Re-frame the problem

(Scott) Was just listening to National Public Radio and heard a great bit on automobiles and emissions. The commentator offered a simple principle - when it comes to pollution, automobiles are not the problem. Oil is the problem.

We so often focus our ire on automobiles (e.g. SUVs are heavy polluters!) This particular commentator pointed out that cars are not the problem... they are merely an enabler. Oil is the source of pollution. Cars (even SUVs) are the solution - if (when) they exclusively use alternative fuels, we curb pollution.

One additional point... the commentator noted that even if we all drove Priuses, we would not have solved the problem, as we'd still be 100% dependent on oil (A Prius isn't going anywhere with an empty gas tank).

It was a reminder for me that we often get swept up in problems and zero in on symptoms rather than the source. What's a big busines challenge you are working on? Can you re-frame the problem to get at the heart of the matter?

Goodbye Runlondon hello Supersonic - on myspace??

So Nike has abandoned its runlondon gig and replacing it with SuperSonic. An innovative twist? Perhaps.

In the past you'd log onto an easy to use, clean and simple site that was about one thing: running. You'd sign up for the race, and hope you were one of the first 4000 to do so so that you could secure a place.

Seems Nike is doing things a differently with SuperSonic.

For starters, the website is now hosted on Myspace: http://myspace.com/nikesupersonic. This immediately excludes those who are not net-savvy enough to participate.

The site is ubercool, funky, hip and slick and seems to have a more competitive feel to it. Instead of registering for a place in the 10K run, you now have to register to take part in the 100m sprints (first come first serve - "no promises"). The top 1000 sprinters get to invite 3 guests. Thus 1000x3 = 4000 runners in total (admittedly, a clever way to get to the 4000 mark).
Can you imagine the field day on EBay flogging these tickets???

Anyway. The final twist is that this is a party. And a hip party at that.
It takes place on a Saturday night and promises "one night of music fuelled speed".

I'm sure it's going to be a cool event - especially for the hip and happening youth out there.
But for a brand that is trying to regain credibility in the running arena, this seems like an odd strategy. Then again, maybe Nike has decided to stick to what it does best? And that is keep cool.

Thoughts?