Look at this time chart. Any idea what it is?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_jump

Periods of steady growth, separated by periods of very rapid incline in the 1960s, then again in the late 1970s. Give up?

The chart depicts the men's world record for high jump from the early 1900s to present day (in meters). So what explains the steep slope changes? Steroids? Nope.

Before 1956 or so, virtually every high jumper used the Western Roll or Scissor Kick techniques for getting over the bar. Then a new technique called the Straddle was invented that proved far superior (the graph doesn't lie).

Fast forward to 1968 and an obscure American high jumper named Dick Fosbury - inventor of the Fosbury Back Flop. Another steep rise in the graph.

The point is, you can opt for marginal improvements by "doing the same thing only better" or you can reach for the brass ring by finding a whole new way.

Know this: Not a single world-class high jumper uses the Western Roll, Scissor Kick or Straddle techniques anymore.