49 responses to “Who is George Nissen?”

1. 

   John Gorbandt April 14th, 2010 at 07:26

   this is a very good story. I personally don’t care much for trampolines but they are very popular. Mr.Nissen saw an opportunity and then acted upon it. Nice job.

2. 

   Taylor Gelsosomo April 14th, 2010 at 09:27

   It’s cool to see what people get their inspirations from. I loved trampolines when I was growing up, but it does seem like a lot of parents were always concerned with injuries which is understandable! It is surprising that there were no injuries when it was first being used.

3. 

   Colby Beacham April 14th, 2010 at 09:31

   I’ve always loved trampolines good way to have fun while still getting a little exercise and improving body control. Yeah they could be potentially dangerous but no more than a bicycle is just gotta be careful. Sad that he died, but he left behind a great legacy.

4. 

   Zachary Mirsberger April 14th, 2010 at 09:34

   It’s awesome to hear where his passion took him. To have your personal creation be adopted as an Olympic sport must have been an amazing feeling.

5. 

   Molly Longest April 14th, 2010 at 09:46

   I enjoy your blogs so much Beth Carroll! You always find the most unique stories. I love hearing the thought process behind certain inventions that you never really think about. I also think his marketing strategy with him and the kangaroo is so smart. He was a great entrepreneur. His legacy will live on.

6. 

   Anthony Sikorski April 14th, 2010 at 10:34

   Great blog about a entrepreneur who loved what he was making sense he was a kid. He looked at his passion in life and created something that would help add a new aspect to it forever. What he created is probably one of the best known gymnastics equipment in the world. It is great to read that he lived a long and prosperous life.

7. 

   Michael Tym April 14th, 2010 at 10:54

   That is so cool that he visualized this idea, made a prototype, and eventually it became an Olympic sport. Really neat he got to be at the Olympics when it was there.

8. 

   Haley Jenkins April 14th, 2010 at 10:55

   I think this is a great blog! Mr. Nissen is a man of inspiration. I think it is so cool to find out that the man behind the trampoline was an entrepreneur. I hope his life was filled to its fullest. Thanks for sharing this awesome story with us. It is really an inspiration for anyone with a neat idea to run and go with it.

9. 

   Arpit Bawa April 14th, 2010 at 10:57

   This is a very inspirational story. I have used a trampoline at my uncle’s house. It is a lot of fun. I never even thought about how the product came to be. It is amazing how a single individual can make business history with his entrepreneurship. Very interesting…

10. 

    Alexandra Graves April 14th, 2010 at 11:24

    My neighbors have a trampoline and always go to there house to have fun. I love the idea of a trampoline and it’s a unique story.

11. 

    Angeline Tran April 14th, 2010 at 12:48

    This man helped bring joy to millions of children. If you had a trampoline, you were a big shot in your neighborhood

12. 

    Andrew Burke April 14th, 2010 at 12:59

    With his invention, this man brought countless hours of enjoyment to kids (and professional athletes) all around the world! This is another great example of how passion drives entrepreneurship.

13. 

    Meiqi Zhao April 14th, 2010 at 13:00

    It is an inspiring story. I really adimire people who can come true their dreams. My father has told me in this world many people have dreams but few of them can make dreams come true. The trampoline is my favorite sport when I was a child. I really like the feeling in the air. I just thought I could fly as a bird at young age.

14. 

    Kelly Plantz April 14th, 2010 at 13:31

    I love jumping on trampolines. I had one when I was a child and now the eight year old twin boys that I babysit have one too. However, their trampoline is a little more advance and important to them. Both the boys have autism and other development issues, one of of the even has M.S. Most people wouldn’t look at their trampoline as a way of therapy for them, but its really good for their muscle development and hand-eye-coordination. Also theirs is a lot more safer and more fun then what mine was. They have a net surrounding and it has two layers instead of just one trampoline. On the screen of the tramp is numbers and shapes printed on it for them to play games, even a basketball hoop to play some one on one. The trampoline has come a far way from when it was invented and is becoming more useful as time goes on.

15. 

    Brett Cohen April 14th, 2010 at 13:33

    That sad to hear George Nissen died. I guess this story just goes to show even crazy ideas can work out.

16. 

    Amanda Edmondson April 14th, 2010 at 13:33

    What a cool dude! This story was really neat and it goes to show that to be an entrepreneur you don’t have to come up with super complex ideas to be successful. I personally like where the name Trampoline came from. I had no idea that it meant diving board in Spanish. He had a unique idea that proved to be a success!

17. 

    Justin Riley April 14th, 2010 at 14:08

    I have always loved jumping on trampolines! I mean my friends and I use to always go to someones house who had one and jump for long periods of time just doing flips and messing around. If you had a trampoline you were pretty much a big deal haha. It is sad to hear that such a smart man passed away, but at least he has forever left his legacy with the trampoline!

18. 

    Austin Collins April 14th, 2010 at 14:11

    This is really cool how he thought of the idea and made it happen. Trampolines are a lot of fun but people get injured all the time so it was intresting that with his first prototype nobody got injured. It was also cool that from his idea they made an olympic sport involving his trampoine.

19. 

    Harsh Sanghvi April 14th, 2010 at 14:17

    Awesome!! This reminds me of the frisbee inventor. I have observed many inventions happen by accident and this is one more example.

20. 

    Lauren Cassidy April 14th, 2010 at 14:23

    I think it’s great that he was able to make his dreams come true! I used to have a trampoline, and my friends and I always had alot of fun jumping on it. It’s sad that he passed away.

21. 

    Andrew Barr April 14th, 2010 at 14:46

    That was a really interesting story. When I was a kid I would spend hours at a time on the trampoline. At night me and my friends would sometimes sleep on it. I would have to rate the trampoline as one of the best inventions ever because they are so much fun and they have a variety of purposes.

22. 

    Ravi Mody April 14th, 2010 at 15:46

    It seems so easy. He saw an acrobat show and was inspired. Gives me hope that any day can give me an idea that has potential to explode. I mean, who doesn’t like trampolines?

23. 

    Michael Evans April 14th, 2010 at 15:57

    I love learning about stuff like this. It’s interesting to see what inspired the people who invented the things we take for granted everyday. It helps remind us that it wasn’t always around, and there’s always someone to come along and build a better mousetrap.

24. 

    Jaideep Singh April 14th, 2010 at 16:22

    I’ve never tried a trampoline I really really want to try it. The story is very inspiring, how one man’s passion turns into an amazing and fun product.

25. 

    Colleen Cahill April 14th, 2010 at 19:04

    I enjoy hearing how common products came about. This is exactly how popular products come about: people who have a passion for something and think ‘hey this could be better if…’

26. 

    Keith Carlos April 14th, 2010 at 19:23

    WoW! I always wondered who came up with the brilliant idea of this invention, but never cared to follow through with research. This invention reflects true entrepreneurship.

27. 

    Michael Eargle April 14th, 2010 at 19:24

    honestly i am inspired by this guy because its always a plus when someone works hard enough to succeed and make their goals or dreams come true.

28. 

    Cortez Smith April 14th, 2010 at 19:38

    I haven’t heard of this guy ever in my life, but he has an interesting place in life. If you can turn something new out of a trampoline besides jumping up and down an doing flips, you have a nice mindset.

29. 

    Curtis Brackett April 14th, 2010 at 19:56

    It’s amazing to see where a vision and a little hard work can get you in life. Just think one day any of us could invent something that could eventually be adopted as an Olympic sport, must be quite a feeling. Not to mention the millions and millions of dollars he made while at the same time bringing joy to millions of children around the world. Sad to hear about his death.

30. 

    Andrew Huff April 14th, 2010 at 20:33

    It’s interesting to read about things we take for granted every day. I never thought about the development of a trampoline… It’s just always been there. It’s also interesting to see that a fairly simple idea has stuck with our society for so long.

31. 

    Courtney M. Cronk April 14th, 2010 at 20:34

    That is awesome! how do and who do you rent a kangaroo from!?!? thats crazy. I didnt think that the trampoline was invented that long ago…just goes to show ya you learn something new everyday!

32. 

    Brian Corley April 14th, 2010 at 20:48

    Fascinating history of the trampoline. I had no idea it just started in a guy’s garage. Awesome post and he will be missed.

33. 

    Casey Piquette April 14th, 2010 at 21:17

    That was a very interesting history behind the trampoline. When I was little, I begged my parents for a trampoline, but they always said no because it was “too dangerous”. The year I leave for college, they buy one for my little sister!

    They are very updated now and have a complete safety net. Makes it a little bit safer!

34. 

    Keegan Klauke April 14th, 2010 at 22:22

    this dude is awesome! I met a few kangaroos before. one of them even kicked my friend in the chest! pretty good marketing to get one of those guys. trampolines were so awesomely dangerous too, I have jumped straight off of one before and almost broke my arm. good times good times.

35. 

    Adi Muley April 14th, 2010 at 23:21

    Trampoline is such a good sport for both kids and adults. Its a brilliant idea that came to Nissen’s mind. People all around the world love trampoline. It could be dangerous sport if you are not careful. But it is a fun and enjoyable sport that everyone loves.

36. 

    Ben Albers April 14th, 2010 at 23:24

    I always wondered how the trampoline came to be. Now I know it was just another regular entrepreneur with an idea that he never quit on. That is amazing that he saw his invention be used in the Olympics for the first time ever.

37. 

    Damon Ward April 14th, 2010 at 23:51

    This is a cool story! One that I likely would have never known. It’s interesting to learn about how his idea started out, how it progressed, and how he got the name for it.

38. 

    Jack Kennedy April 15th, 2010 at 08:15

    It’s always an interesting story when someone takes a dream they had at a young age and made it happen, especially when that dream makes you a successful entrepreneur!

39. 

    Ariana Zades April 15th, 2010 at 08:50

    This is a very unique and cool story. He saw a acrobatic show and later put his dream in the Olympics. I have a trampoline at home, but hardly ever use it. My siblings use it more often and make fun of me when I lay out on it. But hey, the black tarp attracts the best sun! I never knew how the common word trampoline came about though.

40. 

    Blake Bronowicki April 15th, 2010 at 09:36

    Its interesting to really think that someone came up with an idea such as the trampoline for people to enjoy by jumping on and so forth. I grew up playing on trampolines and always had a wild time and this man really took it into his own hands to bring his idea to the market so I salute him. This entrepreneur made it and his story is one to tell.

41. 

    Zach Morgan April 15th, 2010 at 09:46

    I think that it is neat to see an idea that was really only looked at for one purpose, turn into a product that can be used for other purposes as well, such as a training tool for the Military. It was also interesting just to hear how the trampoline product got its start.

42. 

    Jeff Olen April 15th, 2010 at 16:23

    It’s really good to actually see the guy that created the trampoline. I personally never had one at the house but a lot of my friends do and I think its awesome. This is a great creation so thanks a lot George!!

43. 

    Josh Graves April 15th, 2010 at 19:53

    wow, the guy that invented the trampoline. pretty good idea i guess! jeez that guy sure came up with a big idea. but surely not as big as the IPAD, right?

44. 

    Thomas Gick April 16th, 2010 at 16:57

    A true story of entrepreneurship

45. 

    Aditya Chaudhari April 17th, 2010 at 11:49

    This is probably the most aspiring considering that it was his idea and it got so famous!

46. 

    Byron Young April 19th, 2010 at 13:23

    I think Mr. Nissen, provides a great example of taking risks. The trampoline is a unique invention that took the world by storm! It was the “thing” to do and if someone had one, everybody in the neighborhood was over there jumping on it!

47. 

    Mahmood Alrawi April 19th, 2010 at 20:35

    i remember this guy was in the news a couple days ago….the video at the end is sooo intense!!! this guy knows trampoline.

48. 

    Kamran Malhance April 26th, 2010 at 00:21

    This is a very inspiring story. I love trampolines and im glad he saw this opportunity and capitalized on it!!

49. 

    Letteer Lewis April 26th, 2010 at 20:37

    I never knew this guy was the reason I had so much fun as a kid!