Reading Group Guide and Activities
Discussion Questions
Ole Evinrude was fascinated by boats all his life, and he fulfilled his dreams by starting his own outboard motor company to make it easy for other people to go boating. Even with good ideas, he had a hard time turning his good ideas into a successful product that people could buy. What kept him going? Why do you think he never lost sight of his goal?
Most people today learn engineering and mechanical skills by going to school, but Ole Evinrude left school after third grade. He became an expert engineer by teaching himself the basics. He then learned a lot more on the job. What were some of the ways he had to educate himself? Why would it be more difficult today for a person who had left school after third grade to become a respected inventor, engineer, and designer?
Ole started out working on his own, with only Bess to help him. What did they have to give up to make their business a success? To compare the Evinrudes’ efforts with other people who started and ran successful businesses, read Harley and the Davidsons by Pete Barnes or Tents, Tigers, and the Ringling Brothers or Casper Jaggi: Master Swiss Cheese Maker by Jerry Apps. Then discuss whether you think the sacrifices were worth what it took to achieve success.
After Ole and Bess died, how did their son Ralph continue his parents’ success?
Ole had a number of business failures before he got his outboard motor company started. Make a chart with 2 columns. On one side, list his business failures. On the other side, list the reasons why he failed. Then draw a line across the bottom of the chart and write the ideas that he had that finally made his business successful.
Ole Evinrude started a successful company even though there were other companies that also made outboard motors. Make a time line of things he and Bess did to sell more motors while other companies went out of business.
Bess Evinrude came up with the slogan “Don’t Row” for her and Ole’s motor company. Your group is in charge of creating a new commercial to help sell Ole’s outboard motor. Write out what you will say and perform it for the class. Make sure you include a catchy slogan that will make people excited about Evinrude motors.
Remember the story of how Ole came up with the idea for the outboard motor? While it may or may not be true, it is a great story. Make a series of comic strip–style drawings that show how Ole’s invention went from idea to reality.