GoKawiilEntrepreneur Column Cites Thomas Midgley Jr. to Warn Leaders About Hidden Costs of Success
An Entrepreneur opinion piece revisits engineer Thomas Midgley Jr., credited in the 1920s for solving engine knocking with leaded gasoline and developing the refrigerant Freon, innovations that earned him industry praise and the Priestley Medal. The column notes both breakthroughs later proved damaging — leaded fuel released toxic lead through vehicle exhaust — and uses the case to argue that business leaders should scrutinize whether their current winning strategies carry unseen long-term costs.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The column frames Midgley's story as a cautionary analogy, suggesting that metrics of success at one point in time can obscure damage that only becomes visible later. It implies founders and executives should periodically audit growth-driving habits to see what they displace or demand, rather than assuming past wins guarantee future safety. This is presented as interpretive business advice rather than a factual claim about any specific company's current practices.
- Leaded gasoline and Freon were celebrated innovations that later caused significant harm.
- The author uses Midgley's career as a metaphor for how business success can mask hidden costs.
- The piece urges leaders to periodically reassess whether past winning strategies remain sustainable.
Source: entrepreneur.com — Saahil Mehta, 2026-11-13
Published there as: “Your Success Might Be Creating Problems You Can’t See. Here’s What to Ask Yourself.”
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