我們都熟悉愛迪生的名言："Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."（天才是百分之一靈感及百分之九十九的努力）。然而，我們甚少能身體力行這句話的真諦，將那稍縱即逝的靈感轉化為堅持不懈的努力，進而實現心中的夢想。
當我們驚豔於 Dyson 無袋吸塵器優雅的外型及革命性的功能時，很少人知道發明者詹姆斯・戴森（James Dyson）在背後付出的代價。在1979至1984年這五年近乎失業的艱困歲月裡，他經歷了5,126次失敗與改良，才終於成功製作出第5,127個原型——一台真正可行的無袋吸塵器。更令人意外的是，當時英國竟無任何一家製造商願意生產他的發明，迫使他遠赴日本尋找商機與轉機。
以下這段詹姆斯・戴森的奮鬥歷程，希望能激勵每一位在職場中追求理想的工作者，更勇敢地堅持內心的信念。
The Journey of 5,126 Failures（ 五千一百二十六次失敗的旅程）
Each day Sir James Dyson tested hand-built cyclones in a dusty workshop, often covered in debris and sinking deeper into debt. His wife, Deirdre, who is a painter and later became a successful designer (particularly of carpets), supported the household financially through her work. Dyson himself has said openly that without her, he could not have carried on with his experiments. Dyson described the process not as a flash of genius, but as relentless trial-and-error driven by obsession and curiosity.
（中譯：每天詹姆斯・戴森爵士都在滿佈灰塵的簡陋工作坊中手工測試旋風分離裝置，身上經常沾滿粉塵，債務也日益加重。他的妻子 Deirdre 是一位畫家，後來成為成功的設計師（特別是在地毯設計方面）。當時主要由她來支撐家計。戴森本人也坦言，如果沒有妻子的支持，他無法繼續實驗。戴森後來回憶這段歷程時說道，這絕非靈光乍現的天才時刻，而是由執著與好奇心所驅動的無數次試驗與錯誤。）
Inspired by a sawmill’s cyclone system, Dyson aimed to eliminate the loss of suction caused by clogged vacuum bags. Between 1979 and 1984, he endured a grueling journey of invention, building 5,126 failed prototypes of his bagless vacuum cleaner before finally cracking the design with prototype 5,127.
（中譯：受到鋸木廠旋風分離系統的啟發，戴森決心解決傳統吸塵器因集塵袋堵塞而導致吸力下降的老問題——這個困擾傳統清潔設備數十年的難題。在1979年至1984年間，他歷經發明路上的艱辛歲月，打造了5,126個失敗的原型，才終於在第5,127個原型上獲得成功。）
From Rejection to Recognition （從拒絕到認可）
Despite his breakthrough, British manufacturers uniformly rejected Dyson's invention. They were skeptical of its unconventional design and, more importantly, feared it would disrupt the highly profitable vacuum bag replacement market—a classic case of established industries resisting innovation that threatens their revenue streams.
（中譯：儘管取得了技術突破，英國製造商卻一致拒絕戴森的發明。他們不僅質疑這種非傳統設計，更重要的是擔心會破壞利潤豐厚的吸塵袋替換市場——這是既有產業抗拒可能威脅其收入來源創新的典型案例。）
In stark contrast, 1980s Japan embraced innovation and design-forward products with open arms. Dyson licensed his "G-Force" design to Apex Inc., and in 1986, it launched in Japan as a distinctive hot-pink, high-end vacuum cleaner that could double as a tabletop, retailing for approximately $2,000.
（中譯：相較之下，1980年代的日本對創新與設計導向產品充滿熱情。戴森將「G-Force」授權給 Apex 公司，並於1986年在日本推出這款吸塵器——一台亮粉紅色、可當桌子的高端機型，售價約2,000美元。）
"G-Force" became a status symbol and won the 1991 International Design Fair prize—a validation that helped Dyson eventually launch his own company in the UK in 1993.
（中譯：「G-Force」迅速成為身份象徵，並在1991年榮獲國際設計博覽會大獎，這項肯定也為戴森日後於1993年在英國創立自己的公司奠定了基礎。）
深度反思
戴森的故事告訴我們幾個重要啟示：
1. 堅持的力量 - 5,126次失敗並非終點，而是通往成功的必經之路
2. 跨文化視野 - 當本土市場拒絕創新時，國際市場可能提供意想不到的機會
3. 設計的價值 - 優秀的設計能夠超越文化和地理界限，獲得全球認可
The success story of Sir James Dyson serves as a masterclass in perseverance, cross-cultural opportunity, and the transformative power of design. His journey from 5,126 failures to global recognition proves that Edison's famous quote isn't merely inspirational rhetoric—it's a practical blueprint for turning dreams into reality.
（中譯：詹姆斯・戴森爵士的成功故事是堅持不懈、跨文化機遇與設計變革力量的完美典範。他從5,126次失敗到全球認可的歷程證明，愛迪生的名言不僅僅是勵志口號，更是將夢想化為現實的實用藍圖。）
致每一位追夢者： 當你面臨挫折與質疑時，記住戴森的故事。也許你的第5,127次嘗試，就是改變一切的關鍵時刻。
圖片創作：Copilot
圖片創作：Copilot
參考資料來源
https://nymag.com/vindicated/2016/11/james-dyson-on-5-126-vacuums-that-didnt-work-and-1-that-did.html
https://www.modip.ac.uk/exhibitions/spotlight/spotlight-companies/dyson
