Lesson from a 1974 Hot Wheels Car
Found: Built to Last
The Backstory
Amazing. It is amazing what can be found in a pocket that can spark thoughts of better days… or days where products weren’t made so cheap they broke the moment you bought them.
I don’t have a long backstory with the item in this story, because, honestly, I don’t know its history. I’ll just let your imagination do the work this time.
There many items in our lives that where we have know idea how they came to be or how we got them, which I suppose is a story in and of itself. It still amazes me that the type of items that seem to survive the tests of time and the numerous hands that items pass through to get where they are… in your hands, or in this case, in my hands. Things last for a reason, and those reasons can teach us lessons.
The Object
I have a light jacket that I use for outdoor work that I got from the government surplus store — yes, it is jungle camouflage.
As I was burning brush, I reached into the cargo pocket and found this yellow, Hot Wheels Porsche made in 1974… 1974! That was 41 years ago.
Pictured throughout this story is the car I found in my pocket. I don’t remember where I got it or how it ended up in my pocket — if I had to guess, it was a garage sale — but, for some reason this time when I reached into my pocket while working in my yard and found this car; I thought more about it and its origin, as I turned it over in my hand… over and over.
The workmanship and quality of this car is incredibly evident. The weight of the car is heavy, cold, and solid… almost one piece of die-cast steel. Hardly a scratch on it. The yellow paint was hard and smooth, which is hard to believe that after 41 years that it could be in such good condition with only a couple of chips.
How many kids’ have played with the car? How many people’s lives were made happy playing with this car during their childhood? Probably, a lot! And it survived. Not only survived — it endured — well beyond the interest of the first person who played with it. The wheels still roll smoothly; the interior still has detail, as seen through the open windows. Quality. Durability. Fun. Like it just rolled off the lot.
The Lesson
But this story is not about same premise as Disney Pixar’s The Toy Story; it is about how this toy car could last as long as it has. This is where we can learn something; this where the lessons are… think about the answers to these questions:
- Why did this 1974 Hot Wheels Porsche survive so long and not get thrown away, forgotten, or destroyed?
- What attributes are contributing to its longevity?
- Why do old things seem to or feel like they last a lot longer than the items we make or use today?
With much of the world focused on greed and making a fast buck, it is no surprise that items are not made to last anymore. Make it cheap, so we can buy another one when it breaks. Thinking short-term not long-term. Exponential growth and decline instead of steady and progressive growth.
Am I generalizing? Maybe, but I’m sure you can think of your own examples. Look no further than Domino’s and its efforts to turn itself around after its quality tanked… even Business Insider covered that story in 2014. I am also reminded of plumbing parts… the pipes under the sink… compare the difference between the old part and new part from the store today. Obvious.
Here are some take-aways:
- Stop doing things half-ass.
- Use the right tools, processes, and frameworks to do the job.
- Build things to last. Period. Can you live with yourself if you build things that fail or are designed to fail?
- Your reputation is on the line. Do what is right for the customer, and your bottom line will respond accordingly.
- Be proud of your work. If you’re not proud, you’re in the wrong job or industry.
Yes, there were likely other cars made with this one that didn’t make it. There are circumstances other than original quality that contributed to its survival. But, I keep the car in my jacket pocket as reminder that things should be built to last, i.e. with care, craftsmanship, quality materials, and pride.
Written by Shaun Holloway.
