The first thing I think, I was building computers, I started to

"The first thing I think, I was building computers, I started to build a computer when I was 17 or 18 at home, an IBM compatible computer, and then I started to sell computers, and when I sold a computer to a company called Ligo I think, and they were selling systems which became blockbuster." – Peter Jones

In the annals of human achievement, there is a recurring theme: the rise of great innovators who, in their youth, dared to create and forge new paths. The story of Peter Jones, a man whose journey began with the humble act of building computers as a teenager, mirrors the very essence of vision and enterprise that has driven humanity forward since the dawn of time. At the tender age of 17 or 18, when the world was still unfolding before him, he was already laying the foundations of a legacy—a legacy that would see him not only build machines but shape an industry.

The ancient world was rich with stories of young creators who defied the odds. Take, for instance, the story of Archimedes, who, as a young man, conceived of the principles that would later lead to the development of great machines. His inventions, though simple by today's standards, were profound for their time. Archimedes, much like Peter Jones, was not content to merely dream of change—he set about making it happen with his own hands. In the same way, Jones, driven by curiosity and a keen sense of entrepreneurship, crafted his first IBM-compatible computer, a humble yet significant step that would lead him into the heart of the technology revolution.

Jones’s tale reminds us of the power of the individual, of one person who, through determination and ingenuity, can alter the course of history. At the age when most are merely contemplating their place in the world, Jones was building. He began by crafting something that would have seemed like a distant dream to many—a machine that could compute, store, and process information. But as the great thinkers of antiquity understood, it is not the tool itself that is most important, but the purpose it serves. When Jones began selling his computers to companies like Ligo, he was not simply trading in hardware; he was offering a vision of the future—one in which machines would empower businesses, individuals, and entire nations.

Consider the tale of Leonardo da Vinci, who, though more known for his art, also conceived of machines centuries before their time. His inventions—from the flying machine to the tank—were born out of the same curiosity and drive that fueled Peter Jones. Da Vinci, like Jones, was a visionary, understanding that true progress comes not from waiting for change to come but from actively shaping it. It is a reminder that the spark of innovation does not always come in grand moments of inspiration but often arises from humble beginnings—small ideas that, when nurtured with dedication and foresight, become transformative.

But Jones’s story is not only about the building of computers. It is about the process of building something that others can use, something that becomes integral to the workings of the world. When he sold his computers to Ligo, a company that would later become blockbuster, he was not just providing a product—he was helping to shape the infrastructure of the digital age. Technology, in its most profound sense, is not just about creating machines, but about creating connections—connections that empower people to do more, to achieve more, to dream more. The sale to Ligo was not just a transaction; it was a step in the creation of a new world.

In this, Jones’s journey teaches us a critical lesson: the power of beginnings. Many would look at a 17-year-old building computers in his home and see only a small and insignificant endeavor. Yet, this was the very seed from which a vast industry would grow. The path of the innovator is not always clear, nor is it always a path of certainty. But it is in the persistence, in the commitment to continue building, that the foundations of greatness are laid. The lesson here is simple: start, no matter how small the first step may seem, for it is the act of starting that holds the key to everything that comes after.

Finally, let us take this lesson into our own lives. Whatever it is we wish to create—whether it be a business, an art, or an invention—we must remember that the journey begins with action, with creating, with building. The world does not wait for us to be perfect, but for us to begin. From the humble beginnings of a 17-year-old crafting computers in his home, we learn that innovation is not a matter of waiting for the right time, but of seizing the moment and building something that will change the world. Like Peter Jones, we too must dare to create, to sell our dreams, and to trust that what we build will transform the future.