Most of the time, the obvious way around an obstacle isn’t the only way.
Looking for another option is called the unconventional strategy—when you have the same goal as anyone else, but you find a different way to achieve it.
It works in education, career, personal finance, social causes, politics, relationships, etc. Oh, and it can even work in sports and contests too.
Take 27 seconds today to watch this video of a middle-school American football team that adopted an unconventional strategy to achieve a traditional victory.
***
Note: If you’re not from North America and don’t understand this sport, it’s OK; I don’t really follow it either. As far as I can tell, the object is to move the ball down the field without getting a concussion. Normally when you are trying to do that, the players on the other team are trying to stop you—but in this example, the kid with the ball manages to confuse everyone by walking through the defense instead of running and pushing. Nice.
***
Some people feel that adopting the unconventional strategy is cheating. “That’s not fair!” they say, when you succeed without the struggle. It’s not fair to adapt to your surroundings or find a creative solution—and it’s not fair to create an entirely new playbook, because that throws the existing one into chaos.
It’s only natural that some people feel this way. If you spend your whole life taking the long road, of course you’ll be resentful when someone finds a shortcut.
But some rules were made to be broken, and other rules have loopholes. In both cases, there is almost always more than one way to accomplish something.
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Image: Raggle
November 22, 2010
Roy
Awesome. I think it was also on the news recently. Sometimes the solution to our problems are so simple, we just need to think outside the box a little.
November 22, 2010
Sean
Watching that video never gets old! It’s so awesome to watch!
What’s interesting to think about is whether or not the quarterback was nervous when walking right past the defensive line. Even more rewarding to think about perhaps, was the feeling of victory when the Qback scored while doing something in an “unconventional way”.
This move definitely took guts to pull of and I think that’s the bottom line. Doing something new always requires courage.
November 22, 2010
Jeffrey Davis
Chris: Thanks for this video and the perfect accompanying point. This situation illustrates beautifully how the element of surprise works to irritate and/or delight. The opposing team is surprised and irritated, but we observers are surprised and delighted.
November 22, 2010
GutsyWriter
A Gutsy move, and the first time I’ve enjoyed and felt connected to football.
November 22, 2010
John
Sorry, I don’t agree. Athletics is more than just points on the board. The coach took advantage of the naivete of the boys on the other team. Okay for high school, but at this age level when kids are learning the game, the coach is only showing what a prick he is.
November 22, 2010
Sav Coach
Gosh I love this!!! There is something here every team in any organisation could learn from!
November 22, 2010
Nina
What a great video Chris. And great post as always, I especially love the last four lines of your article. Thanks for the motivation!:)
November 23, 2010
Debashri
I dont like or watch sports… but this one had me going Yes! as he made it to the goal line (donno if that’s what it’s called)
I love how you ended the post… It seems so unfair to those who do things the traditional way and find out that the old way or the ‘right’ way of doing things NOT result in achievement.
But you dont get anywhere by being resentful of other people’s success, I’d rather throw my hands up and cheer for the winner even if it’s not me
November 23, 2010
Alex Blackwell
What a powerful video!
Thinking outside of the box separates us from mediocrity when we take a moment to figure out how to do something differently.And when we do – TOUCHDOWN!
Thanks for the inspiration Chris,
Alex
November 23, 2010
Trumpet Grrrl
Haha genius! I love how the QB falls when he chest bumps his teammate. Clearly he wouldn’t have been able to handle being tackled. Good thing he avoided all that messiness!
November 23, 2010
Rich Dixon
I guess I’m the “unconventional commenter.” I see the video differently. My first reaction was a chuckle, and really it’s not a big deal–only a kids’ game.
Looking deeper, it depends on the goal and your definition of success. If it’s “win no matter what” you take one approach. If it’s “learn how to play football” you might see it differently. If it’s “win within the spirit of the game and treat adversaries respectfully” …
Personally, I’d classify this tactic as a failure. Funny, short-term success, but big-picture failure.
November 23, 2010
Richard Becker
Great choice of video to illustrate the point. It’s one of my favorites.
You’re right of course. All rules were meant to be broken. That’s why science continues to rewrite the textbooks with every new discovery. And that’s why business ought to be doing the same.
November 23, 2010
Bernice
It’s awesome to see people come up with innovative ways of doing things, of thinking outside the box. They will always come up against obstacles and naysayers, as everyone else wants to keep them inside the box with them!
November 23, 2010
Andrzej
Great idea for a solution! I sure had a laugh of it
November 23, 2010
Demond Thompson
Wow! That was a great video. It’s nice to see people thinking outside the box. I guess that was a not-so-subtle hint for me to do the same.
Thank you very much!
November 23, 2010
Evonne
The timing of this video is perfect. It’s -30 here in Canada, I’m feeling discouraged… thinking,” just get a job like very one else!”
Haven’t had one yet. Last job was in 1977, I was a teenager.
It’s a crazy world out there.
PS I have worked since then … always for myself.
Cheers
November 23, 2010
Alex Humphrey
Wow, what an amazing way to illustrate your point! I have seen that video a few times now and never realized how powerful it really is! Thank you for reminding me to both look for and celebrate unconventional ways of looking at life!
November 23, 2010
Peter Paluska
Haha! That is a hilarious video. Not sure about the legality of the play though. The center hiked it to the QB over the shoulder. What?!@#%$
But, of course, that’s not the point!
I am a big believer in “Learn the rules first, then become a master of knowing when breaking them is to your advantage –and legal, moral, and ethical– and when it is not.”
Because, not to be boring, but sometimes following the rules is the best way to go.
Balance it!
Thanks, Chris!
Peter
November 23, 2010
Luisss
Fantastic video. Sometimes it’s really easy to find a solution, you just have to keep it simple and don’t complicate.
November 23, 2010
Josh
Great example Chris!
I think the best way to look at being unconventional is to simply ask ‘why?’ or ‘why not?’ a lot.
Having new eyes on something helps, too, since they aren’t stuck with the ‘well that’s just the way it works’ perspective.
November 23, 2010
Jordan
I love that clip. I coached football last year, and don’t think that play should ever work, but it was so well executed!
Rules are definitely made to be broken, because it makes the game and life more interesting. Finding a loophole excites me, and there are so many to find, in so many aspects of life. There is some reward for taking the long way round, but striving to be a game changer is more exciting.
November 23, 2010
Peter G. James Sinclair
Rules are made to be broken. Once you know what you are expected to do – then find a more creative way to achieve better results. If entrepreneurs and inventors never asked – ‘Is there a better way’ – and stuck to tried and true – we would still be in the dark ages! Bring on the light – long live the rule breakers!
November 23, 2010
Nick
Not sure how I feel about the validity/effectiveness of this particular example. Sure it’s fun and lighthearted and all, but the whole point of the trick was that the opposing team thought that play had stopped, for whatever reason (at least that’s what I see). It was a means to an end, but it was also undeniably sneaky and deceptive – someone who assumes this kind of strategy, regardless of whether they think it’s ‘right’ or not, is going to have to face those kinds of descriptors (sneaky, deceptive, tricky, deceitful, sly, etc.) especially when the obstacles they are overcoming are other human beings (i.e. it’s much easier to exploit inanimate stuff than it is to exploit the naivete/unintelligence/beliefs of other human beings without being called those things). On top of all that, this play will probably only ever work once for this team – everyone else is now going to look out for this trick the next time they play.
November 23, 2010
Galen Pearl
That video is priceless–I’ve already watched it five times! I spend more time watching football than I care to admit, and I never ever would have come up with a stategy like this. How wonderful that it was envisioned by a middle school football team. Delightfully bold and surprising! What an inspiration. I’m going to remember it next time I am “stuck.” Thank you!!
November 24, 2010
Tommy
The message I take from the video is not that the unconventional works, but that even kids these days are being taught the unfortunate lesson that if it’s not a violation of the rules, or the law, then it’s OK to do it. What would have been called ungentlemanly conduct in the past is now part of school sport.
And then we wonder why disasters like Enron and all that followed take place.
November 24, 2010
Jim Johnson
I appreciate your (and others’) input on thinking outside of the box – it just recently paid off for me. I asked to apply for something at my job, but I was told the deadline had passed. I asked what I would need to do to apply after the deadline. She proceded to tell me what I would need to do to apply, but then reiterated that it’s a hard and fast rule: The deadline had passed. I just clarified the procedure and thanked her, as she repeated that I couldn’t do it. I submitted the application anyway, and I just got it! Huzzah! Thanks to you and others like you who think outside the box. You helped me to stroll through the defenders.
November 24, 2010
Dave Charest
My wife and I saw this clip the other night.
I believe it’s one thing to look for ways to cheat the system that allow you to win on a technicality rather than any real achievement. I’m not so much for that.
But something like this that does something unexpected but completely within the rules and in-line with the spirit of the game is great.
Thanks for the post.
November 24, 2010
Dan S
Legit play. Cheating? Did not see it. But, as soon as the ball was picked up it a live ball and someone should of tackle him. Good creative play.
November 24, 2010
tochi brown adimiche
absolutely brilliant thinking & action! i had to replay it several times, chortling with glee. i wish i was that kid… every day. okay, let me start working on it….
November 25, 2010
Broughin It
Brilliant, sometimes under doing it is better than over doing it.
November 25, 2010
Ravi
That is the best football play I have EVER seen!