At Business Fest South West, I took part in a challenge in the Notworking Networking area. The task? Swap 15 blue balls and 15 white balls between bowls as quickly as possible.

The only rule declared was: You can only touch one ball of each colour at a time.

Watching before taking part, naturally, most participants followed this literally – one ball in each hand, back and forth, back and forth…

But I paused and asked two simple questions:

1. Can I touch the bowls?
2. Do I have to touch the balls?

Answers:

1. Yes…
2. and No.

So, I cupped the front of my polo shirt like a makeshift funnel, poured the blue balls into it, tipped them into the white bowl, then emptied the white into the now-empty blue bowl. Done. 12.45 seconds.

Looking back, I’ve been thinking, how does this compare to the day job?

1. Read between the rules – Just because a rule implies something, doesn’t mean it restricts you.
2. Ask smart questions – Clarifying the edges of the challenge revealed an opportunity no one else saw.
3. Use tools creatively – In this case, a shirt isn’t just clothing; it’s a solution if you look at it differently.
4. Think systems, not steps – Focusing on the goal rather than the method opened the door to real efficiency.
5. Work smarter, not harder – Strategy beat speed. Insight beat effort.

Lesson: Rules exist to shape the game—not to stifle imagination. Sometimes the best innovation comes from simply asking: “Does it actually say I can’t?”

My question to you… Does it count? Is it cheating? Or is a little lateral thinking the way forward?