“Improvement beings with ‘I’” is a popular inspirational and motivational saying. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1920 and is of unknown authorship.
The “Improvement beings with ‘I’” saying is often credited to Arnold Glasow (1905-1998), but there’s no reason to believe he created it in 1920 (when he was 15).
Google Books
22 June 1920, AX-I-DENT-AX (Midvale, UT), pg. 12, col. 1:
Improvement Begins with “I.”
Google Books
Forbes Epigrams:
1000 Thoughts on Life and Business
By Bertie Charles Forbes
New York, NY: B. C. Forbes Publishing Company
1922
Pg. 32:
IMPROVEMENT begins with “I.”
29 June 1923, Williamsport (IN) Pioneer, “Beginning With I,” pg. 2, col. 2:
A few days ago a man was walking down the street of his home city when he came upon these words chalked on a blackboard in front of a garage: “Improvement Begins With I.”
12 August 1925, Palo Alto Tribune (Emmetsburg, IA), pg. 7, col. 4:
Improvement begins with “I.”
(Mankato Commercial College ad.—ed.)
5 March 1974, San Diego (CA) Union, pg. D6, col. 3 classified ad:
IMPROVEMENT BEGINS WITH “I”
DIPLOMATIC PLACEMENT AGCY
Google Books
The Innovator’s DNA:
Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators
By Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen and Clayton Christensen
Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press
2011
Pg. 249:
Years ago, Arnold Glasow, an entrepreneur and humorist, concluded that “improvement begins with I.” We couldn’t agree more.
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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