From 1 to a Million: A Man’s 16-Year Quest to Type 1 Million

If you’ve ever engaged in an online argument, you’re likely familiar with the frustration of crafting a lengthy series of words that may go unread. However, no amount of virtual debate can match the extraordinary feat accomplished by Australian retiree Les Stewart in 1998. Les embarked on this remarkable journey in April 1982, driven by the determination to secure a world record, regardless of how absurd or trivial it might be.

His venture involved typing out numerical sequences, starting with the digit 1. But Les didn’t stop at simply typing “1”; he meticulously spelled out O-N-E. Progressing to “T-W-O” and then “T-H-R-E-E,” his ultimate objective was to reach the impressive milestone of 1 million. While this may seem like a modest endeavor initially, consider the challenge of typing “366,998” before proceeding to “366,999,” all while realizing there were still 633,000 and one more words to be typed.

Les adhered to a rigorous routine to accomplish this ambitious goal, dedicating 20 minutes of typing every waking hour. Beginning his quest in the 1980s, he utilized a typewriter. His effort culminated in 16 years and a staggering 19,990 sheets of paper. Whoa! That’s a lot of paper!

The dedication and perseverance to type from 1 to a million over 16 years are mind-boggling. I can’t help but be amazed by the commitment to such a unique world record. (It’s a bit waste of paper and time though) How does this story make you feel? Share your thoughts!

That’s all for today, thank you for reading. :)