Are you a square peg or a round peg?

Most people will probably answer “round peg” because the idea of being a square anything isn’t that appealing.  Why do you think people use the expression, “think outside the box?”  A box is square or rectangle and considered pretty limiting.  What if the saying were, “think outside the ball?”  Just doesn’t sound right, does it?  A square also has four points.  When you think of a point, you normally think of sharp things which can be dangerous.  A square also has four sides.  Since I’m still in school, when I think of sides, I think of team sports in PE. Depending on which side you’re on, it isn’t necessarily that much fun.  Apparently in the 1960′s, being called “square” meant you were the guys in suits, the people who worked at traditional companies, the ones that followed the rules.   I guess there were probably a lot of grown-ups that were considered “square.”

When you think of being square, there are a lot of negative meanings associated with it.

But being something round, without any sides or points seems pretty good.   A round peg can fit into a square hole but a square peg can’t fit into a round hole (of course given that the diameter of the circle isn’t bigger than the width of the square).   The round peg has more options.

Have you ever wondered why manhole covers are round, not square?   It’s because round covers won’t accidentally fall into the hole.  No matter how you hold it or tilt it, you can’t push it through the hole.  If it were square, it would be really easy to turn it diagonally and drop it through.  Wouldn’t you rather be a round cover than a square one?

Use whatever expression or saying you like for this situation.  When it comes right down to it, I think it’s better to be round than square.  To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be flexible and able to, as my grandpa says, “roll with it.”  You can’t roll if you’re a square peg.