Rome was not built in a day
The journey of a thousand miles begin with one step.
Rome Was Not Built In A Day.
Dr. John Stith Pemberton was an American Biochemist and Ex-Soldier who had a great dream.
His dream was to build the world’s #1 selling beverage.
So, in May 1886, he developed an early version of a beverage that would later become world-famous as Coca-Cola.
But looking at his sales for the first year, there was no sign that Coca-Cola could become that #1 selling beverage of his dream.
For the first year, the sale of Coca-Cola averaged only nine drinks a day, a total of 25 bottles for that year, adding up to total gross revenue of $50.
Before realising the success of the beverage he had created, Dr. Pemberton fell ill and nearly bankrupt.
Sick and desperate, he began selling the rights to his formula to his business partners.
But Pemberton had a hunch that his formula "someday will be a national drink", so he attempted to retain a share of the ownership to his only child and son; Charles Ney Pemberton.
Regrettably, his son, who was addicted to opium wanted quick-money, so in 1888, Dr. Pemberton and his son sold the remaining portion of the patent to a fellow Atlanta Pharmacist, Asa Griggs Candler, for US$1,750, which in 2020 purchasing power is equal to US$47,230.
Sadly, Dr. John Stith Pemberton died on August 16, 1888, without realising the success of the beverage he had created.
Between 1888 and 1891, Asa Griggs Candler bought up all the rights from the business for a total of $2,300.
Soon after Coca-Cola hit the market.
On January 29, 1892, Asa Griggs Candler founded The Coca-Cola Company
On January 31, 1893, “Coca-Cola” was registered as a trademark in the US Patent Office.
On July 3, 1894, Dr. John Stith Pemberton's only child, Charles Ney Pemberton died having succumbed to drug addiction.
The idea of bottling Coke came up in 1894 six years after Dr. John's demise, 12 years of Coke's existence.
By 1895, the drink was in demand nationwide and Candler had built syrup plants in Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
Despite Candler's successes, he didn't fully see the potential of bottled Coca-Cola that people could enjoy anywhere.
At the time bottling, Coca-Cola was seen as an untested industry. But two lawyers, Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead saw a business opportunity in selling bottled Coca-Cola.
So, in 1899, they secured exclusive rights for the sum of $1; from Candler to bottle and sell the beverage.
The exclusive right to distribute bottled Coca-Cola was sold that cheap because it was seen as a higly risky business to venture into.
From it's very small, messy beginning, Coca-Cola has kept on making history.
In 1928, Coca-Cola became the first-ever Olympic sponsor.
On July 12, 1985, Coke became the first soft drink to be consumed in Space. The Coke was placed in specially designed cans, that was recognized as “Coca-Cola Space Can”
PS.
The same coca-cola drink that struggled to sell only 25 bottles in it’s first one-year, today has about 86,200 employees worldwide.
As of Nov. 2015, Coca-Cola had over 900 bottling and manufacturing facilities located around the globe, which are owned by over 250 independent franchises and Coca-Cola.
As at today, 96% of the world’s population recognizes the Coca-Cola logo
An average of 10,450 Coca-Cola brand drinks are consumed every second
An average of 1.8 billion bottles of Coca-Cola products are sold per day around the world (Market.US).
The Coca-Cola brand is worth an estimated $74 billion: more than Budweiser, Pepsi, Starbucks, and Red Bull combined (2016).
If every drop of Coke ever produced was put in 8-ounce bottles and laid end-to-end, they would reach the moon and back over 2,000 times.
As of October 2020: Coca-cola's Market Cap is: $216.748 Billion
PPS.
When will you start?
If Coca-Cola can start small, what is stopping you?
You are your own enemy of progress if you are waiting for a perfect time; a time you have everything you need and the perfect condition to start. ― William Ikiabo
"Every great thing started small, sometimes ugly and messy."
Every big castle was once started with a single block; despise no small beginnings. A little step taken every day builds up the hope of greater accomplishments. Do something every day ― Israelmore Ayivor
Strong enough to make holes in the rock are tiny drops of water that persist to fall. Persistence is the attitude that breaks down mountains one rock at a time! ― Israelmore Ayivor
Humble new beginnings do exist, but to begin, you must be humble. Nothing ever stays the same. ― Melody Carstairs
Everybody wants the platform but nobody wants the process.― Pastor John Gray
Do not despise little beginnings. It'll all make sense as you're staring at an opportunity that you realize the difficult moments merely prepared you for.― Andrena Sawyer
A diligent hawker today, can be a great tycoon tomorrow. ― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
Rome was not built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour.― John Heywood
Be Inspired
William Ikiabo 2017 | Revised 2020