New Ways of Thinking & Doing - The Lessons of a Square Watermelon
Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than their US counterparts and therefore don't have room to waste. Watermelons, big and round, wasted a lot of space. Most people would simply tell the grocery stores that watermelons grow round and there is nothing that can be done about it. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. "If the supermarkets want a space efficient watermelon," they asked themselves, "How can we provide one?"
It wasn't long before they invented the square watermelon. The solution to the problem of round watermelons wasn't nearly as difficult to solve for those who didn't assume the problem was impossible to begin with and simply asked how it could be done. It turns out that all you need to do is place them into a square box when they are growing and the watermelon will take on the shape of the box.
This made the grocery stores happy and had the added benefit that it was much easier and cost effective to ship the watermelons. Consumers also loved them because they took less space in their refrigerators which are much smaller than those in the US which resulted in the growers being able to charge a premium price for them.
What does this have to do with anything besides square watermelons?
There are a few lessons that you can take away from this story which will help you and your team as you take the ASAP Challenge:
Don't assume: Most people have always seen round watermelons, so they automatically assume that square watermelons are impossible to achieve before even thinking about the question. Likewise, you may not even consider a different way of doing things that you’ve done in the same way for years and years. Releasing assumption can greatly improve your overall life as you search for new and better ways of doing things.
Question habits: The best way to tackle these assumptions is to question your habits. If you can make an effort to question the way you do things on a consistent basis, you will find that you can continually improve the way that you live your life. Forming habits when they have been well thought out is usually a positive thing, but most of us have adopted our habits from various people and places without even thinking about them.
Be creative: When faced with a problem, be creative in looking for a solution. This often requires thinking outside the box. Most people who viewed this question thought that they were being asked how to genetically alter water melons to grow square a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. A creative perspective often leads to solutions where others can't see them.
Look for a better way: The square watermelon question was simply seeking a better and more convenient way to do something. The stores had flagged a problem they were having and asked if a solution was possible. It's impossible to find a better way if you are never asking the question in the first place. Always ask if there is a better way of doing the things that you do and constantly write down the things you wish you could do (but currently can't) since these are usually hints about steps you need to change. Get into the habit of asking yourself, "Is there a better way I could be doing this?" and you will find there often is.
Impossibilities often aren't: If you begin with the notion that something is impossible, then it obviously will be for you. If, on the other hand, you decide to see if something is possible or not, you will find out through trial and error.
From India, Coimbatore
733Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than their US counterparts and therefore don't have room to waste. Watermelons, big and round, wasted a lot of space. Most people would simply tell the grocery stores that watermelons grow round and there is nothing that can be done about it. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. "If the supermarkets want a space efficient watermelon," they asked themselves, "How can we provide one?"
It wasn't long before they invented the square watermelon. The solution to the problem of round watermelons wasn't nearly as difficult to solve for those who didn't assume the problem was impossible to begin with and simply asked how it could be done. It turns out that all you need to do is place them into a square box when they are growing and the watermelon will take on the shape of the box.
This made the grocery stores happy and had the added benefit that it was much easier and cost effective to ship the watermelons. Consumers also loved them because they took less space in their refrigerators which are much smaller than those in the US which resulted in the growers being able to charge a premium price for them.
What does this have to do with anything besides square watermelons?
There are a few lessons that you can take away from this story which will help you and your team as you take the ASAP Challenge:
Don't assume: Most people have always seen round watermelons, so they automatically assume that square watermelons are impossible to achieve before even thinking about the question. Likewise, you may not even consider a different way of doing things that you’ve done in the same way for years and years. Releasing assumption can greatly improve your overall life as you search for new and better ways of doing things.
Question habits: The best way to tackle these assumptions is to question your habits. If you can make an effort to question the way you do things on a consistent basis, you will find that you can continually improve the way that you live your life. Forming habits when they have been well thought out is usually a positive thing, but most of us have adopted our habits from various people and places without even thinking about them.
Be creative: When faced with a problem, be creative in looking for a solution. This often requires thinking outside the box. Most people who viewed this question thought that they were being asked how to genetically alter water melons to grow square a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. A creative perspective often leads to solutions where others can't see them.
Look for a better way: The square watermelon question was simply seeking a better and more convenient way to do something. The stores had flagged a problem they were having and asked if a solution was possible. It's impossible to find a better way if you are never asking the question in the first place. Always ask if there is a better way of doing the things that you do and constantly write down the things you wish you could do (but currently can't) since these are usually hints about steps you need to change. Get into the habit of asking yourself, "Is there a better way I could be doing this?" and you will find there often is.
Impossibilities often aren't: If you begin with the notion that something is impossible, then it obviously will be for you. If, on the other hand, you decide to see if something is possible or not, you will find out through trial and error.
From India, Coimbatore
Hi Peer
Thanks for posting this wonderful article... i always talk about this information in my sessions to my trainees.... to remove pre-conceived notions which are barriers to our innovations and our progress in life.
Can i add a picture of this square watermelon from my data base?
Regards,
Sowmini.
From India, Madras
Thanks for posting this wonderful article... i always talk about this information in my sessions to my trainees.... to remove pre-conceived notions which are barriers to our innovations and our progress in life.
Can i add a picture of this square watermelon from my data base?
Regards,
Sowmini.
From India, Madras
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