When I was a kid, just like my brothers, I collected Hot Wheels. Mind you, I was not as avid as they, but I had my fair share. Mine were not kept in special cases but actually displayed proudly on a shelf in my bedroom. Our home had a large staircase that filled the northern wall of the living room and, often, you could find Hot Wheel tracks set up side-by-side, descending off the stairs through the banister into the living room; big races ensued. We, of course, each had our favorite cars and bragged relentlessly, boasting our own car the best and fastest in the bunch. It was great fun and produced delightful memories.

Occasionally, we ditched the cars and brought out the marbles to race down the tracks, seeing how far we could launch each when tracking ran out. Mom didn't like the marbles, as you can imagine. The marbles proved our innovative approach to an old game but also added a little risk. None of us wanted to get caught, so the marble events usually occured when Mom was away or we thought we could get quietly away with it.

Learning to use a single product in multiple ways is one way to further unleash an entrepreneurial spirit and get creative. I know it wasn't the most clever or inventive alternate use, but we felt like Ensteins and were so excited at each adventure in marble racing. The learning curve was small, but the payoff was huge. Each marble traveled at a different rate of speed with that rate determined by weight and launch. Getting the precise launch was imperative; unlike the cars where winning was dependent upon car construction, as well as weight distribution. And interestingly enough, the cars that aesthetically looked the fastest or appeared to be probable winners usually were not.

Applying strategy was every bit as much a necessity for success then, as it is now. Looking ahead, theorizing impact, estimating results and how those results will be received are basic and requisite functions for business today. The future of your offering depends upon it. Whether you provide a service or a product, whether you work for yourself or a major corporation, whether you race cars or marbles. There has always been more than one way to skin a cat, however, there is also a best way. Determining the best requires conceiving, testing, and trying. And watching the other guy.

Personally, I think George Lucas was watching us, for another alternate use of our Hot Wheel tracks was as a form of weaponry; weaponry that whistled if you swung it just right. Looking back, I can see that this was merely a precursor of the light saber. Luke Skywalker would have been swinging a track; if I'd had my way. That's way better than mom doing it, trust me, they sting on the legs and across the hind end. But then, mom also used a flyswatter for that - always the innovator, always the thinker. That must be where I got it.

© by rayannethorn