I can’t stop learning about Sir Henry Ford, his life and achievements. We have already talked about him a lot on this site. If you don’t know him, or it is the first time you hear about him from me, please make sure to read this article first: The Biggest Entrepreneur Who Never Gave Up: Henry Ford
There’s no doubt that he was a genius, and maybe one of the most hard-working, serious, enthusiastic and consistent humans ever, not because of mass-producing of cars and machines, or for being the first who invented the assembly line in machinery, and not because of his 161 patents, but because he changed the lives of millions, or even billions around the world. If cars are moving on the streets now, it is because of him. He was definitely a man of love, not a man of money and business, although money and business were important to him too.
However, I have learned to look at both sides of the coin. We must widen our vision to see both the positive and negative in the lives of exceptional people like Henry Ford, to learn the lessons we must learn very well. Balance is extremely important. Sometimes our focus on some important things makes us forget about many other things that are also important. Overgeneralization and expecting everyone to think, talk and act like us are horrible mistakes. I can’t stop admiring Henry Ford, but there is one thing in his life that makes me really sad whenever I remember it.
Five years after their marriage, Henry Ford and his wife got a son that they named Edsel. Probably, Edsel Ford was as smart and genius as his father. I really think so, because he has also done lots of things in machinery and in his fathers’ factories that some of them turned out to be vital and saved the company from hitting the ground. He was a great automotive stylist and was so bright. At the same time, he was calm, kind and lovely. He was always smiling and treated everyone fairly and kindly. His father was also kind, but he was tough.
They belonged to two different generations. The way that Henry Ford had grown up was different from his son. Henry Ford had to be tough to pass through all the poverty and hardship to become what he became. But, Edsel had grown up in a different environment. They were really different. The problem was, Henry Ford expected his lovely son to be the carbon copy of himself. That was a huge mistake, probably the only big mistake that Henry Ford made in his life and business. Edsel never left his father’s side and was a big support to him and his business. But, he has always been suffering from his father’s behaviors. His father wanted to change him and make him what he wanted his son to be, but he didn’t know that his son was amazing the way he was.
If I were Edsel, I wouldn’t stay. I would leave to have a different business. His dad’s behaviors broke him down in tears sometimes. In spite of this, he stayed and did his best. However, working in such an atmosphere for decades affected his health. He got sick. He had suffered from ulcers for years. Doctors said that it was because of nonstop stress in his work. They removed part of his stomach. His dad still didn’t believe that his son was terribly sick. He still thought that his son could recover on his own if he wanted to be a stronger, more serious person, and if he changed his lifestyle the way his father wanted him to. What Henry Ford didn’t know was that his son had developed terminal stomach cancer. In spite of this, Edsel returned to work after surgery. His health and physical condition kept deteriorating, but his dad still thought that it was another sign of his son’s weakness 🙁
Edsel collapsed a few weeks later. His wife told Henry that Edsel was dying, but he didn’t believe it. On May 26, 1943, Edsel Ford died at the age of 49. Yesterday was the anniversary of his passing, but unfortunately I couldn’t finish this article on time to publish it on the site yesterday.
Henry Ford shattered. But, it was too late to change. One day he asked his company’s security chief who was his best friend too, “do you think I was ever cruel to Edsel?”
He replied, “not cruel, but unfair. If it had been me, I would have got mad.”
“That’s what I wanted him to do,” said Ford, “get mad.”
It means, all pressures were because Henry Ford wanted his son to behave the way he wanted to. But, people are great the way they are. The fact that we are good and even genius doesn’t mean others should also change themselves and become what we want them to be. Accepting others, especially our beloved ones, the way they are, is something that really kind and intelligent people know how to do. Edsel could live and enjoy his life for more decades, like his dad who lived for 83 years. This is a very sad story from the life of a real genius who not only changed the world, but changed the lives of millions around the world. One should never think that because they have been good and outstanding in something, they are right in other things too.
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