanted no one to change, modify, or grow it.  It was for this reason for almost 20 years Ford only offered one design, that of the original Model T.

With innovation & technology at it’s height worldwide, there are many avenues to pursue growth, not only growth within a company but growth within your personal thinking in order to better achieve the goals that are being set either by an employer or by yourself. 

Stagnate—to stop developing, growing, progressing, or advancing this type of  thinking breeds disappointment as well as boredom, when we become bored, you could just as well throw the creativity out with the weekly trash, because that is what begins to happen when you are not allowed to grow.

If Ford would have allowed for “thinking outside the box”, he would not have been quite as appalled when his designers presented him with a prototype of their innovations.  Eventually he agreed to allow the growth and innovation, despite being on top of the game early on; the resistance to change stifled the growth of the company.

Henry Ford was hesitant to take direction from those he put into place.  It was his son Edsel that led the company out of a downward spiral by embracing growth.   When Edsel died suddenly, his son Henry Ford II took over the company, which had not seen a profit in fifteen years.  Similar to his grandfather, young Henry Ford II did not live by the Law of Empowerment.  His father Edsel, had a different line of thinking than Henry Sr. and Henry II, if not for his sudden death, Edsel could have streamlined Ford Motor at a much quicker and efficient pace. 

Secure leaders are able to give the power to others, for the sole purpose of growth and expansion.  The resources available to use in present day are endless, allowing people authority and responsibility and allows them to achieve at greater levels.  Encouragement from a leader that is dedicated to the success and growth will in turn empower an entire team of people. 

Without the ability to release power to people that are put in place, leaders can not be born.  The Ford story is one that could have been written differently in history, and without the leaders that saw an opportunity to grow, Ford very well could have lost its influence in the marketplace, because of the undermining of authority that he originally put in place.  

Empowering your leaders is a great approach for growth within a company, as well as a personal growth.  When we are led by someone that is enthusiastic, creative and innovative, it creates a connection of positive attitudes, which will give you far better results with productivity and commitment.   With productivity and a commitment comes growth. 

Obligations and commitments should go hand in hand, obligations are contracts that we either have with an employer, family or ourselves.  When we commit to being the best we can as a leader, mentor, employee, spouse or friend, we form a bridge between obligation and commitment.  That bridge is the structure that allows us to continue to grow.  If the bridge was not over the rising rivers, we would not be able to cross easily.  Could we cross, sure, at some point and time, why not use that bridge when it is right in front of us, for the continuation of growth.

Growth is commitment, when we are committed to something and can believe in it whole-heartedly, that commitment will grow.   When we commit ourselves to a plan, it may not always see the light of day, but with the proper backing and understanding of the final goal, and the commitment of others around us, that goal becomes a little bit easier to obtain. 

Ideas can grow like fine flowers when they are properly cared for, coming at things from different angles should always be part of the cycle of growth, coming together to meet in the middle.   A ball of clay does not become a masterpiece with out the commitment to create a masterpiece.