They discovered that it was possible to sell cars on their site only when customers started listing them on the section for toy cars. eBay has since followed its customers into lots of other areas, including new clothes, cosmetics and high-priced medical and industrial machinery.

ECONOMIST: eBay

But an article in the sports section of a Philadelphia newspaper entitled, College Commitments, listing local athletes who had signed letters of intent to compete in athletics at Division I colleges, highlights the fact that athletics can be a game changer when it comes to getting admitted to elite colleges.

FORBES: Grit, Grades And Lacrosse: How To Cradle Your Way Into Elite Colleges