 There is always a way to do things in a new and better way..
Lessons of the Square Watermelon
Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than shops in the USA 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.
That is how majority of people would respond. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. If the supermarkets wanted a square 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 was not to solve as the farmers did not assume it was impossible - and simply asked how it could be done.
They found out that if you put the watermelon in a square box when they are growing, the watermelon will take on the shape of the box - and grow into a square fruit.
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 meaning that the growers could charge a premium price for them.
What does this have do with anything in life or at your job? There are a few lessons that can you can take away from this story which help you :
Don't Assume: The major problem was that most people had always seen round watermelons so they automatically assumed that square watermelons were impossible before even thinking about the question. Things that you have been doing a certain way your entire life have taken on the aura of the round watermelon and you likely don't even take the time to consider if there is another way to do it. Breaking yourself from assuming this way can greatly improve your overall life as you are constantly looking for new and better ways to do things. This was one of the most difficult things for me to do because most of the assumptions I make, I don't even realize that I'm making them. They seem perfectly logical on the surface, so I have to constantly make an effort to question th! em.
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 work. 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. I have changed a large number of habits that I have had after taking the time to question them and continue to do so. Some of them I have no idea where they came from while others I can trace to certain people or instances in my life. It's a never ending process, but by doing this, you can cons! intently strive toward making all aspects of your life more enjoyable instead of defaulting to what you have now.
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 likely thought they were being asked how they could genetically alter water melons to grow square which would be a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. Being creative and looking at things in different ways in all portions of your live will help you find solutions to many problems where others can't see them. I am not a creative person, but I've found that the more that you look at things from different perspectives, the more creative I have become. It's a learned art and builds upon itself.
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. I try to ask if there is a better way of doing the things that I do and I constantly write down the things I wish I could do (but currently can't) since these are usually hints about steps I 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. Take away the lessons from the square watermelons and apply them to all areas in your life (work, finances, relationships, etc) and you will find that by consistently applying them, you will constantly be improving all aspects of your life.
I am sure we can bring about change if we really want to. 
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read more blogs!
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orzie
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Jun 30 @ 10:34AM
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learn how Japan treated prisoners of war .
their watermellons might be square and their face the shape of a frying pan
ill walk before buying one of their cars......
drive a pinto buy American
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shyone_4u699
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Jun 30 @ 10:43AM
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What you drive is your business. And, you can certainly walk if you choose to do that, too. I don't think Japanese watermelons are for sale here, though. This was just a lesson in perseverance. Had nothing to do with anything else.
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40DWM
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Jun 30 @ 11:17AM
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Ha....try working for the Post Office.
You should work at a place where the motto is "Yestersays mail, tomorrow"
And their way of thinking is 'Measure once, cut twice"
Too many U.S. industires, have learned to make better short term profit,
go overseas, reduce bene's, and steal from the workers.
American Industry and most business, are ran by beancounters.
Ever see the movie about Tucker and his car? ANY innovation will be crushed
by politicians, beauracrats, beancounters.
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missweet
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Jun 30 @ 2:56PM
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This is an example of thinking INSIDE the box!! 
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Thenewguy2957
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Jul 1 @ 11:04AM
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This is actually an American innovation, something business schools have been demonstrating for years by graduating blockheads who have run our economy into the ground.
" Let's send all our jobs overseas to workers not being paid enough to buy our products, let's just build big gas guzzling trucks because gas prices aren't gonna go up despite us sending so many jobs and money to developing companies....If we turn a profit I'll get my $20 million bonus for a couple of years and then retire before we experience the backlash." etc etc.
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