A Flower Pot Is Not a Hat

At least once a  year I utter the following phrase from the book “A Flower Pot Is Not a Hat” by Martha Moffett , while  working with development teams, producers, clients, or partners; “Of course, because a flower pot is not a hat?”. To which I’m often faced with blank stares and ‘what is she going on about thoughts ‘racing across their expressions.

The reactions are as designed!

It’s a book from my youth about a young child who is walking around the house talking about putting random objects on his head and calling it at hat. While on the surface this book may seem like just a child’s book, it’s actually a profound statement about thinking about function rather than always focusing on form.  Is the child wrong for saying a flower pot is a hat? Not In the least!  The function of a hat is to cover one’s head.  So yes, if you put a flower pot (pan, pen, laundry basket, or other object on your head) and it fits the functional definition, then why yes, it indeed a hat.

So let me bring this back full circle to life at Metaverse.  As professional services at Metaverse,  it is our job to help you distill your requirements down to their core and then help you define the best strategy to meet your goals. And we’re in a great place to provide a solution or strategy that gets you to market faster or increases efficiency, as we have a diverse array of clients and partners from various industries.   Sometimes one industry has already solved for a problem that another industry is just beginning to think about.  Because of our diversity and process;  we have no hesitation in saying, “Yes, we do that.”  It’s all about  function.

Some of the more interesting solutions we’ve either implemented or have encountered that I thought I would share with you to show that we enjoy putting the flower pot on our head and call it a hat:

• Using Zendesk as a content management system: cost savings, unified toolsets, and simple interface. Originally designed as a ticketing and troubleshooting system.
• Using Xpolog as a moderation toolset: significant cost savings, finer granularity in searching chat logs, and a built in alerting system. Originally designed as a server monitoring tool.
• Using in-game moderators as sales personnel for new micro-transaction items as a way or encouraging purchases in-game. Uptick in sales and more activity in your game. Traditionally moderators are there to engage and protect.

With that said, I challenge all of our employees to look for solutions and propose alternatives that will make their projects run smoother, their clients happier, and most importantly foster a sense of community with our various audiences on a daily basis.

Now it’s your turn. What are some interesting re-purposing of concepts, ideas, toolsets, or other objects you have done in your life?   Would love to hear from you!

–        Regine Weiner
–        Vice President, Professional Services
–        E. [email protected]
–        Twitter: twizzerd

 “A Flower Pot Is Not a Hat”, is probably one of the most influential books of my child hood. It’s amazing how one little book can go on to shape a lifetime and in fact has played a heavy role in my career and thought process. Thank you Martha Moffett.