I keep a couple of toys on my desk. It has nothing to do with my lack of maturity or attention span and everything to do with the mindless fidgeting that seems to unleash my creative side. There are probably studies that would support this theory though I can’t name them.

One of my favorite toys is a bunch of magnets in straight links and balls that can be arranged and rearranged in any manner of ways. Lately I have kept it at the front of my desk and have been fascinated by the various ways that people interact with the toy when they come to my office. What does your play style say about you?

• The construction engineer – this person takes the magnets and arranges them in a logical, symmetrical pattern. They seem to take it personally if the odd leftover piece ruins their masterpiece. Strangely this group seems to think in only one dimension and all their designs are flat to the desk surface.
• The aspirationalist- constructs wildly imaginative and often vertical towers, they often try to bend the straight line and ball format into something less conventional — with mixed success I might add.
• The demolition expert – grabs the magnets in their current configuration and squeezes away all form or function into an irregular mass. Not sure what they are trying for but it usually results in one or two balls drifting off the desk and onto the floor. They seem so satisfied.
• The action hero – uses the physical properties of these strong magnets to create movement without contact. They will construct wheels with spokes and wands to spin them around on the desk or create battles of attraction or repelling between magnets placed just-so far apart.
• The scientist – creates their own experiments, Often linking straight magnets and ball magnets in a long line to test how many they can add and hold up in the air until the line breaks.

I am sure none of this is conscious. But interestingly, most people fall into the same activities repeatedly. I wonder if these match any behavioral marketing personas or if this is simply another lesson that people are different? They approach their lives differently and may need different cues, tools, content and other options in the websites they visit and applications they use. Lesson learned — the fun way.