5 Everyday Objects that are the Result

of Great Work

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Great work leads to improvement and innovation.

It’s creating a di�erence people love. That’s why

some of the most ingenious everyday objects are the result of great work. Here’s our top 5 list of brilliant everyday objects whose

creators took something GOOD and applied a great work

skill to create something GREAT that’s appreciated and

loved by millions of people.

These everyday innovations use each great work skill: Ask the right question

See for yourself

Talk to your outer circle

Improve the mix

Deliver the di�erence

1. Cell phoneIn 1973, Marty Cooper was tasked with

inventing a car phone. Instead of diving

right in to his project, he paused to

think and reflect. “Why are we calling

places when we should be calling

people?” he asked. That question changed

his parameters and challenged his

preconceptions of what a phone

could be.

By asking the right question, Marty redefined his possibilities, and

the idea of the cell phone was born.

2. MicrowaveOne day at work, Percy Spencer noticed

that the candy bar in his pocket started

to melt as he walked past a device

emitting microwave beams. And that

gave him an idea. He realized that if

he could just harness the power of the

microwave beam in an enclosed area,

he could heat up food.

Percy discovered the heating power of microwaves because

he was in the thick of things, experiencing them firsthand.

And then he continued to see for himself.

The first food he deliberately cooked was popcorn—it was

successful. Then, he tried to cook an egg—it exploded in his

coworker’s face. But because he took the time to see for

himself, Percy created an appliance we now consider a

kitchen staple.

3. Post-It® NotesPost-It® notes were devised by a series of inventors. First, Spencer

Silver, a 3M employee, discovered a weak, reusable adhesive. He

tried to come up with a useful application for the glue, but none of

his ideas got o� the ground until five years later, when he spoke

with Geo� Nicholson. Nicholson invented a sticky board using the

adhesive, and started marketing it. Nicholson then introduced Art

Fry to the adhesive, who decided to use it on the back of slips of

paper to keep his place in his hymnbook. The initial Post-It® note

was born.

Silver spoke to Nicholson and Nicholson involved Fry—without all three of their ideas, the weak, reusable adhesive that now gives Post-It® notes their stick may never have been used successfully. But by

speaking to their outer circle, gathering ideas, and collaborating, together these men invented the Post-It note.

4. Soda BottleIn 2006, Rajendra Gursahaney, a Pepsi

executive, wanted to invent a soda bottle

that used less plastic—a bottle that would

weigh less, cost less, and waste less. But

the process wasn’t easy. He had to hand

test di�erent techniques, build a team of

experts from di�erent industries, and even

relocate to test his creation in Germany

and then in Russia. Finally, he succeeded

in reducing the amount of plastic per soda

bottle by nearly 25%.

Rajendra succeeded because he persevered. He

improved the mix and stuck with his innovation, testing, tweaking, and

perfecting the bottles until they were just right.

He oversaw the implementation of the new soda

bottles, which save PepsiCo nearly $8 million

annually. It was his drive to see the project through &

deliver the di�erence

that created a greener, leaner bottle.

1 5. InstagramWhen Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger developed an app called

Burbn they were excited to help users share their location with

friends and family wherever they were. As part of sharing one’s

whereabouts, Burbn also gave users the ability to take a photo of

their location and post it online. But after Burbn didn’t take

o�—people weren’t using it and found the app too complex with

too many features—they stopped and asked: what was the one

thing about Burbn that delivered a di�erence? To their surprise,

it was the photo sharing aspect of it. So the two developers started

looking at every app available at the time in the photography category.

1

1

Kevin and Mike’s response to their initial failure was to look at what they learned and move on from there. They developed a new app that let users capture a life moment in a photo, customized its look, write a caption, and post it. Instagram came to life and a

di�erence was made that people truly love.

Using these Great Work skills, how can you take your work from good to great?

• Can you make it faster?

• Can you make easier?

• Can you make it more e�cient, or more valuable?

• Can you make it more interesting?

• Can you make a di�erence that the recipient of your work will love?

We invite you to take the Great Work Challenge

and become a di�erence-maker in your organization today.

4. Soda BottleIn 2006, Rajendra Gursahaney, a Pepsi

executive, wanted to invent a soda bottle

that used less plastic—a bottle that would

weigh less, cost less, and waste less. But

the process wasn’t easy. He had to hand

test di�erent techniques, build a team of

experts from di�erent industries, and even

relocate to test his creation in Germany

and then in Russia. Finally, he succeeded

in reducing the amount of plastic per soda

bottle by nearly 25%.

CLICK HERE

Rajendra succeeded because he persevered. He

improved the mix and stuck with his innovation, testing, tweaking, and

perfecting the bottles until they were just right.

He oversaw the implementation of the new soda

bottles, which save PepsiCo nearly $8 million

annually. It was his drive to see the project through &

deliver the di�erence

that created a greener, leaner bottle.

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O.C. TANNER AND THE O.C. TANNER INSTITUTE

O.C. Tanner, number 40 on the 2015 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies

to Work For® list, helps organizations create great work environments

by inspiring and appreciating great work. Thousands of clients

globally use the company’s cloud-based technology, tools, awards,

and education services to engage talent, increase performance,

drive goals, and create experiences that fuel the human spirit. Learn

more at octanner.com.

The O.C. Tanner Institute regularly commissions research and provides

a global forum for exchanging ideas about recognition, engagement,

leadership, culture, human values, and sound business principles.

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