021: Innovation Institute

Dr. Deb 24 Jan 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:55 — 42.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Car mechanics and engineers are some of the most creative people I know. Harold Andresen is one of those. After owning his own car repair shop for years, he followed his heart for the physically challenged and started The Innovation Institute. It might as well be called, “Machines That Matter,” because it gives disabled craftsmen the chance to fix and improve their own medical devices, but also to create and modify machines to help others—like modifying golf carts that support wheel chairs so disabled kids can go on joy rides to laugh and feel the wind in their faces. For a few brief moments, they forget their disability.

But the story is more than using engineering and problem solving to better the lives of wheelchair friends. It’s a story of forgiveness, dealing with disabilities, giving to others, having fun and feeling useful.

Harold’s message to you: “I have the one-liners all over my life, my desk and my phone, my shop, the garage. I think finding what works for you is really important. So if you’re favorite song really keeps you motivated to press in to something significant, then you should spend a lot of time letting that favorite song go through your head. But if it’s just your self talk and words, that’s fine too. And if it’s actually doing, you’ve just got to get out in the garage and make stuff, that’s great. And if it’s go to the park and meet people, that’s just great. We have so few molds in our culture of how to do it right; I think that’s the thing I try to avoid. I would say you’ve got to figure out where you’re niche is, where you’re energized, and try to stay close to that. It may be weird to everybody else, but if it works for you and keeps you going…perseverance, hope, motivation, those are precious commodities; we all need more of those…This whole concept, people are finally out of the backrooms, where we can get some help on a regular basis to say what can I do to move forward—getting motivated keep going. Taking advantage of the help that’s out there, I’d say that’s also a big deal.”