4 feet 8.5 inches wide
Does the measurement of 4 feet 8.5 inches mean anything to you? Trust me, it does more than you know. Utilizing Jeremy Gutsche’s wonderful book Create The Future: Tactics For Disruptive Thinking as a resource, allow me to explain.
The Roman Empire ruled the world from 27 BC through 476 AD. Their primary mode of transportation and means for patrolling their territory was the two-horse war chariot. The width of the chariot’s axles was 4 feet 8.5 inches or basically two horses.
As the chariots traveled across the region, their wheels left deep ruts in the ground. This caused significant problems for farmers whose wagons would then get stuck in those ruts. Since their axles were not the same width as the Roman chariots, one of the wagon wheels would often break trying to get it out of the ground and back on the road. In a classic case of “If you can’t beat them, join them”, wagons were then redesigned to a width of 4 feet 8.5 inches. Farmers could now travel freely and without concern throughout the Roman countryside.
Innovation took awhile but eventually came along with railways used for mining. However, the first mining carts were pulled by horses. As a result, the first railways were built, you guessed it, 4 feet 8.5 inches wide. Welcome to the new Roman two-horse war chariot!!!
Europe eventually decided to put trains on tracks rather then horses. After all, trains were bigger, faster, more efficient, and could carry a heavier load. The trains were bigger but the tracks stayed the same, remaining 4 feet 8.5 inches wide.
Surely, the Americans would improve on this concept. Nope! Americans built railroad tracks 4 feet 8.5 inches wide.
Then along came NASA. These people are so innovative they put men on the moon. They would certainly do something different. No so fast!
When NASA began constructing their Solid Rocket Boosters in Utah and transporting them to Florida, they realized the rockets needed to fit on railroad tracks 4 feet 8.5 inches wide. The rockets are a bit larger but the reality is NASA constructed the size of some of their rockets partly based upon the size of two horses from the Roman Empire.
4 feet 8.5 inches wide.
I bet you will never look at a horse, train, or Space Shuttle rockets the same way again.
The Leadership Lesson
Sometimes it just easier to stick with the status quo. After all, it may have worked for thousands of years! But be warned, don’t forget to stop and from time-to-time ask, “Why exactly are we doing this?” You may discover there is a better way to do something.
A couple of years ago, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay stopped playing his starters in preseason. Critics lashed out and talked about how his players would be physically and mentally unprepared for the season. The Rams started out 8-0.
A rut is nothing but a grave with the ends kicked out. It’s time for your organization to ask some provocative questions about why you are doing the things the way you are.
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Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership. If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource. The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.