I sometimes get asked to come up with a “ludicrous big stunt” idea (see ‘Mountains, Free Idea #21). This is often a breath of fresh air in a world of endless meetings and brainstorms, small step by step deck building, tissues meetings, strategic positioning, more meetings, deck version 9 and all the other elements that go into selling ideas within my industry.
A headline grabbing stunt can be really fun to work on. “Think big” I was told. This got me thinking about space, then the planets. I read about all the names and how they got there, what the names mean and how they translate in other languages. I then thought about the sun and the moon.
Now the sun? That’s big. I wondered why it doesn’t have a name like Pluto* or Uranus?
As usually, the simple word “why” leads to ideas. This one became:
“Become immortal: Brand X will give you the chance to name the Sun after yourself, a loved one or anything you desire!”
How could this be done? Officially, I would suppose conversations with various science bodies, NASA, the UN? Massive amounts of money changing hands, maybe it’s done temporarily or just within certain trade journals?
Unofficially, it could just be done on a “because we say so” basis, in the hope it will get news and attention. The unofficial name, if interesting enough and with enough buzz surrounding it, will become the nickname of the sun in any case.
I can see the headlines now, “Sun officially named Sunny McSunface in NASA’s schools Sun naming competition.”
What would I name it? Easy: Maya.
Email: ideas@floydhayes.com to discuss projects or workshops.
*Pluto was finally discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory, based on predictions by Lowell and other astronomers. Pluto got its name from 11-year-old Venetia Burney of Oxford, England, who suggested to her grandfather that the new world get its name from the Roman god of the underworld. Thanks WIKI.
