Here's the plot:

A princess of a very popular place has been kidnapped by a large and powerful dragon. Oh, and just not any dragon... the most feared and hated of all dragons. This dragon has been terrorizing her kingdom and kingdoms like hers for years now. Needless to say, the dragon is a huge threat, and the princess remains helpless and in need of rescuing.

If this were your story, and going with what I've just given you, who would you cast to be the hero(s)? Who would you send out to find and save the beloved princess, slay the evil dragon, and bring peace to all the lands?

• Her father, the king, and his guards
• Her brother, a prince and his loyal followers
• Her love interest, a prince, and his men
• The knights of the round-table, sworn to protect her
• An ancient, magic-wielding wizard

Who would it be?

Well, for Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo, it would be a couple of over-weight, fire-ball throwing, and warp-pipe mastering plumbers in red and green over-alls. Doesn't make for an exciting story... or does it? Enter Mario and Luigi, the Mario brothers. They're just your average "Joes" and they've been saving Princess Peach Toadstool and the Mushroom Kingdom from the evil dragon Bowser Koopa since 1985.

The story of the Mario Brothers absolutely rocks to no end! These characters have been featured in dozen's of Nintendo titles and scenarios, and are legendary icons in the world of video games. Simply put... Mario and Luigi are the Dahlia Llamas of the gaming industry.

A couple of years ago, while I was brushing up on my Adobe Illustrator skills, I created this uber-cool poster. (Sorry... the picture's not straight and a plastic cover is creating a glare... but you'll get the point).

I have a copy of this poster hanging on my cube wall (yes... I work in a cubicle) as a constant reminder that success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to be different and break the barriers of traditional concepts.

If you consider the time of when "Super Mario Bros." was created, it was quite common to see a game that featured a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armor. Never was the knight in shining armor a short, chubby commoner. It was always a tall, handsome hero with ties to royalty. In the midst of Nintendo's huge NES console launch (the videogame system that would ultimately change the gaming industry forever) they decided to headline an innovative game that broke those traditions... and it worked. 22 years later, Mario and Luigi games continue to fly off the shelves and Nintendo continues to profit.

"To think that Nintendo Bet the house on a couple of Plumbers"

Does your company offer new and innovative products or services, or do you follow the same old traditions set forth by those before you?