Opportunities often come disguised as challenges. A small request, an offhand remark, or even an obstacle. But for those who recognize them, these moments can spark something far greater than imagined.
Nicolai Bergmann was one of them. A Tokyo-based Danish flower artist and designer, he’s best known for his signature flower box. It’s an innovation that reshaped floral gifting in Japan and helped him open his own shop in Omotesando. Today, he collaborates with brands like Prada, Lululemon, and Disney. But it all started with an unusual request.
At the time, Bergmann was working in a flower shop when a PR professional walked in with a challenge. She needed 600 floral gifts for a press event. But there was a catch. The flowers had to be space-efficient, and, if possible, stackable. It was a problem he had never faced before.
Determined to find a solution, he began experimenting. He arranged flowers directly inside small boxes with lids, carefully packing each one to preserve the beauty of the blooms. After two days of relentless work, he had something he was proud of.
Then, the unexpected happened—the client canceled the order. Bergmann was left with hundreds of flower boxes and no buyer. Instead of discarding them, he decided to display a few in the shop. Almost immediately, customers took notice. They leaned in, examined them closely, and asked, “What is this? How do you use it?” Word spread quickly. The flower boxes became a sensation.
What started as a logistical challenge became something much bigger. Today, the flower box is celebrating its 25th anniversary, with nearly 1.5 million orders worldwide. Seeing the 25-year celebration at his Omotesando shop felt special.
This story reminds me of another one I admire—about Tom Fatjo, the “Garbage King.” Like Bergmann, Fatjo had a remarkable ability to turn challenges into opportunities, turning a local solution into a global revolution in the waste industry.
Fatjo was 26, working as an accountant while leading his neighborhood association in Houston. At a meeting, frustrated homeowners vented about unreliable waste collection. In the middle of the discussion, he made a casual suggestion.
“Why don’t we just buy our own garbage truck?”
Someone smirked and shot back, “Then why don’t you drive it yourself?”
It was meant as a joke. But Fatjo took it seriously. Curious, he started researching the waste industry. He quickly realized that trash collection was a stable business. On top of that, homeowners paid service fees 90 days in advance, meaning immediate cash flow. He ran the numbers. If he bought a 20-cubic-yard truck, he could service 700 homes. Confident in his plan, he took the plunge.
Then came the first day. He quickly realized his calculations were off—just 220 homes filled the truck to capacity. He had underestimated the volume, and now he had a problem. Instead of backing out, he adjusted. He bought a larger truck and kept expanding. Soon, he wasn’t just collecting residential trash—he was handling waste from shopping malls and factories.
Then, a major shift hit the industry. New environmental regulations made waste incineration illegal, driving up disposal costs. Most saw this as a problem. Fatjo saw an opportunity. He decided to own landfills. As he studied the industry further, he spotted another gap. Plenty of small waste collection companies existed, but no large-scale operator serving multiple cities. A consolidated approach could cut costs dramatically. So he started acquiring smaller companies, bringing them together into one major operation. His strategy worked.
One day, the mayor of Houston called with an urgent request—could Fatjo’s company take over the city’s trash collection within 12 days? He said yes, quickly securing 1,000 trucks to meet the demand. That’s how Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) was born.
By the time he stepped down as CEO in 1976 to pursue other ventures—just 10 years after buying his first truck—BFI was generating $256 million in revenue (in 1976!), operating 2,800 trucks across 131 cities, and employing 7,700 people. It had become one of the largest waste management companies in the U.S. and later expanded internationally. Eventually, BFI was acquired by Allied Waste Industries and later merged into Republic Services.
Looking at these stories, I think about how we often search for clear paths. We create career plans, set milestones, and chart our way forward. But life rarely unfolds according to plan. I’ve met many successful people, and when I ask if their journey turned out exactly as they envisioned, not one has said yes.
The downside of clear paths is that they’re based on our limited experience, knowledge, and imagination, which can make them restrictive. They also limit our ability to stay flexible and notice the changes happening beyond our defined routes. Life, however, has a way of throwing unexpected opportunities our way—ones that open doors to something we’ve never even dreamed of. These moments can lead to bigger chances, greater fulfillment, and more fun than we ever expected.
While I appreciate having a big direction, I’ve come to believe that success isn’t about rigidly following a set plan. It’s about staying open to the unplanned opportunities that arise. It’s about recognizing the unexpected, embracing the detours, and having the courage to step through the doors life opens—because that’s where the real magic happens.
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