My point was that many people use Ford’s quote as a defense for NOT asking others what they should do.

Russell Davies wrote a post about this back in September which expresses a similar opinion. (He’s just a better writer than I am.) – http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2010/09/more-faster-horse.html

The point, as someone else stated, is to say that you need to read people’s motivations. He would actually agree with your interpretation. Your interpretation is exactly what he intended. He’s the innovator and his customers don’t know what they don’t know.

The more correct long-form analogy of the quote to software building would happen more like:

Ford: “So horse and buggy guy, what do you want?”
Customer: “I don’t know, what’s possible?”
Ford: “Well, anything is possible given enough time and money so dream big!”
Customer: “Then I want a time travel machine!”
Ford: “Ummm, I don’t know how to build a flux capacitor. Trying scaling your dreams down a little.”
Customer: “Yeah but you said anything was possible.”
Ford: “I did, but I don’t have that much time or money so what else, out with it!”
Customer: “Fine then I want a rocket propelled grenade horse!”
Ford: “Why do you need the horse to explode? I get the rocket part but not the grenade part…”
Customer: “Cause I tought it would be cool and you said I could have whatever I wanted!”
Ford: “Sorry but I have to cut the grenade from the scope. I’ll be back with the estimate on a rocket though.”

Two months later…

Ford: “I’ve done it! I’ve created a steam fuelled engine that will move your buggy at almost 20 mph!”
Customer: “That’s not what I asked for. I’m not paying your consulting fees.”
Ford: “But it’s so much better than the horse!”
Customer: “Yeah well come back when you figure out the rocket.”

:o)