They say the only difference between a boy and a man is the price of his toys. I’d like to add a little nuance to that saying. What connects both boys and men is the urge to create.
When I was about nine, my parents gave me a LEGO fire truck. Before I received another LEGO set two years later, I had taken that little apart and rebuilt it in countless variations, until the bricks eventually stopped holding together. What fascinated me wasn’t playing with the truck — it was building it, taking it apart, inventing new versions, and improving it. The number of bricks was limited (none could be lost), but the ideas were endless. I don’t know if LEGO itself is the reason I do what I do now (probably not), but I’m certain it planted the seeds of creativity in me — creativity that isn’t just for its own sake, but a means of creating real value.
Today I’m working on an espresso machine that, beyond making great coffee, is also about creating value — and having fun. But it won’t be for everyone. It’s for those who, like me, enjoy the process of making and creating — boys and, I’m sure, plenty of girls too .
