The first words.....

"Mr. Watson - come here - I want to see you." - Alexander Graham Bell - the first words spoken over a telephone 

Innovation leads to innovation and innovators create pathways to mass adoption. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was issued a patent for the telephone. Voice over wire was a much needed step forward versus the dots and dashes of Morse Code, however for the telephone technology to be mass adopted, Bell realized that he would need to establish "exchanges" where a person's telephone could be channeled to multiple locations not just point to point. One and half years after the patent was issued, Alexander Graham Bell started the first telephone exchange in New Haven, Connecticut and in doing so 143 years ago yesterday on Feb. 21, 1878 released the very first telephone book. The list contained 21 names of people and businesses in New Haven, Connecticut who were a part of Bell's first telephone exchange. Your cell phone contacts probably has 21 names in your "A" section alone.  

Two pathways - connecting people via exchanges and enabling the early adopters to find each other were critical for the telephone to reach mass adoption. For a minute think of the early employees of Bell Telephone Company, the engineers, the sales people, the manufacturers, the office staff - all knew that they had something special. I think it is fair to say that even in their wildest dreams they would not be able to comprehend just how far their technology has come in 145 years since that first patent was issued. Do you think that even Alexander Graham Bell would believe that everyone would carry a "wireless" phone in their pocket and could literally speak at any given time with anyone in the world?

Team, as you go through your day today, imagine what medicine will look like in 145 years from now. Imagine for a minute that the Accuryn system is a cornerstone to that future medical foundation, and over the next century and half will be built upon and improved to protect the kidneys, manage patient fluid balances, and predict and prevent catastrophic events. Imagine when Machine and Deep learning are obsolete because true artificial intelligence takes over and helps heal people. Imagine the day when there are no wires or tubes needed and understand that you are setting that foundation - today and each day moving forward.

Solve the problems that will allow for mass adoption: Telephone + Telephone exchange + telephone book = mass adoption. There are parallels in almost every major innovation to what we are doing at Potrero. Examine the past to see the future. What is our equation? That is the fun part of being at a start-up that will change the world and help generations of people. Figuring out that equation together is what makes this experience so amazing.

Engineers as you diligently push through V&V, Sales team as you meet with customers, Op's as you manage the flow of components, supplies, and finished goods, Finance with budgetary measures, HR as you ensure human talent needs are met, Marketing as you guide the organization, and Clinical as you prove for the world.....remember this.....it takes the brave innovators - you - to take that first step for others to push medical technology forward for the doctors, nurses and patients.  

Have a wonderful day innovators and......ALWAYS FORWARD!!!!!

Joe

This is a series of articles based on the daily letters that I write to my company (slightly modified - company specifics removed). My hope is to share some positive thoughts that gently push the world toward positive thinking and encourage many to achieve their fullest God-given potential