This video accompanies Chapter 1
Name of video: Toying with Success: The McFarlane Companies
While Watching the Video, Try to Find the Answers to These Questions

1. What career did Todd McFarlane have his heart set on when he was a teenager?
2. After his first choice career didn't work out, what alternative career did he doggedly pursue? (Hint: He finally landed a job in this career field after after receiving 300 rejection letters.)
3. With what company did he land his first job in this new career?
4. By 1990, he was the highest paid what in America? He then quit and started his own company.
5. How long did industry insiders predict his new company would last?
6. What was the first comic published by his new company entitled? How many copies did it sell?
7. What set of laws is the success of The McFarlane Companies especially dependent upon?
8. According to Todd McFarlane, why don't they just "make the Hot Wheels look cooler?"
9. How much does it cost The McFarlane companies to make the toy basketball he holds up to the camera, per unit, with the realistic brown color and the black seams? How much does Todd estimate it would cost his company per unit if he chose to manufacture it in a less realistic orange color, without painted seams? Why has he chosen to make it the more expensive way?
10. How much did Todd's company pay for Mark McGwire's record 70th homerun ball?
11. Does Todd consider that a good investment or a bad investment? Why? What did he do with that ball? What benefits did his company get from that?