Fresh Ideas

We all know that employees and entrepreneurs alike are rewarded for fresh ideas that work. Sadly, we are equally aware that those who try to "change things" are often mistreated and considered pests. So how does one decide whether to challenge old practices and thought patterns or leave well enough alone? Before considering this in more detail, please read the following true story:

How Old Specs Live On Forever
Submitted by Scott Tousignaut

The U.S. Standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number. Why was that gauge used? Because that's the way they built them in England, and the U.S. railroads were built by English expatriates.

Why did the English people build them like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used.

Why did "they" use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing.

Okay! Why did the wagons use that odd wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagons would break on some of the old, long distance roads, because that's the spacing of the old wheel ruts.

So who built these old rutted roads? The first long-distance roads in Europe were built by Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been used ever since.

And the ruts? The initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagons, were first made by Roman war chariots. Since the chariots were made for or by Imperial Rome they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing.

Thus, we have the answer to the original questions. The U.S. standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman army war chariot. The Imperial Roman chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the back-ends of two war horses.

I am flabbergasted by this story! Amtrak rides on rails spaced to match the size of two Roman war horses - specs from centuries ago. not some carefully engineered safety related spacing as I had imagined. I wonder just how many other "established" practices are equally irrelevant.

Yet when I consider the churches I have attended, I am a bit less shocked. Have you ever noticed what happens when the pastor changes the order of service on some Sunday morning? This happened in my home church and the pastor really caught the dickens for it. It happens in business, too. And in schools. And especially in government.

If you're considering questioning a set practice related to tradition but seemingly meaningless, test the waters first. Be gentle with your queries. Try the subtle approach to get folks to thinking about the issue, then make your suggestions after carefully working out all the angles.

Be cautious and expect opposition, but don't be afraid to advance your fresh ideas. They may lead to great rewards for others as well as yourself. Case in point: the research chemist questioning the costly disposal of a manufacturing byproduct (waste) who came up with sticky notes. I'd be lost without them!

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Revised: April 20, 2006.