How I Built This with Guy Raz

Dyson: James Dyson (2018)

Jul 22, 2019

James Dyson, the inventive mind behind Dyson vacuums, shares his journey from concept to market. He discusses the struggles he faced, including skepticism from established brands and financial challenges while perfecting his bagless design. With over 5,000 prototypes, Dyson's relentless innovation transformed the household appliance industry. He also reflects on the emotional toll of grief and how it fueled his creativity. The story reveals the power of persistence and believing in one's vision, ultimately leading to tremendous success.

43:57

Episode guests

James Dyson

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Reinventing a Classic: The Journey of an Innovative Inventor

3min

From Grief to Innovation: The Design Journey

18min

Overcoming Rejection: The Journey of an Innovative Vacuum

5min

The Vacuum Revolution: A Bright Pink Journey

12min

From Debt to Success: Embracing Risks and Learning from Mistakes

2min

Success Through Perseverance and Innovation

9min

In 1979, James Dyson had an idea for a new vacuum cleaner — one that didn't use bags. It took him five years to perfect the design, building more than 5,000 prototypes in his backyard shed. He then tried to convince the big vacuum brands to license his invention, but most wouldn't even take his calls. Eventually, he started his own company. Today, Dyson is one of the best-selling vacuum brands in the world, and James Dyson is a billionaire. PLUS for our postscript "How You Built That," we check back with television producer Mike Sorrentino, who created an iPhone case called EyePatch that cleans and protects the phone's camera. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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