.oO Tailwind

Articles on innovation theory, culture an management practices have been written ad infinitum. Many books weigh down my bookshelf and my mind.

So I’m not about to write a lengthy blog post on innovation or mistake embracing culture. I just want to point out a nice anecdotal story about a man who didn’t know the rules that I read via Viewers Like You, via a friend’s blog that’s about changing the status quo and achieving results no-one thought possible.

Cue ‘Voice Over Man‘

“In a world where men race men in a death defying race, one man fights the norm… to do things his.. own.. way”

Okay, I’ll stop.

In 1983, Cliff Young, a 61 year old sheep farmer from Australia, entered one of the world’s most gruelling ultra races wearing galoshes and boots. Up against trained, elite ultra athletes he competes in the race over 875 km and 5 days, sets a record and wins the heart of Australians everywhere.

All because he didn’t know the rules.

He competed with ‘less’ knowledge than his competitors and as a result saw the challenge very differently indeed. His unique angle ultimately won him the race and changed the practice of ultra running forever.

It’s time for a ‘think outside the box’ quote.

Pah.

This is fun, done by Poke for Orange.

I think it was Poke. So I’m told.

Orange’s never ending web page.

Orange have been one of my clients for a few years and when something like this goes live it reminds me why, as a brand I love it.

Good stuff Pokesters. This is fun.

Technorati Tags:
orange, telco

During my day I stray upon, or I am sent lots of links to cool and interesting things. So I thought that I’d start posting the good ones here.

I’ll try to do this on a weekly basis to keep the interest up for you and promise to cover interesting products, websites, business initiatives, technology and whatever else comes my way.

I apologise not, for the odd breakdancing clip. None today though I’m afraid.

Nominees for the 2006 weblog award - Not this year methinks.

Check out this guy doing doing impressions of LL Cool J, Jay-Z and Snoop. I love the way he not only slips effortlessly into each impression, the lyric style works so well too.

The Notting Hill Carnival is on today but I can’t go.

It’s a huge giggle, loads of nice food being cooked in the street, great atmosphere and loads of picture opportunities for me to flood my Flickr account with. But because I have a 7 day old baby and am largely house bound at the moment - I will not be going. Boooooo.

No doubt my buddies Jason and Fosta will be there widing and grinding and eatin ‘chickon’.

Anyone with good articles, pictures etc let me know!

Sorry I haven’t posted for a few days, I’ve been preparing for a pitch for a ‘large media client’, more later if we win it. Anyway, that coupled with preparing for our new arrival at Hutchinson towers, I’ve been a busy boy lately.

Eitherway, I have a distraction from all things sensible tonight as my old mate Fosta has had a brain wave to race for the grandly named Serpentine Trophy every year by seeing who can make the best time going from Hyde Park corner to the gate and back. The distance is about 1.4 miles which is just far enough to stop you hammering it all the way, but long enough to burn you out if you are going too quickly.

The event is a collection of late-twenty / early-thirty somethings racing their bikes just likes kids used to when they were 13 years old. We’re meeting after work tonight in Hyde Park, London, and I’ll be racing on my Dahon Speed Pro and I’ll be flipping my handlebars to ‘race mode’. But I’m disadvantaged from the off - what with my wheels being 16″ and requiring more from me to go fast.

I’m hoping that Fosta will be racing his BMX, but I bet he’s on his shiny new ‘hybrid’.

Results tomorrow.