In the competitive landscape of business, innovation isn't just a buzzword; it's the driving force that fuels growth, sustains relevance, and pushes companies into the future. While many organizations focus on cultivating innovation from within, there's an alternative path that's often overlooked—innovation by acquisition. During my decade-long stint as CTO at HP, I was front and center for over 80 acquisitions, all in pursuit of innovation by acquisition. These experiences ranged from roaring successes to cautionary tales, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of integrating innovative ventures into established corporate ecosystems.

The Wall Street Conundrum

The challenge? Aligning traditional valuation metrics with the intangible benefits of innovation-driven acquisitions. When companies are acquired for their innovative potential, their valuation often hinges on a 'future promise'—a projection of how their innovations will contribute to new revenue streams, market differentiation, and competitive advantage. This speculative nature makes it tough for investors to gauge the true value of these deals, leading to market skepticism or overenthusiasm.

The Complex Dynamics of Integration

Achieving a return on innovation through acquisitions requires more than just integrating new technologies or products. It involves merging distinct corporate cultures, teams, and visions—a task that's easier said than done. Traditional Wall Street valuation models, adept at evaluating tangible assets, often fall short in these complex scenarios. This gap can result in volatile investor reactions, from inflated stock prices to sharp declines.

When Innovation by Acquisition Works

What sets apart successful innovation acquisitions from missteps? Clear objectives, defined metrics, and organizational alignment. Pursuing an acquisition with a clear goal of injecting innovation, backed by concrete metrics and aligned with organizational goals, smoothens the integration and value creation process. Yet, achieving this clarity is a challenge. Many leaders, enticed by quick innovation fixes, dive into acquisitions without fully understanding their motivations or exploring alternative paths.

The Road Less Traveled: Alternatives to Acquisition

Before diving into acquisitions, leaders should consider less risky, more efficient alternatives. Collaboration forms, like patent licenses or cross-licenses, can offer access to desired technology with lower risk and financial outlay. These approaches also shield companies from Wall Street scrutiny, allowing for more freedom and flexibility in pursuing innovation.

Navigating the Acquisition Maze

For those committed to innovation by acquisition, success hinges on understanding what makes these ventures thrive. It's about delving deep into organizational cultures, values, and future visions. It requires meticulous post-acquisition planning to ensure the acquired company's innovative spirit isn't stifled by bureaucratic hurdles or cultural resistance.

Steps to Successful Innovation Acquisition

·        Identify Strategic Alignment: Ensure the acquisition aligns with long-term strategic goals and innovation objectives.

·        Conduct Thorough Due Diligence: Assess the target company’s culture, technology, and market position beyond financials.

·        Involve Key Stakeholders Early: Engage leaders and employees from both organizations to foster alignment and address concerns.

·        Define Clear Metrics and Goals: Establish concrete metrics for success and guide the integration process.

·        Plan for Cultural Integration: Address cultural differences to avoid clashes post-acquisition.

·        Focus on People: Recognize the importance of human capital for success and ensure clear communication.

·        Maintain Innovation Momentum: Provide the acquired team with autonomy and resources to continue innovating.

·        Monitor and Adjust Post-Acquisition: Review integration progress against metrics and adjust strategies as needed.

Key Lessons Learned

The journey to successful innovation by acquisition requires a deep, long-term commitment to nurturing the acquired company. Achieving this is incredibly challenging, often requiring substantial effort to shift from a "C" or "D" to an "A-" or "B+". Those claiming consistent success in this arena are likely exaggerating. The true test lies in the retention and promotion of acquired talent within the organization post-acquisition.

The Verdict on Innovation by Acquisition

Is innovation by acquisition a guaranteed path to corporate renewal and growth? The answer is nuanced. While it can be a powerful engine for innovation when executed correctly, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires a strategic mindset, recognizing value where others see complexity. The road is challenging but filled with opportunities for growth and transformation. Success lies in approaching acquisitions with open eyes, recognizing their complexity, and committing to fostering innovation at every step.

The term "innovation theatre" has become increasingly prevalent in today's competitive landscape. It refers to the superficial acts organizations undertake to appear innovative without genuinely committing to the hard work of genuine innovation. This misleading facade often leads to wasted resources, missed opportunities, and damaged reputations. So, how can you spot this illusion, and what can you do to foster real innovation?

Misleading Motivations

Innovation theatre stems from a desire for quick wins and external validation rather than a genuine commitment to innovation. Organizations often invest heavily in flashy innovation labs, prime locations, and top facilities, prioritizing appearance over substance. This focus on the exterior rather than the core innovation process is a telltale of innovation theatre.

Common Signs

1. Flashy Innovation Labs with No Substance: These labs serve as mere showpieces, lacking the foundational research and development needed for true innovation.
2. Hackathons with No Follow-Through: While hackathons generate excitement and publicity, they often lack a concrete plan for implementing the ideas generated.
3. Premature Product Announcements: Some companies announce groundbreaking products that never materialize, creating buzz without delivering value.
4. Frequent Rebranding of Innovation Initiatives: Constantly changing the name and logo of innovation projects can signal a lack of focus and commitment.
5. Adopting Buzzwords Without Strategy: Incorporating trendy terms like blockchain, AI, or quantum without a clear implementation plan is another form of superficial innovation.
6. Treating Innovation Funding as Optional: Viewing innovation as a discretionary expense rather than a strategic investment can hinder long-term success.

The Pitfalls of Innovation Theatre

Engaging in innovation theatre can have several negative consequences:

• Wasted Resources: Organizations spend money on appearances rather than genuine innovation efforts.
• Lack of Sustainable Progress: Short-term gains fail to translate into long-term success.
• Damaged Reputation: A lack of substance can lead to skepticism from stakeholders and the public.
• Missed Opportunities: Focusing on the facade of innovation means missing out on genuine growth opportunities.
• Cultural Impact: Innovation theatre can foster a culture that values style over substance, leading to cynicism and disengagement among employees.

The Benefits of Authentic Innovation

In contrast to innovation theatre, authentic innovation offers numerous benefits:

• Sustainable Success: Genuine innovation creates a pipeline of ideas that fuel long-term growth.
• Industry Leadership: Authentic innovation allows organizations to lead rather than follow, setting industry standards rather than chasing them.
• Better Resource Allocation: When we focus on genuine innovation, we allocate resources more effectively, which leads to higher productivity and greater employee satisfaction.
• Cultural Impact: A culture of genuine innovation fosters critical thinking, continuous improvement, and trust among employees.

Choose Authenticity Over Illusion

Innovation is not a strategy; it's a survival tactic. Organizations must move beyond the illusion of innovation theatre and commit to the hard work of genuine innovation. By doing so, they can unlock sustainable success, industry leadership, and a culture of continuous improvement. So, the next time you encounter an organization engaging in innovation theatre, ask yourself: Are they truly committed to innovation or merely putting on a show?

In an age of constant change, we cannot overstate the value of adaptability and innovation. Yet, many of us find ourselves entrenched in a pattern of repetitive thinking, relying on familiar approaches to navigate the complexities of life. However, there exists a transformative alternative: creative thinking. This article explores the power of creative thinking and provides insights into how to cultivate this invaluable skill.

Understanding Monotonous Thinking

Monotonous thinking, akin to traversing the same path repeatedly, offers comfort and predictability. Our brains, naturally inclined towards efficiency, gravitate towards established patterns and solutions. While this may have sufficed in the past, it poses limitations in today's dynamic world. Signs of monotonous thinking include a preference for routine, reluctance to embrace change and resistance to new ideas.

To determine whether you're entrenched in monotonous thinking, follow this checklist. If you agree with several of these statements, it might be time to infuse more creativity into your problem-solving strategies.

·        Repetition Comfort: You prefer sticking to routines and methods you're already familiar with, even when they're not yielding the best results.

·        Solution Stagnation: When faced with a problem, your first instinct is to apply solutions that worked in the past, regardless of their fit for the current issue.

·        Risk Aversion: The thought of trying something new or unconventional makes you uncomfortable, leading you to avoid it altogether.

·        Idea Dismissal: You tend to quickly dismiss new ideas without fully exploring their potential benefits or applicability to your situation.

·        Feedback Resistance: People often respond to criticism or suggestions for alternative approaches with defensiveness rather than curiosity or openness to change.

·        Inspiration Insufficiency: You struggle to find inspiration or generate new ideas, often feeling stuck in a creative rut.

·        Change Challenge: Changes in your environment or routines are viewed more as threats than opportunities for growth and learning.

Creative Thinking: An Overview

Creative thinking characterizes a willingness to challenge conventions and explore unconventional solutions, contrasting with monotonous thinking. It involves asking probing questions, envisioning possibilities, and embracing diverse perspectives. Creative thinkers exhibit curiosity, flexibility, and fluency in generating ideas. By fostering a creative mindset, individuals can unlock innovative solutions and navigate challenges with resilience and adaptability.

At its core, creative thinking involves three key components:

·        Originality: The ability to develop fresh and unique ideas that deviate from the norm.

·        Flexibility: The capability to adapt to new situations, to shift perspectives, and to consider multiple aspects of a problem simultaneously.

·        Fluency: The ease with which one can generate a wide range of ideas on a given topic or problem.

Employing creative thinking doesn't mean abandoning logic or practicality; instead, it means enhancing your problem-solving arsenal with a richer diversity of strategies and perspectives. By balancing critical thinking with creative exploration, individuals and organizations can uncover solutions that are effective but also innovative and tailor-made for the complexities of today's world.

The Pitfalls of Monotonous Thinking

Often fueled by fear and comfort, monotonous thinking can hinder personal growth and innovation. Psychologist Carol Dweck warns against the dangers of a fixed mindset, which stifles learning and development. Similarly, educator Sir Ken Robinson highlights the role of traditional education systems in perpetuating uniform thinking patterns. Overcoming monotonous thinking requires courage to venture into the unknown and embrace discomfort.

The Imperative for Creative Thinkers

The demand for creative thinkers has never been greater in today's rapidly evolving landscape. Traditional problem-solving approaches fall short in addressing complex, interconnected challenges. Creative thinking offers a pathway to innovation, enabling individuals to devise solutions that anticipate future needs and circumstances.

Transitioning from Monotonous to Creative Thinking

Shifting from monotonous to creative thinking requires intentional effort and practice. Embracing curiosity, practicing divergent thinking, stepping out of one's comfort zone, fostering a growth mindset, and seeking diverse perspectives are essential in cultivating creative thinking. By incorporating these habits into daily life, individuals can overcome mental barriers and tap into their creative potential.

So, how do we shift from monotonous to creative thinking?

It's not as daunting as it might seem. Here are some steps and habits to foster creativity:

1.        Embrace Curiosity: Creative thinking starts with curiosity. Ask questions, seek out new experiences, and dive deep into topics that interest you. Why does something work the way it does? How could it be improved? Adopting a curious mindset is the first step toward breaking free from monotonous thinking.

2.        Practice Divergent Thinking: Divergent thinking involves generating multiple solutions to a problem. Set aside time to brainstorm, and don't censor your ideas—the wilder, the better. This exercise stretches your creative muscles and shows that there's rarely only one correct answer.

3.        Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: Growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone. Try new things, whether learning a language, taking an improv class, or traveling to an unfamiliar place. These experiences disrupt routine thinking and expose you to new perspectives.

4.        Allow for Reflection: Creativity often strikes when not actively seeking it. Make space for reflection and downtime. Walking, meditating, or journaling can help quiet the noise and allow subconscious ideas to surface.

5.        Foster a Growth Mindset: Embrace failures and challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. A growth mindset encourages resilience and persistence, critical traits for creative problem-solving.

6.        Surround Yourself with Diversity: Engage with people who think differently than you. Diverse perspectives can challenge your assumptions and inspire new ideas. Collaboration is often the birthplace of innovation.

A Creative Thinking Exercise: The 30 Circles Test

A practical way to exercise creative thinking is through the 30 Circles Test. This activity challenges participants to transform simple circles into recognizable objects within a limited time frame. By pushing the boundaries of imagination and rapid idea generation, individuals can enhance their creative thinking skills and develop a fresh perspective toward problem-solving.

The steps are simple:

1.        Prepare Your Space: Find a quiet spot to sit comfortably without interruptions. You'll need a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.

2.        Draw 30 Circles: Draw 30 small, empty circles on your paper. They don't have to be perfect—quick sketches will do.

3.        Set a Timer: Give yourself three minutes. Yes, just three. This constraint is crucial as it creates a sense of urgency, prompting quicker, more instinctive responses.

4.        Transform the Circles: The goal is to turn as many of these circles into recognizable objects as possible before the timer runs out. Think fruit, sports equipment, planetary bodies, or anything else the circles inspire in you. Remember, there are no wrong answers here, only opportunities to see things differently.

5.        Reflect: Once the timer stops, take a moment to look over your creations. How many circles did you fill in? Were there any patterns in your ideas? Did you stick to safe concepts or venture out with more imaginative interpretations?

This exercise is about how many circles you can fill and about stretching your ability to see potential and opportunity in something as simple as a circle. It highlights the importance of rapidly generating ideas, a key component of creative thinking, and shows creativity can be sparked and exercised, much like a muscle.

Try this exercise regularly and challenge yourself each time to surpass your previous count or to come up with even more diverse and innovative ideas. Over time, you'll notice a marked improvement in your capability to think creatively and to approach problems with a fresh perspective.

Conclusion: Embracing Creativity as a Journey

Transitioning from monotonous to creative thinking is a gradual process fueled by curiosity, experimentation, and resilience. It requires a willingness to embrace uncertainty and a commitment to lifelong learning. By embarking on this journey, individuals can unlock new possibilities, discover hidden talents, and navigate life's challenges confidently and creatively. So, take the first step towards creative thinking today and embark on endless exploration and growth.

Experiencing rejection of your idea can feel like a punch to the gut. Whether it's a proposal, a suggestion, or criticism, the initial sting can be hard to shake off. But rejection isn't the end—it's an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Personal Experience

We've all been there. Rejection hurts, but it's not about you—it's about the idea. It's essential to separate your self-worth from your ideas and recognize rejection as a chance to refine and enhance your concept.

Attitudes to Adopt

1: Gain Perspective

Shift your focus from the rejection to what you can learn. Use feedback to improve and explore alternative solutions.

2: Embrace Failure

Failure is a stepping stone to success. Learn from rejections, grow, and persevere.

3: Build Resilience

Develop Resilience to bounce back from setbacks. Reframe your thoughts and focus on growth opportunities.

4: Cultivate a Growth Mindset

See every rejection as a chance to learn and improve. Ask yourself what you can learn from the feedback.

7 Steps To Soliciting Feedback

Over my 30 years in the innovation game, I have had more ideas rejected than I would care to count. However, each rejection has taught me something new about my idea and ultimately helped me improve it.

The journey from conception to realization of an idea is fraught with challenges, not least of which is navigating the sea of opinions, critiques, and suggestions that come your way. How do we solicit this feedback constructively, and how do we move forward with grace and determination?

Here are the seven steps I follow to solicit, analyze, and act on feedback:

Step 1: Identify Your Feedback Circle

Not all feedback is created equal. Begin by identifying individuals whose opinions you value —mentors, peers, or critics with a history of insightful observations. This selective approach ensures that the feedback you receive is relevant and constructive. Remember, the goal is to refine and improve your idea, not to gather as many opinions as possible.

Be careful not to solicit feedback only from people who agree with you. Diverse perspectives can offer valuable insights and help challenge your assumptions.

Step 2: Frame Your Request for Feedback

When soliciting feedback, clarity is key. Be specific about the kind of input you're looking for. Are you seeking thoughts on the feasibility of your idea, its potential impact, or suggestions for improvement? A well-framed question makes it easier for others to provide useful feedback and demonstrates your seriousness about refining your idea.

·        Some sample questions to start with include:

·        What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of this idea?

·        How can I improve upon this concept?

·        Do you have any suggestions for potential challenges or obstacles?

Step 3: Create a Safe Space for Honest Feedback

One of the biggest hurdles to receiving honest feedback is the natural inclination to defend our ideas against criticism. To overcome this, explicitly state your openness to constructive criticism and assure your feedback circle that their honesty is appreciated and essential. This creates an environment where feedback is given and received in the spirit of mutual growth. Remember, feedback is not a personal attack but an opportunity for improvement.

Step 4: Actively Listen and Take Notes

As you receive feedback, engage in active listening. This means focusing entirely on the feedback, asking clarifying questions, and resisting the urge to justify or explain your idea unless asked to do so. Taking notes during this process can help you capture feedback accurately and signal to your feedback providers that you take their input seriously. 

Step 5: Express Gratitude

Whether the feedback is positive or negative, always thank your feedback providers. Acknowledging the time and thought they have invested in helping you fosters goodwill and encourages them to be forthcoming with feedback in the future. Expressing gratitude can also help you maintain a positive attitude toward the feedback and avoid any feelings of defensiveness or negativity.

Step 6: Reflect and Analyze

With feedback in hand, take the time to reflect on what you've heard. Analyze the feedback for common themes or recurring suggestions. It's important to approach this process with an open mind and consider how each feedback piece can strengthen your idea. Remember, the goal is not to please everyone but to consider all perspectives and make informed decisions.

Step 7: Decide and Act

Armed with insights from your feedback, decide which suggestions to implement. Not all feedback will be actionable or align with your vision, and that's okay. The key is to make informed decisions that refine and improve your idea. Then, take action. Implement the changes you've decided on and prepare to iterate further based on new feedback and insights.

Moving Forward with Resilience

Consider the example of Thomas Edison, whose quest to invent the electric light bulb was met with countless failures and rejections. Instead of succumbing to despair, Edison viewed each setback as valuable feedback, famously saying, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." His Resilience and willingness to embrace and learn from rejection ultimately led to one of the most transformative inventions in human history.

Navigating the landscape of feedback and rejection is an integral part of the creative and innovation process. By following a structured approach to soliciting and leveraging feedback, you enhance the quality of your ideas and cultivate a mindset of Resilience and continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Rejection of your ideas isn't personal—it's an opportunity to improve. By adopting a growth mindset, seeking feedback, and taking decisive action, you transform rejection into a powerful tool for development. So, the next time your idea faces resistance, remember: It's not about you. It's about making your idea better.

I've been reflecting a lot lately about common thinking mistakes. Yes, you heard me right. It's a bit of a mind-bender. But trust me, this is going to be worth your while.

We all have unique ways of perceiving the world. Sometimes, however, these perspectives can lead us astray. We may fall victim to thinking mistakes that impede our growth and success.

Today, I want to unveil the six most common thinking mistakes that hinder people's progress. Removing these pitfalls can enhance your decision-making, communication skills, and overall mindset.

And let me assure you, I'm speaking from personal experience here. I used to make these thinking mistakes all the time, but once I became aware of them, I overcame them and achieved greater success in my personal and professional life.

So, as we explore these common thinking mistakes, remember, it's not about striving for perfection or avoiding them altogether. It's about recognizing and learning from them to refine our thinking and unleash our full potential continuously.

1. Confirmation Bias

Ever catch yourself solely paying attention to information that confirms what you already believe? That's confirmation bias in action. It's like attending a concert and only hearing the songs you already know and love. The unfamiliar tunes? They fade into the background.

In innovation, this manifests as a reluctance to consider new ideas or information that challenges our existing beliefs. Some may label this as "Not Invented Here" (NIH). But here's the kicker: innovation thrives on diversity of thought and challenging the status quo. So, I challenge you to actively seek diverse perspectives and be receptive to changing your mind.

2. Overgeneralization

This occurs when we extrapolate one or two instances to an entire category. Have you ever had a negative experience with a particular type of food and then sworn it off for life? That's overgeneralization.

The same applies when you hear about an idea that failed for someone else and automatically assume it won't work for you, either. Such thinking can constrain our potential and inhibit us from exploring new opportunities.

To avoid this mistake: Remember, one instance does not define an entire category.

3. Catastrophizing

Catastrophizing involves envisioning the worst possible outcome of an event. It's like hearing a riff in a song you dislike and suddenly predicting the band's inevitable downfall.

But here's the reality: catastrophes rarely materialize. And even if they do, we often possess greater resilience and capacity to handle them than we give ourselves credit for. Don't let the fear of failure deter you from taking risks and exploring new avenues.

To avoid this mistake, Endeavor must maintain perspective. A single sour note doesn't ruin the entire composition.

4. Emotional Reasoning

This transpires when we allow our emotions to shape our interpretation of reality. It's akin to letting a lousy mood dampen your enjoyment of an excellent rock concert.

Innovation may entail dismissing ideas because they don't "feel" right or align with our current emotions. However, feelings do not equate to facts. Don't allow emotions to cloud your judgment. Instead, objectively analyze the idea and assess its potential regardless of your feelings.

To avoid this mistake, Differentiate between emotions and facts. Just because you're not in the mood for rock doesn't imply the band is performing poorly.

5. Black-and-White Thinking

This occurs when we perceive situations as either one way or another, devoid of any middle ground. It's akin to categorizing a song as a hit or a flop, with no room for nuances.

Innovation may entail dismissing ideas because they don't conform to preconceived notions of success. However, success seldom adheres to black-and-white parameters. It's nuanced, with numerous shades in between. Embrace the complexities and be receptive to unconventional ideas.

To avoid this mistake, Embrace the nuances. Not every melody can top the charts, and that's perfectly acceptable.

6. Thinking Traps

These are ingrained patterns of thinking that we inadvertently fall into. They may include jumping to conclusions, making unfounded assumptions, and disregarding contradictory evidence.

Critical thinking and recognizing when we're ensnared in these traps are necessities for innovation. Therefore, step back, pause, and objectively evaluate the situation before concluding.

To avoid this mistake, Be mindful of your thinking patterns and proactively challenge them.

Again, the list of the six common thinking mistakes are:

1.        Confirmation Bias

2.        Overgeneralization

3.        Catastrophizing

4.        Emotional Reasoning

5.        Black-and-White Thinking

6.        Thinking Traps

Why Does The Human Mind Make These Mistakes?

You may be wondering why our minds succumb to these mistakes. Our brains wire themselves to take shortcuts and simplify complex information. While this may have served us well in the past for survival, it can impede us in critical thinking and making sound decisions.

However, acknowledging these common thinking mistakes and actively striving to overcome them can retrain our brains to think more critically and efficiently. So, the next time you catch yourself falling into one of these traps, view it as an opportunity for growth and development. Keep challenging your thinking, and don't shy away from stepping outside your comfort zone. The outcomes might pleasantly surprise you.

Conclusion

Remember, life isn't a scripted performance. It's a live show with improvisations, unexpected solos, and occasional off-key notes. Embrace the complexity, the uncertainty, the beauty of it all. As the great Bob Dylan once said, "Behind every beautiful thing, there's some kind of pain." The trick is not to avoid the pain but to find its beauty. And that, my friends, starts with the way we think.

So, let's tune our minds to the right frequency, shall we? Let's make our thinking as rich, diverse, and harmonious as the music we love. Rock on, folks!

In a world brimming with information and endless arguments, developing the art of critical thinking is not just advantageous—it's a necessity. By the end of this episode, you will wield a powerful toolkit that unlocks a new level of understanding and problem-solving capability, transforming how you approach challenges, debates, and decisions.

Elevating your critical thinking skills enhances influence and reveals how to see beyond the surface of presented information.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking, one of the most crucial competencies, embodies deep analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information, approached with skepticism and logical reasoning. Hone this skill to peer beneath the apparent layer of information, entertain various viewpoints, and arrive at decisions grounded in rationality. You cut through the noise and complexity by honing critical thinking, leading to more precise judgment and better outcomes.

Loss of Critical Thinking Skills

In today's fast-paced, digital-first society, the loss of robust critical thinking skills is vividly apparent, especially in social media's wildfire spread of information without scrutiny. People often accept headlines without considering sources or underlying biases. This trend extends to the polarization of political discourse, where alignment with ideas frequently precedes reasoned analysis.

Convenience-driven algorithms create echo chambers, reinforcing beliefs and opinions. This lack of critical engagement impoverishes personal growth understanding and undermines the fabric of an informed democracy.

How To Improve Your Critical Thinking

Improving critical thinking isn't daunting. Approach new information cautiously, evaluating the credibility of sources and validity of arguments. Actively seek context evidence and cross-reference information from multiple sources. Be open to different perspectives and ask constructive questions, cultivating a balanced and cautious approach.

Be Cautious

Always approach new information with a cautious eye. In today's digital age, information is constantly at our fingertips, but not all is reliable. Taking the time to assess information critically and not accepting it at face value is a crucial first step toward improving your critical thinking skills.

Steps to Approach Information with Caution:

1. Identify the Source: Always take a moment to look up the source of the information. Reputable sources tend to have a history of reliability and accuracy.
2. Understand the Context: Context matters. Seek it actively. Why was this information created? What is happening in the world that relates to it?
3. Check for Evidence: Look for the data or evidence supporting the claims. Research or data typically backs up reliable information.
4. Cross-Reference: Verify the information by consulting multiple sources. If multiple credible sources convey the same message, it adds to the credibility of the information.
5. Be Open to Different Perspectives: Exposing yourself to various viewpoints can provide a fuller picture and help you evaluate the information more effectively.
6. Ask Constructive Questions: Instead of dismissing new information outright, ask questions that probe deeper into its validity and relevance.

Following these steps, you can cultivate a balanced and cautious approach to handling new information without descending into skepticism or negativity.

Question Assumptions

Question assumptions to recognize and challenge biases. This ongoing process is essential for developing robust critical thinking skills.

Steps to Question Assumptions

1. Identify Your Beliefs: Your beliefs or assumptions about a specific topic or situation. It's important to articulate these to yourself to know exactly what you are questioning.
2. Trace the Origin: Once you've pinpointed your beliefs, try to trace their origins. Ask yourself, where did these beliefs come from? Were personal experiences, education, societal norms, or perhaps media influenced them?
3. Challenge Your Beliefs: Actively challenge your beliefs by asking critical questions such as, "What evidence do I have to support this belief?" and "Could I be wrong?". Consider the opposite viewpoint and what evidence there is to support that perspective.
4. Seek Out Contrary Evidence: Look for information, data, or perspectives contradicting your beliefs. This will help you to see the topic from different angles and provide a more rounded understanding.
5. Engage in Critical Discussion: Discussing your beliefs with others, especially those with different views, can provide valuable insights and challenge you to think critically about your assumptions. Be open to changing your mind based on new information or perspectives.
6. Reflect Regularly: Regular reflection on your beliefs and assumptions is crucial. Acknowledge when your beliefs have changed due to new evidence or insights, and adapt your perspective accordingly. This ongoing process is essential for developing strong critical thinking skills.

By following these steps, you can effectively question your assumptions, broadening your understanding and enhancing your ability to think critically about the world.

Applying Logic

Practice reasoning through logic by breaking down complex problems, identifying premises, developing a logical structure, evaluating arguments, and drawing well-reasoned conclusions.

Steps to Applying Logic

1. Break Down the Problem: Start by dividing the issue into smaller, more manageable parts. This simplification allows you to tackle each component one at a time, making the overall problem less overwhelming.
2. Identify the Premises: Determine the underlying premises or assumptions. Your logical reasoning will build upon these foundational statements or facts. It's crucial to ensure these are accurate and relevant.
3. Develop a Logical Structure: Arrange your premises so they lead logically to a conclusion. This step may involve creating a series of if-then statements or mapping the relationships between premises.
4. Evaluate the Arguments: Critically assess the validity of your logical structure. Check for common logical fallacies or errors in reasoning that could undermine your conclusion. This might include checking for oversimplifications, false dichotomies, or unproven assumptions.
5. Draw a Conclusion: After a thorough evaluation, draw a conclusion based on your established logical sequence. Ensure that the conclusion directly follows from the premises. If the conclusion does not follow naturally, you may need to revisit the earlier steps to adjust your reasoning.

Avoid Logical Fallacies

Recognize and avoid logical fallacies, strengthening critical thinking skills.

Steps to Avoiding Logical Fallacies

1. Educate Yourself: Familiarize yourself with common logical fallacies and how they manifest in arguments. Some of the most common include ad hominem, straw man, slippery slope, and false dilemma.
2. Consider Alternative Explanations: When faced with a persuasive argument, consider alternative explanations for the evidence presented. This will help you to avoid accepting an opinion simply because it seems convincing on the surface.
3. Examine the Evidence: Pay close attention to the evidence presented in an argument and evaluate its validity. Look for any bias or manipulation of information that could skew the argument's logic.
4. Stay Focused: Getting sidetracked during a debate or argument is easy, but staying focused on the topic is essential. Avoid making personal attacks or introducing irrelevant information.
5. Be Open to Change: Be willing to change your mind if presented with new evidence or a stronger argument. This shows intellectual humility and a commitment to seeking truth rather than defending your beliefs.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you engage in critical thinking and argumentation, the better you will spot logical fallacies and avoid them in your own reasoning. So, keep practicing and challenging yourself to think critically in all aspects of life.

Asking Good Questions

Ask open-ended questions, start with "why," use different question types, listen actively, and practice curiosity. Asking good questions is a powerful tool for critical thinkers.

Steps for developing good questioning skills:

1. Start with the Why: Asking "why" questions can help you to understand the reasoning behind someone's beliefs or actions.
2. Use Different Question Types: Several questions can serve different purposes, such as probing for more information, clarifying a point, or challenging assumptions. Use a variety of question types to get a comprehensive understanding of an issue.
3. Listen Actively: Listening is just as critical as asking good questions. Pay attention to the answers and ask for clarification if needed.
4. Don't Be Afraid to Dig Deeper: Feel free to continue asking questions until you achieve a satisfactory level of understanding if you sense there is more to uncover.
5. Be Respectful: Remember to ask questions respectfully and without judgment. This will foster open and honest dialogue, leading to deeper insights and understanding.
6. Practice Curiosity: Cultivate a curious mindset and be open to exploring new ideas and perspectives through questioning.

Improving Critical Thinking Skills: A Journey

Improving critical thinking is a journey requiring practice, patience, and perseverance. Maintain a clear and authoritative tone, letting logical reasoning and thoughtful questioning speak for themselves.

Practice Exercise: Engage in a Debate

Hone critical thinking skills through a structured debate.

Here are the steps you can go about it:

1. Select a Topic: Choose an interesting and potentially contentious topic for both of you. This could range from discussions on social issues, scientific debates, ethical dilemmas, or even preferences in movies or art.
2. Assign Positions: Flip a coin to decide who will argue in favor and against the topic. This randomness ensures that you might have to discuss a position you don't personally hold, which is excellent for developing your skills of being open to hearing other positions.
3. Prepare Your Arguments: Each person researches the topic and prepares their arguments. Remember to look for credible sources and anticipate counterarguments you might face.
4. Engage in the Debate: Set a specific time and place for the debate—lay ground rules for respectful engagement and time limits for each argument. Then, present your arguments and listen to each other's points, rebutting as necessary.
5. Record the Debate: If possible, record the debate. This isn't for sharing but for personal review. Listening to the recording can help you identify areas of strength in your argumentation and tendencies toward any logical fallacies.
6. Reflect and Discuss: After the debate, take some time to discuss with your friend what you each learned from the experience. Reflect on the arguments' strengths and how you might improve in future discussions.
7. Switch Sides: For an added challenge, you can switch sides and argue from the opposite perspective. This exercise can broaden your understanding of the issue and improve your critical thinking skills.

With practice, become a strong and persuasive critical thinker, confidently navigating problems. The rewards of improved critical thinking—better decisions, effective problem-solving, and easy navigating of modern life—are well worth the effort. Apply these tips daily: keep questioning, analyzing, evaluating, and never stop learning! The impact on your personal and professional life will be profound, turning you into a discerning consumer of information, an effective problem solver, and a thoughtful communicator. Inspire others to become critical thinkers, too!

Envision a world on the precipice of a profound transformation, driven by seven unprecedented innovations, poised to revolutionize every aspect of society. This shift, approaching a technological singularity, carries immense responsibility and high stakes for current and future generations.

Our technological prowess is unrivaled. From the simplest inventions to the most complex machines, we have continually pushed the limits of what is possible. But as our capabilities grow exponentially, a looming question arises: are we heading towards a technological singularity that could change the course of humanity?

The concept of technological singularity has moved beyond the fringes of futurism; it is now an imminent possibility. Defined as the hypothetical future point when technologies have become so advanced that humanity undergoes a dramatic and irreversible change, the singularity presents an inescapable, exhilarating, and terrifying problem for philosophers, scientists, and every human being.

Are we prepared for the implications, the ramifications, and the profound changes that a tech-driven future might bring?

My objective is not an attempt to provide answers. Instead, to provoke thought and conversation about what I see as seven unprecedented innovations that could lead towards a technological singularity.

Understanding Technological Singularity

The concept of technological singularity is not a new one. In 1958, mathematician Stanislaw Ulam coined the term, and in the 1990s, science fiction writer Vernor Vinge popularized it. It postulates an "intelligence explosion" moment when machines surpass human intellect, leading to unforeseeable changes in civilization.

At its core, the technological singularity represents more than just the possibility of creating machines that think. It symbolizes a pivotal moment in human history where our inventions could autonomously innovate, replicate, and even make decisions that impact global economics, ethics, and governance. Imagine a future where AI systems design better AI systems, a cycle that accelerates innovation at a pace humans can neither anticipate nor control. Such a scenario isn't just about machines taking over mundane tasks but about them driving forward civilization's progress in areas like medicine and space exploration.

This notion, once confined to the realm of science fiction, edges closer to reality with each generation of Moore's law. The question we must ask ourselves isn't just "Can we create super-intelligent AI?" but "Should we?" What safeguards must we implement to ensure that this leap in our evolutionary trajectory doesn't start the collapse of society? How do we maintain the essence of our humanity in a world where our creations might outthink, outlive, and outperform us? These are not questions of technology alone but of philosophy, ethics, and survival.

Intersection of Humanity, Philosophy, and Innovation

At the heart of technological singularity are questions that have plagued the minds of philosophers for centuries. What does it mean to be human? What role does consciousness play in our existence? Are we simply complex machines ourselves?

The singularity, with its promise of immortality, limitless knowledge, and superhuman abilities, challenges the very core of human philosophy. It threatens to redefine our notions of mortality, individuality, and spirituality. It beckons humanity to contemplate its place not only in the universe but in a world it has redefined through innovation. As we strive to push the boundaries of what is possible, we must also grapple with the responsibility that comes with such immense power.

But the most pressing question is whether our current philosophies and belief systems can handle a world where technology has surpassed our capabilities. Will our ethical frameworks evolve to keep up with these advancements, or will they become obsolete, leaving humanity in a moral crisis?

Unprecedented Innovation

Current trends in technology suggest we are hurtling toward this critical milestone. Each year, we witness the release of advancements that not only widen our capabilities but also seem to skirt the fringes of the sci-fi domain. Programs are learning to beat us at our games, to simulate emotions, and potentially — to feel them.

We are not talking about Buck Roger's science fiction. We are talking about the near future, where we will have to reckon with the impact on humanity within our lifetime. The potential consequences are vast, from economic displacement to the loss of autonomy. But the possibilities are equally extraordinary — a future where we can solve complex problems, eradicate diseases, and explore new frontiers.

The seven unprecedented innovations I would put forward as accelerating the singularity include:

1. Quantum Computing: Beyond the realm of classical computing, quantum computers leverage the principles of quantum mechanics to process information at speeds inconceivable to traditional machines. This leap could revolutionize encryption, drug discovery, and even AI's learning capabilities, potentially solving complex problems beyond our reach.
2. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs): Merging the human brain with computers offers the promise of telepathy-like communication, enhanced cognitive abilities, and the restoration of sensory and motor functions. This technology blurs the lines between human intelligence and artificial augmentation, challenging our concepts of identity and autonomy.
3. Gene Editing (CRISPR-Cas9): CRISPR-Cas9 has ushered in a new era of genetic engineering, with the potential to edit genes with unprecedented precision. This innovation could eradicate hereditary diseases, produce new food sources, and even extend human lifespans, posing ethical questions about the nature of evolution and the limits of human enhancement.
4. Autonomous Vehicles and Drones: Once a staple of sci-fi narratives, autonomous technology is rapidly becoming a reality. Self-driving cars and delivery drones are set to redefine mobility, logistics, and urban landscapes, offering increased efficiency but also triggering concerns about job displacement, safety, and privacy.
5. AI and Machine Learning Algorithms: Artificial intelligence, powered by increasingly sophisticated algorithms, transforms industries, from healthcare with predictive diagnostics to finance with automated trading. Yet, as AI systems outperform human capabilities, we must confront the potential for dependency, bias proliferation, and the erosion of privacy.
6. Space Tourism and Colonization: Several companies aim to make space travel and habitation possible for civilians, igniting dreams of Mars colonies and space exploration. This frontier-pushing endeavor highlights human ingenuity but also raises questions about resource allocation, environmental impacts, and the implications of extraterrestrial human presence.
7. Fusion Energy: Mimicking the sun's power generation, fusion energy promises a clean, almost limitless power source. By achieving a controlled fusion reaction, we could dramatically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and power future generations. However, the technical and ethical challenges in harnessing and distributing this power remain daunting.

While some herald these innovations as the next step in human evolution, others caution against the naivety of creators playing the role of gods. They warn of a world where humanity has ceded control to machines, where the calculations of silicon minds determine our fate with no empathy.

Humanity's Role in Shaping the Future

What responsibility do we hold as the creators of these advancements? What moral code should guide our actions as we strive to outthink, outlive, and outperform ourselves?

Our role is of the utmost importance. The path to singularity does not have a predetermined destiny. Our collective choices and actions shape it. It requires us to engage with deliberation and humility to contextualize innovation within our shared values and beliefs.

Personal Stance

The potential for singularity to enhance human life is as great as its potential to diminish. In the face of looming change, our greatest strength lies not in our silicon gadgets but in our uniquely human qualities — our capacity for empathy, creativity, and moral reasoning.

Therefore, as we continue on this path of unprecedented innovation, let us not forget what it means to be human. The balance of humanity in this uncertain future lies in our collective hands, and our decisions now will reverberate for generations to come.

Conclusion

Instead of calling to halt progress or stifle innovation, this is a call to temper the zeal of the creators with the wisdom of the sages. We must proactively establish safeguards against our creations' unforeseen consequences.

The technological singularity is not a singular event at all. It is a continuum that begins today, with every line of code we write, every innovation we build, and every decision we make that inches us closer to — or further from — the potential future we envision.

The age of singularity is upon us, and we must shape it with care, consideration, and humanity.

Navigating the intricate realm of innovation is akin to sailing without a map, a challenging endeavor. That's where the invaluable role of an innovation mentor comes into play, acting as a guiding force. Picture them as friends always armed with the best advice, guiding you through launching your venture, shaking things up at work, or bringing your ideas to life. They serve as a reliable beacon, lighting the way and steering you through rough waters.

The Role of an Innovation Mentor

Discovering a mentor to navigate the innovation maze isn't merely about hiring an expert or a quick-fix coach. An innovation mentor is your adept ally in the professional world, brimming with experience and a genuine desire to elevate your innovative spirit. Beyond dictating actions, they're committed to the long haul, offering support and sharing insights to help you think creatively and turn ideas into reality.

What does having an innovation mentor mean? It's like teaming up with a seasoned companion who's been through innovation's challenges. They provide wisdom from their own experiences, offering guidance, cheering you through hurdles, and encouraging different ways of thinking. An innovation mentor doesn't just offer advice; they foster a connection and actively contribute to your growth.

It's more than a transaction; it's about building a connection, growing together, and achieving success as a team.

Complexity of Mentor Matching

Finding the right innovation mentor is akin to searching for a vintage gem in a thrift store—it requires sorting through a myriad, and outcomes can be hit or miss. Amidst the proliferation of fancy titles on LinkedIn, spotting a genuine mentor becomes challenging. The key is to sift through the noise and identify someone who genuinely stands out, connects with your values, and is as invested in your success as you are.

How do you know if a mentor is the key to your success or just another calendar entry? The answer lies in investing time to talk with potential mentors, relying on intuition. Impressive backgrounds and recommendations can sometimes be misleading; the best fit often surprises you—the individual whose values align with yours.

Personal Experience With Mentors and Mentees

Drawing from over 40 years of experience with my mentor, Bob Davis, it's evident that mentorship goes beyond transactions. It's a merging of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to learning. Commitment, honest communication, and mutual time investment are crucial for a rewarding experience when mentoring others. The connections formed and the growth of mentees continue to motivate me to be the best mentor.

Before hitting the search button for a mentor, reflect on why you are seeking one and what you hope to gain. It's about more than opening doors; it's finding a genuine connection and partnership to navigate innovation challenges successfully.

Qualities of an Innovation Mentor

A remarkable innovation mentor is more than a sideline cheerleader or someone who tells you what you want to hear. They're akin to a coach deeply involved in the game. They challenge your ideas, bring experience, root for your success, and ensure you stay on the right path.

The eight qualities you should look for in an innovation mentor are:

1.      Visionary Insight: The best mentors possess a keen foresight that sees beyond current trends and anticipates future shifts. Like a seasoned chess player, they guide mentees through moves that position them for long-term success.

2.      Empathy and Understanding: They deeply understand the mentee's journey and can relate to their experiences. This empathy establishes trust and a safe space for open dialogue and vulnerability.

3.      Adaptability: Innovation is synonymous with change; a top-notch mentor navigates these waters with poise. They adapt their guidance to suit the mentee's evolving needs rather than sticking to rigid doctrines.

4.      Unwavering Commitment: They are consistently available and invested in the mentee's growth, providing support through thick and thin. Their commitment is a stabilizing force amidst the chaos of innovation.

5.      Skilled Communication: The ability to articulate complex ideas simply and to listen actively is paramount. They challenge mentees with questions that spark reflection and creative thinking.

6.      Resilience in Failure: Mentors should celebrate successes and provide a resilient frame for overcoming setbacks. They teach that failure is not a setback but a necessary step toward innovation.

7.      Ethical Integrity: They exemplify the highest standards of ethics as individuals and professionals, serving as role models for ethical decision-making in a challenging business landscape.

8.      Network Savviness: An effective mentor brings a wealth of connections and understands the power of networking. They help mentees access crucial resources and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

Benefits of Mentorship

A robust innovation mentorship goes beyond offering tips—it transforms your perspective, opening new paths. Here are some of the benefits that strong innovation mentorship can yield:

1.      Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Mentorship elevates your ability to tackle complex problems by fostering critical thinking. Mentees develop sophisticated strategies to face challenges by observing and discussing approaches with a mentor experienced in innovative problem-solving.

2.      Accelerated Professional Development: A mentor's guidance can fast-track a mentee's career progression by identifying and honing key skills essential for advancement, often leading to opportunities that may have taken years to materialize organically.

3.      Expanded Professional Network: Mentors often introduce their mentees to a vast network of industry professionals, providing connections and the social capital necessary to thrive in competitive environments.

4.      Increased Confidence: With a mentor's support, mentees are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, leading to a significant boost in self-assurance, which is crucial when asserting ideas and taking on leadership roles.

5.      Heightened Innovation and Creativity: Exposure to a mentor's creative process and innovative thinking spurs mentees to explore new ideas and approaches, fostering innovation within themselves and their teams.

6.      Better Risk Management: Learning from a mentor's past experiences helps mentees navigate risks and understand the nuances of risk-taking, which is essential for innovation.

7.      Sustained Learning and Growth: Mentorship instills a continuous learning mindset, ensuring that the quest for knowledge and improvement doesn't end with formal education but becomes a lifelong journey.

8.      Holistic Personal Development: A good mentor understands the importance of balance and can guide mentees in areas beyond professional life, contributing to their overall well-being and personal fulfillment.

So, are you making a splash, or is it time to toss that pebble in the pond? Your mentor's influence has the potential to shape those ripples—choose wisely.

The Investment in Innovation Mentorship

Selecting a mentor is a significant decision akin to choosing a guru, your Yoda. They are the ones you'll turn to when your career hits turbulence, equipped with the map to guide you through it. However, it's not a one-time arrangement; you must be ready to introspect, invest effort, and face challenges. Mentorship is your shortcut to accelerated growth, providing skills for long-term success.

Mentorship is not just about receiving facts; it's about acquiring skills that empower you to thrive in the long run. The mentorship magic lies in imparting skills, not just facts. So, are you ready to dive into the mentorship pool? Choose wisely, put in the effort, and reap the benefits of a robust innovation mentor-mentee relationship.

Embarking on becoming an innovation consultant is an adventure fraught with challenges and opportunities. The question that often arises is: What kind of experience does diving into the depths of innovation consulting require? Breaking into this highly competitive field necessitates a blend of academic knowledge and real-world practice. Still, the pathway is less about a set timeframe and the rich experiences gained, opening the door to innovation.

The Power of Apprenticeship: Learning by Doing

Consider the apprenticeship — the age-old tradition of learning by doing —the key to unlocking latent potential. Aligning with a mentor, someone whose accomplishments you respect and aspire to emulate, becomes vital. Through this alliance, the transfer of wisdom is not merely academic but vibrantly alive, fertilized by the flow of ideas born of actual projects and commercial undertakings.

Years vs. Experience: Redefining Success in Innovation

Is there a magic number of years required for mastery, or does the variety and depth of experience trump the span of time? What if success in innovation is not just about the ideas you conceive but also about your capacity to shepherd those ideas through the stages of development to execution?

This pursuit of innovation is not for the faint-hearted. It's for those willing to be tenacious, invest time and effort, and repeatedly return to the forge of creation. So, are you ready to unlock the door?

Real-world Experience: A Necessity, Not a Luxury

Venturing into the startup arena is daunting, with roughly 90% failing within their first year. Strikingly, the restaurant industry shares a similar fate, where 60% do not celebrate their first anniversary. Combining these two volatile worlds, as Fisayo has done with Resactly, is a brave endeavor — a testament to her passion and tenacity.

The Role of Internships and Apprenticeships

Is two years the minimum requirement for mastery, or can internships and apprenticeships be tailored to individual needs? Not everyone can commit to a two-year apprenticeship, but real-world experience is crucial. Find someone you admire, someone who has the experience, and be part of all aspects of innovation, from ideation to execution.

Unlock the Door to Innovation Consulting

In conclusion, the journey to becoming an innovation consultant is personal. Whether through internships, apprenticeships, or hands-on experience, the key is to immerse yourself in the world of innovation. Acquiring the hard knocks of real-world experience is essential, and this practical knowledge sets you apart. Once you've gained this experience, you can confidently unlock the door to innovation and share your insights with the world. So, are you ready to take that first step?

In the convergence of gastronomy and technology, Fisayo Oluwadiya stands at the forefront, embodying the fusion of engineering, culinary artistry, and entrepreneurship. This week, our conversation delves into her brainchild, Resactly, a pioneering AI-powered restaurant recommendation system that promises to reshape how we navigate the culinary landscape.

A Palatable Blend of Passions

Fisayo, an engineer, food writer, and entrepreneur, breaks the mold of a conventional techie. She ingeniously intertwines her love for coding and gastronomy, giving birth to Resactly, a web application poised to revolutionize how we experience and explore food. The synergy between these seemingly disparate worlds sparks a delectable journey into the future of dining.

Resactly: A Gastronomy Navigator

At its core, Resactly transcends the conventional boundaries of restaurant recommendations. It's a guide and a gastronomic companion, utilizing AI to tailor suggestions based on individual preferences and dietary requirements. Have you ever felt misled by subjective restaurant reviews? Resactly emerges as a beacon of objectivity, akin to a trusted friend who comprehends your palate intricately.

The platform's innovation doesn't halt at recommendations; it seamlessly integrates with restaurants, ushering in a new era of culinary understanding. This elevated interaction between users and establishments signifies a monumental leap forward, surpassing the limitations of traditional methods and embracing a more nuanced, user-centric approach.

The Journey from Idea to Culinary Innovation

Reflecting on Fisayo's journey from ideation to innovation, our conversation parallels my entrepreneurial ventures. I share my narrative of initiating 13 startups on credit cards, culminating in a triumphant IPO. The emphasis lies on the driving force of innovation – passion. It's the unwavering commitment that propels ideas into transformative realities.

Navigating Entrepreneurial Challenges

In the entrepreneurial arena, challenges are inevitable. For Resactly, securing funding emerged as a significant hurdle. Fisayo, however, candidly shares these realities, offering a transparent look into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. This openness underscores the resilience required to navigate the unpredictable landscape of startup ventures.

The Future of Gastronomy: A Glimpse

In conclusion, our conversation serves as a captivating peek into the future of food technology. It illuminates the transformative role of AI in enhancing our dining experiences, emphasizing the indispensable role of passion in propelling innovation forward. Fisayo's call for early-stage tech exploration and user feedback is a poignant reminder that we all play a part in shaping this exciting future.

As we embark on this gastronomic journey, let's actively contribute to Resactly's evolution. Join us in testing Resactly and be part of the culinary revolution. Visit www.resactly.com and indulge in the future of personalized dining experiences.

In the ever-evolving realm of innovation, a troubling trend is emerging—the rise of self-proclaimed experts with credentials as insubstantial as the pages of the very innovation books they often quote. This prompts us to question whether an individual can genuinely be considered an expert in a multifaceted field based solely on theoretical knowledge or if authentic, hands-on experience is the true differentiator. This discussion inevitably leads us to scrutinize the credibility and legitimacy of those who dub themselves innovation consultants, especially the troubling rise of fake innovation consultants.

Theory vs. Practice: Bridging the Divide

Consider the concept of expertise not as a trophy won through academic pursuits but rather as a medal forged in the fire of real-world experience. It's about being in the trenches, not just analyzing the battlefield from a safe distance. This disconnect between knowledge and practice is alarming, especially when the stakes involve steering companies toward innovation.

The Glaring Gap: McKinsey's Settlement as a Cautionary Tale

Reflect on the example of new MBAs from prestigious firms like McKinsey, armed with the latest business theories but lacking the scars of battle that only hands-on experience can provide. The gap between theory and practice becomes glaringly apparent, as well as illustrated by McKinsey's hefty settlement over their consulting practices linked to the opioid crisis, proof that theoretical expertise can lead to real-world consequences.

Expertise in Innovation: A Surgical Precision Approach

It is necessary to ask the hard-hitting question: would you trust a surgeon who has only learned their craft from textbooks and has never held a scalpel? The medical community unanimously dismisses such a scenario—shouldn't we apply the same rigorous experience standards to innovation?

Innovation Through the Lens of Practical Wisdom

As a consultant, I witnessed the profound impact of practical know-how. It shapes instincts, refines judgment, and brings a deep understanding of problem-solving that academia cannot replicate. To me, real-world experience is non-negotiable—it is the essence of expertise.

Discerning Fake Innovation Consultants

However, it's not all gloom, as authentic experts exist, those who can prove they've weathered the storm of innovation. These professionals bring invaluable insights and are worth the effort to find them. They've not just studied the map—they've journeyed the terrain and know the pitfalls and shortcuts.

Therefore, when considering an innovation consultant, strive for genuine experience. Success in innovation is contingent upon the guidance of someone who has not merely witnessed the journey but has walked it, step by step, innovation by innovation. It's crucial to be led not by a theoretician with a polished resume but by a seasoned expert who has firsthand navigated the labyrinth of innovation. So, choose your innovation guide wisely—your innovation success depends on it. And beware of the pitfalls of relying on fake innovation consultants who may offer more rhetoric than substance.

Laws exist to keep some form of order or control such as the traffic laws we follow to avoid chaos as we drive around. There are a variety of laws that exist. Scientific laws are laws that we can test and prove, and we can reconfirm that the law still applies. An example would be the law of gravity that always exists. There are also other kinds of laws that we use in the context of business terms. In this case, those laws are observed and validated over extended periods of time. We can test them, predict from them, and see if those predictions are true. A perfect example of a law used in business is Moore's law, which states that the number of transistors on semiconductors will double about every 18 to 24 months. This law has been in place since the 60s and is continuously validated.

There are some things that people mistake as laws that are actually rules of thumb. Rule of thumb is an anecdote that is based on personal experience or some lore that has been passed down. One of the most prevalent rules of thumb is the 8020 rule, which says that 20% of your actions generate 80% of the results. For example, 20% of your customers generate 80% of the revenue, or 20% of your trouble tickets generate 80% of your truck rolls. What is interesting, though, is that this rule has been proven to be not very sound. Rules of thumb are good to identify if there is a problem. It is an early test to see if there's something that you can narrow down to find a problem that you can work on, but a rule of thumb is not a law.

Laws of Innovation

The laws of innovation have been observed and validated for over 30 years by successful people. They are not a rule of thumb. These laws are proven and tested for effective innovation.  I will be specifically covering the seven laws of innovation.

Law of Leadership

The first law for successful innovation is the law of leadership. Good leadership is a foundational necessity. High-quality leaders prioritize innovation and show it through their actions. Leaders do not only fall in the executive leadership category such as the CEO or the owners of a business. Leaders include everybody from lower-level team leaders to organization leaders. For example, if you are a project manager, you don't have people reporting to you, but you've been put in charge of a project to deliver. Therefore, the law of leadership applies to you. If innovation is important to you and as important to your organization, you must demonstrate it. The team will follow you based on what you model to your organization.

Law of Culture

Law number two is the law of culture. A lot of organizations focus more heavily on their strategy. They are trying to come up with the perfect strategy to achieve success. But culture is foundational. What I mean by foundational is that it lays the bedrock that everything else in the organization builds upon. If you do not have a well-defined culture, that foundation is weak. Without the ability to drive a program of innovation inside any organization, your team is going to fail. Specifically, around a culture of innovation, there are certain elements that you need to have in that culture such as the willingness to take risks and not penalize people for it. If team members try something and fail, their failure can be used as a learning experience. We should never see failure as something negative when we can use it as a positive. If a trial-and-error culture is not strong in the workplace, people will not take risks, and without risks, there is no innovation. The law of culture is critical for innovation success.

Law of Resources

The third law of innovation is the law of resources. Innovation requires committed and consistent resourcing. Resourcing involves people, time, and money. All three are necessary for innovation to be successful. Most organizations do not dedicate or allocate resources to innovation. Organizations that want to achieve innovation success must have a consistent set of resources committed. How many organizations have a budget line with uncommitted dollars that are given away to teams and organizations where people can throw in their latest ideas? Most organizations do not have that. Challenges arise when new ideas are created, and not enough people are available to make that idea a reality. Another problems innovators face is the issue of funding. In the case of a lot of resources, projects go beyond the calendar year and the budget year you dedicate resources to. But what about every budget cycle? Do you have to revalidate every project? Do you have to go through and ask for money again to keep your project going? Or does this law of resources enable you to have committed resources for extended periods of time depending on how big and how complex the project is? The law of resources not only covers resources allocated to a project, but also ensures organizations stay committed to them so innovators are not tied to an arbitrary calendar of budget cycles. It is defined by what is appropriate for the project at hand. The law of resources is critical because if you do not have people, time, and money, the odds of you having innovation success are slim.

Law of Patience

The fourth law of innovation is the law of patience. Innovation takes time, more time than expected. The path to innovation is difficult and the outcome is hard to predict. You don’t know what's going to happen and you don't know what the efforts will look like. You must have patience, and you must get enough things moving in your innovation pipeline. You must be willing to see failure happen or experiments not work out, or trials that did not generate the results that you were expecting. Patience by far is one of the hardest laws for executive leaders to get their heads around. Most executive leaders like predictability. They live by the quarter to see those results. Most executive leaders struggle with this law, which is a hindrance for organizations trying to achieve innovation success. Executives throughout the entire leadership organization down to individual employees need to have patience. In a lot of organizations, people become frustrated because they are not seeing progress fast enough. You must get used to the fact that no matter what you plan, odds are it's going to take longer than expected.

Law of Process

The fifth law of innovation is the law of process. It establishes a continuous innovation process. The key point is that it initiates and builds relation processes while using the fire framework focus ideation principles of ranking and execution as a structure in the process. It is important to continuously improve and remember innovation isn’t static. There are many consultants out there that will come to you with a list of ten magic steps for innovation and tell you to follow them for undisputed success. Reality is, there is no one-size-fits-all plan. Teams and organizations are unique with different projects and different team nomenclature. Processes behind the scenes are different for every organization. If you take an innovation process from somewhere, be willing to adapt it, change it, or tweak it in a way that works for your project experiment. You might uncover an entirely new activity in the process that succeeds. It is important to have a process established. Your team needs to train in it. They need to know how to use it and operate it. Additionally, you need to avoid rigidness so you can continuously innovate. 

If your established process isn’t working, how do you improve that innovation process? What experiment could you do? You could try something a little different than how you define the target area. You could change how you do your brainstorming or your ideation activities. Try a new way to rank your ideas to find the best solution out of the hundreds of ideas that you are going to generate. And then execute an experiment in different ways. And be willing to exercise it. If the process doesn’t work, change things around. You need to be flexible, you need to establish your process, and you need to continuously innovate around it.

Law of BHAG

The next law of innovation, the law of BHAG, defines the target and shows a clear finish line for your projects. BHAG or “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” is used because it catalyzes a team by giving a straight-forward goal to try to achieve. BHAGs are unbelievable motivators. When you look at and dissect teams that had high innovation impact, they consciously or unconsciously followed the principles of BHAG. A prevalent BHAG example is when, in the 60s, the president of the United States announced during a speech to Congress that before the end of the decade, we would put a man on the moon and return him safely. That was a big hairy audacious goal. They had no clue how to do it at the time. They had not worked out all the engineering. But the president defined a clear goal, and the United States successfully put a man on the moon and brought him home safely by using the components of BHAG.

Organizations may have multiple BHAGs depending on what they are trying to achieve. This is why it is important to have a goal that everybody in the team understands, can communicate, and can share. BHAG defines your innovation mission by asking questions like, “where is your BHAG at?” Is it going to motivate and attract people to want to be on this project to deliver that mission?

Law of Execution

The seventh and final innovation law is the law of execution. The law of execution says that ideas without execution are a hobby. Putting ideas into notebooks and sticking them on the shelf provides zero value. How do we deliver ideas? For ideas to become successful realities, action is necessary. You need to translate that idea into something tangible like a mobile app, a piece of hardware, or a new advertising campaign. The law of execution is where rubber meets the road because without execution, all the other activities in the innovation create no value. When ideas are executed, they translate into innovations that can have a significant impact, and in some cases, can even change the world. Teams and organizations should focus on that ability to execute and drive strategies to get things done. Take your best ideas and execute them.

Conclusion

The seven laws of innovation set a clear path for teams and organizations to embark on to reach success. Failure can be mitigated by following these principles during the innovation process. Although there is no clear-cut way to reach innovative success, these laws are proven by trial and error to guide and direct people to achievement.

During CES 2024, the innovative products and concepts on display showed the exciting future of technology. OliverIQ debuted to the public with its unique home automation platform. This versatile solution streamlines the process of turning your home “smart.” Founders Will West, and Eric Smith presented OliverIQ as a solution that turns connectivity across devices into a service that caters to those looking to use technology as a helpful addition to their homes. In this episode, we delve into how West and Smith used out-of-the-box thinking to find a solution consumers didn’t know needed solving.

Will West on OliverIQ

Will West, CEO and Co-founder of OliverIQ, set out with a clear goal of bringing automation to the mainstream market. Producers in home automation were marketing more toward the high-income consumer while the average household could not enjoy the same benefits. With installation and maintenance fees inflated, there was a need for a streamlined and cost-effective service for the everyday user. After decades of perfecting, we created OliverIQ to break down these barriers. With OliverIQ, your smart devices, such as doorbells, lights, and speakers, work together to create an enjoyable experience for you, the consumer. Not only are your devices connected to a user-friendly platform, but any problems your devices face can be fixed by servicing agents through the app with a simple call to around-the-clock agents. This practical solution takes the hassle away from the consumer. If you have a problem with plumbing in your home, you would call a plumber, and OliverIQ takes a similar approach in their product strategy. When issues arise with your home devices, instead of you having to take care of them or find a willing installation company to fix the problem, OliverIQ will find a way to fix the problems of multiple devices for you. Technology lovers design OliverIQ for technology lovers. It brings convenience, efficiency, and enjoyment into the lives of everyday people at an affordable price.

Eric Smith on OliverIQ

CTO and fellow Co-founder Eric Smith combined his decades of experience in research and knowledge in the automation field to perfect OliverIQ. He faced challenges as unique problems arose with the ever-changing tide of technology. He realized one glaring problem in the home automation arena. Due to automation decay—the natural process of devices experiencing problems such as glitches, going offline, or undergoing updates—users constantly find themselves fixing multiple devices in the home. Usually, the fixing falls to the user to figure out. There needed to be a way for these devices to be maintained simultaneously on a more significant level. There needed to be consistency and a higher level of performance. OliverIQ found the solution to home automation problems by looking at the channels used to solve this problem and finding a way to integrate multiple technologies across one platform. Consumers don’t need to find an installer willing to fix the problem because the tech support channel takes care of the problem. Users also don’t need to worry about technology not working together or a device having problems. OliverIQ streamlines multiple devices and brands to work together smoothly to provide the home experience you want by setting the lights to a specific shade or thermoset to a particular temperature. OliverIQ brings the consumer a specialized experience at a low cost. 

Conclusion

OliverIQ is a novel platform that bridges the gap between technology and home life. It creates a seamless experience for users and takes the stress of fixing devices off the shoulders of consumers by using around-the-clock representatives who are ready to help. Using innovative designs, OliverIQ makes home automation systems easy to set up, use, and maintain together. 

The world of innovation is wildly fascinating and constantly developing. At the CES conference in Las Vegas, some of innovation's biggest names display their newest creations for the world to see. The fact that any one of these creations could develop into a groundbreaking innovation with global reach is exciting. This year, innovations varied from entertainment to transportation, with predicted tech trends affecting inventions in all these areas.

Standout Innovations

TVs and display screens constantly develop as companies seek to upgrade their products with bigger screens and clearer resolutions. Samsung and LG both announced their latest contributions with the potential for use in marketing for businesses and the entertainment industry.

Transparent Displays

LG's groundbreaking announcement of its transparent displays generated significant interest. There are various potential uses for transparent displays in many fields. One such use is marketing in businesses. Using a transparent display to advertise a product in a store-front window would allow customers to see a snapshot of the store's most eye-catching product while also being able to see beyond the store's advertisement into the store. Transparent displays can be used in unexpected situations, making them all the more unique.

Larger Screens

Screens on different devices have progressively gotten larger over the years. With a 180-inch screen displayed at the convention, it is hard to see how a large screen would be practical for viewing in the average house. However, companies are not just making displays for the intended purpose of watching movies or TV. A recent surge in the gaming industry has companies taking notes on improving their displays to target this audience better. The focus on size has shifted. Companies focus on improving color, size, and refresh rate so gamers can enjoy better posture, less eye strain, and better experiences.

Transportation

Innovations in transportation have evolved to heights that once seemed impossible. The idea of flying cars was a concept that seemed almost mythical for many years, but it is now something that could be obtainable soon. At CES, through a simulation, people could experience what it would feel like to be in a flying car. Bringing this experience to life infused it with an exciting outlook for the future of transportation.

Robotics

While robotics have found applications in various industries, from restaurants to factories, they have not yet become mainstream in households. Various companies have shown interest in robotics and have contributed to advances in that area. Work still needs to be done, but humanoid robots that can assist in households could be a sooner reality than we think.

Predicted Trends for 2024

With so many wonderful innovations on display this year, one can conclude three factors. The first is that every company appeared to use some form of AI. AI isn't as exclusive as it once was, so companies using AI must find other ways to differentiate themselves from each other. One such way that companies using AI can stand out is by investing in quality training data that is specific to their use cases. As AI becomes mainstream, companies must find ways to stay ahead of the competition and remain relevant.

The second trend is on most people's minds, from consumers to producers. The state of the economy has people worrying about employment and whether they will have funds to afford housing, food, and other necessities. Companies worry about whether consumers will be spending and willing to buy their newest products. This can be concerning for innovators as finding funding during uncertain times can be extremely difficult. Even with funding, another concern is whether consumers in many households across the US will be willing to buy a new product when disposable income is used for necessities.

The third trend, innovation confidence, is vital for success in businesses. The conference exuded a palpable excitement for the future of innovation as presenters and workers, representing their beliefs, contributed to the atmosphere. Even though times are uncertain, innovation continues to thrive as our world needs new perspectives and solutions.

Conclusion

Innovation is reaching transformative heights as new technological, transportation, and entertainment inventions surge. With these changing innovations, predicting trends will help companies maintain a competitive edge that will keep consumers interested now and in the future.

Reasons Behind Innovation Failure

Although failure is sometimes necessary for innovation, failure is an experience that companies and organizations can avoid by understanding the reasons behind it. Poor ideas and poor execution can cause an innovation project failure. But what causes teams to make these mistakes in the first place? And how can companies best avoid these mistakes? By discouraging groupthink and encouraging strong problem comprehension, companies and organizations can experience successful innovation.

Effect of Groupthink

The first threat to a team’s flexibility and authenticity is groupthink. Groupthink occurs when a member of a team latches on to an idea that is then replicated and repeated by other members and accepted as the solution without allowing room for variation. Groupthink often thrives in an organization with an environment that rallies around one person. Because the group follows one person, it usually follows one idea and solution. This herd mentality stunts the creativity and growth needed for innovation to happen. Companies and organizations can avoid this dilemma by encouraging individual thinking and participation in the innovation process. Giving every team member a voice allows for valuable thoughts, ideas, and feedback to generate better solutions.

Importance of Team Individualism

The individual members who make up a team play an integral part in the innovation process. It is vital to put thought into the selection process of team members. Having a healthy mix of people with different backgrounds, different personality traits, and differing views allows for helpful contrasting perspectives. An eclectic group is less likely to fall into groupthink because individualism is applauded.

While teams should be diverse and full of different thoughts and ideas, the common goal of the project needs to remain paramount. Differences should not divide the group, but act as an aid in innovative thinking. Individuals should be able to speak up within the group freely and comfortably. A group environment that encourages various thoughts, ideas, and opinions can offer better insight into solving problems and making decisions.

Understanding the Problem

The second hindrance to innovation in a team setting is simple but often overlooked. It is an avoidable failure that many teams make in the innovative process. Not taking the time to deeply examine problems can be detrimental to innovation. This oversight can happen when an organization is rushing to fix a problem. Not allotting enough time and resources to deeply understand all facets of a problem can prove catastrophic. As Albert Einstein’s popular method of problem-solving suggests, the majority of time in the innovation process should be spent thinking and studying the problem. Within this approach, the remaining sliver of available time should be enough to solve the problem. A company should know the ins and outs of the problem so well that a comparatively small amount of time is all that is needed to solve the problem.  

Conclusion

There are many reasons teams can fail at innovation projects. Groupthink and a lack of thorough problem comprehension are top contenders for innovation failure. Avoiding an environment that fosters groupthink is imperative to innovation growth. Additionally, the different perspectives of a well-rounded team will accelerate sound decision making while an in-depth understanding of a problem will encourage better solutions. Organizations encouraging collaboration, communication, and careful consideration of problems can turn potential innovation failure into success.

Albert Einstein once said, "If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions." This quote is more than just a clever remark; it encapsulates a fundamental truth about problem-solving that many overlook. It emphasizes the importance of deeply understanding a problem before attempting to solve it.

So, what's the difference between understanding and deeply understanding a problem? Simply put, understanding a problem means recognizing its existence and perhaps having a basic grasp of its nature. However, deeply understanding a problem involves knowing its root causes, implications, context, and repercussions. It's like the difference between knowing the surface of a lake and exploring its depths.

One noteworthy example of Einstein's approach to deep understanding is his development of the theory of relativity. Einstein didn't just stumble upon E=mc^2; he spent a decade wrestling with the problem. His deep understanding of the issue allowed him to question the established Newtonian physics. He explored every facet of the problem, considering the implications of a universe where the speed of light was constant and time was not absolute. This deep dive into understanding the fundamentals

led him to his groundbreaking theory that revolutionized our understanding of physics. It truly encapsulates Einstein's approach to problem-solving — spend more time understanding the problem, and the solution will follow.

Jumping To The Solution

By nature, humans are solution-oriented beings. We tend to leap into action, trying to fix things immediately, often skipping the crucial step of thoroughly comprehending the problem. This approach may work for simple issues, but for complex problems, it can lead to ineffective solutions, wasted resources, and frustration.

Research supports this inclination towards immediate problem-solving. Psychologists Heur and Oyserman's study, "Identity-based motivation and school success: when does 'wanting to do well' lead to 'doing well'?" demonstrates that students exposed to problems often revert to quick fixes instead of understanding the underlying concepts. Similarly, a research article by Kai Ruggeri and colleagues in Nature Human Behaviour showed that when dealing with policy issues, people largely favored immediate, tangible solutions over long-term strategies.

People also demonstrate examples in everyday life. Consider the common approach to addressing symptoms in healthcare. For instance, a patient with chronic headaches might be prescribed painkillers without investigating the underlying causes, such as stress or poor diet. This 'band-aid' solution may provide temporary relief but fails to address the root cause, leading to recurring issues.

Why We Jump to Solutions: A Deeper Look

By bypassing a deep understanding of the problem, we may inadvertently overlook viable solutions, waste valuable resources, or even exacerbate the issue. To help you resist the urge, let us dive deeper and look at why we jump to solutions:

1. Impatience: We live in a fast-paced, instant-gratification culture. We want things done quickly, and this includes solving problems. Deep understanding requires time and patience, which we are often unwilling to invest.
2. Perceived Efficiency: We often mistake quick action for productivity. Taking a direct approach to solutions provides us with a sense of progress and efficiency, even though these feelings may be illusions if the solutions do not align with the real problem.
3. Simplicity Bias: We tend to oversimplify complex problems. By jumping to solutions, we avoid the painful task of delving into the complexities and ambiguities of the problem.
4. Emotional Discomfort: Deeply understanding a problem often means acknowledging uncomfortable truths. Avoiding these emotions by focusing on solutions, even if they are ineffective, is easier.
5. Pressure to Perform: Particularly in professional contexts, there may be pressure to produce results fast. This can make us prioritize solution-generating over problem understanding.
6. Overconfidence: Sometimes, we think we understand the problem better than we do. This overconfidence can lead us to premature solution development.

By recognizing these tendencies, we can check ourselves before rushing into solution mode, ensuring we devote sufficient time and resources to understanding the problem.

Benefits of Deeply Understanding The Problem

The merits of devoting time and effort towards thoroughly comprehending a problem extend far beyond the immediate. They ripple through the entire problem-solving process, fostering innovative thinking, enhancing decision-making, and ultimately leading to more effective and enduring solutions. So, let's delve into the specific benefits of deeply understanding a problem.

1. Greater efficiency: When you fully understand a problem, you can tackle it more efficiently. You know where to focus your energy and resources, which reduces wasted effort and increases productivity.
2. Improved decision-making: A deep understanding of a problem equips you with the information necessary to make informed decisions. It allows you to evaluate potential solutions more critically, ultimately selecting the most effective solution.
3. Enhanced creativity: Deep understanding can spark creativity by revealing unexpected aspects of the problem. This can lead us to explore innovative solutions we might not have considered otherwise.
4. Improved communication: When you understand a problem deeply, you can communicate it more effectively to others, enabling better collaboration and collective problem-solving.
5. Reduced risk: Deep understanding reduces the risk of implementing a solution that could worsen the problem. By thoroughly understanding the problem, you can anticipate potential pitfalls and plan accordingly.
6. Increased confidence: When you fully understand a problem, you gain confidence. This confidence can be instrumental in persuading others to support your proposed solution and persevere when challenges arise.

How To Truly Understand A Problem

Truly understanding a problem is a journey that requires deliberate, systematic steps. It means peeling back the layers of the issue, investigating its roots, and exploring its implications in depth. This process does not only reveal the problem's true nature but also illuminates its potential solutions. Incorporating various techniques and methods into this process can enhance our understanding of problems, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions. Let's delve into the steps involved in truly understanding a problem.

So, how can one truly understand a problem? Here are some steps:

1. Identify the Problem: This might seem obvious, but it's crucial to be clear about the problem. Define it in clear, concise terms. A vague or poorly defined problem is difficult to understand and solve effectively.
2. Gather Information: Collect as much relevant information about the problem as possible. This includes facts, figures, opinions, experiences, and other pertinent data. This information can help you understand the problem's depth and breadth.
3. Analyze the Information: Once you have gathered the information, analyze it. Look for patterns, relationships, and anomalies. This analysis can provide insights into the underlying causes of the problem.
4. Ask Why: Don't stop at the surface level. Keep asking 'why' until you get to the root cause of the problem. The '5 Whys' technique, often used in problem-solving, involves asking 'why' five times or as many times as needed to reach the root cause.
5. Consider the Context: Understand the context in which the problem exists. Consider the social, economic, political, and environmental factors influencing the problem.
6. Think About the Consequences: Consider the potential consequences if the problem is not solved. This can provide further insights into the importance and urgency of the problem.
7. Reflect and Absorb: After gathering and analyzing the information, take some time for reflection. Allow your subconscious mind to absorb the information and generate insights.
8. Consult Others: Don't try to understand the problem in isolation. Consult others who offer different perspectives or have experience dealing with similar problems. Their insights can enhance your understanding of the problem.
9. Challenge Your Assumptions: Be critical of your assumptions and biases. They can cloud your understanding of the problem.
10. Stay Open-Minded: Keep an open mind throughout the process. Your understanding may shift and evolve as you learn more about the problem.

Problems vs. Opportunities

Problems and opportunities can often seem opposites but are intrinsically linked. Frequently, seizing an opportunity is all a problem needs. Understanding problems and opportunities has many parallels, and our techniques to dissect problems can also enhance our understanding of opportunities.

We typically view problems as hurdles that impede our progress. They are challenges that need solutions. Conversely, opportunities are favorable circumstances that can lead to positive outcomes if capitalized upon. But the line separating the two can often blur. A problem can unveil an opportunity to innovate or improve, and an opportunity can uncover dormant issues that necessitate careful scrutiny.

We can apply the principles we use to understand problems and comprehend opportunities. We can gain a deeper understanding of both by asking similar questions, considering the same factors, and taking a systematic approach.

Conclusion

Einstein's quote is a reminder that problem-solving is not just about solutions; it's about understanding. By deeply understanding the problem first, we equip ourselves with the knowledge and insight necessary to find the best solution. So, the next time you face a problem, remember to dive deep before you swim towards the solution. You'll be surprised by how quickly and efficiently you reach your destination.

In today's fast-paced world, change is the only constant. The volatility of the stock market, sudden changes in the workforce due to automation, or shifts in consumer behavior due to evolving technologies have thrown individuals and organizations into an era of uncertainty. It feels like we've been thrust onto a roller coaster ride, experiencing exhilarating highs, terrifying lows, and unexpected turns at every corner.

Yet, amidst this uncertainty, we find the most exceptional leaders rising. Those who can navigate through these turbulent times inspire their teams to continue innovating and emerge on the other side stronger than before. How do they do it? The answer lies in innovation leadership.

Innovation Leadership

Innovation leadership is not about having all the answers. It's about embracing the unknown, asking the right questions, and daring to disrupt. In times of crisis, this kind of leadership can turn uncertainty into a breeding ground for innovation. Leaders who are open to new ideas, approaches, and perspectives create an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive.

Rather than seeking immediate solutions, it's essential to understand the problem at hand deeply. This may involve exploring the nature of the problem, its origins, and the factors contributing to its existence. 

Asking questions like "What is the root cause of this issue?", "What are the underlying patterns or trends?" and "How does this problem affect our organization's objectives?" can lead to a more profound understanding of the situation and are powerful tools for turning the unknown into a catalyst for innovation.

What Does Uncertainty Look Like?

Uncertainty, in its unadorned form, is akin to standing at the edge of a precipice shrouded in dense fog. The trepidation of stepping forward without clarity of what lies ahead is palpable. It's like navigating a pathless wilderness without a map or compass, where the future and outcomes are unpredictable. Often accompanied by a sense of unease and discomfort, uncertainty can create a feeling of standing on shifting sands, where even the most well-laid plans may crumble unexpectedly. However, it's important to note that the essence of uncertainty also lies in its immense potential for change and innovation.

So, what does uncertainty look like, and how does it affect us today?

Let's consider artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. While promising efficiency and progress, this technological revolution has created significant uncertainty in job markets globally. AI and automation are disrupting industries by replacing manual and repetitive tasks. This has led to a widespread fear of job loss and insecurity among the workforce. Simultaneously, it has opened up opportunities for new roles that didn't exist before, demanding upskilling and reskilling of employees. This scenario of uncertainty requires innovative leadership to navigate the upheaval and turn it into an opportunity for growth and development.

But there's another side to this coin. Uncertainty also brings with it the innovation potential. Disruption of the status quo compels us to think differently, challenge assumptions, and discover new approaches. This is where innovation leadership comes into play.

Going Beyond The Uncertainty

Innovation leaders can see beyond the immediate challenges and identify opportunities amidst the chaos. They foster a culture of creativity and risk-taking, encouraging their teams to explore new ideas and push boundaries.

Consider the case of Apple during the 2008 financial crisis. While many companies struggled to survive, Apple was launching a revolutionary product - the iPhone. Steve Jobs, the then CEO, saw an opportunity where others saw a threat. He led his team to innovate, resulting in a product that changed the tech industry and helped Apple become one of the most valuable companies in the world.

Innovation leaders also understand the importance of resilience and adaptability. They know that failure is not a setback but a stepping stone to success. They create a safe environment where their teams can experiment, learn from their mistakes, and continuously improve.

For example, when Amazon launched the Fire Phone in 2014, it was a commercial failure. But instead of seeing this as a defeat, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, saw it as a learning opportunity. Amazon utilized the lessons from the Fire Phone to enhance other products, resulting in successes such as Alexa and the Echo devices.

Another ability of innovation leaders is to embrace diverse perspectives and ideas. They create a culture of inclusivity, where everyone's voice is heard and valued. This diversity in thinking can lead to breakthrough solutions that may not have been possible with a homogenous group.

A stellar example of innovation leadership embracing diverse perspectives is the rise of the global music streaming giant Spotify. The company's success stems from its leadership's adeptness at considering diverse perspectives, including those of artists, listeners, and the tech community. When record sales plummeted, and piracy was rampant, Spotify's leadership dared to reimagine the music industry's business model. Recognizing that people were gravitating towards the internet for their music needs, they developed a platform that brought artists and listeners together in a digital space. This innovation, born from embracing diverse viewpoints and understanding the changing landscape, revolutionized the music industry and set Spotify up as a leading player in the market.

How To Lead During Uncertainty?

In times of uncertainty, innovation leaders can employ various strategies to navigate through the tumultuous waters of change. The key lies in shifting perspective from viewing uncertainty as a daunting challenge to seeing it as a fertile ground for innovation and growth. They can leverage this shift by encouraging exploration, fostering resilience, promoting inclusivity, and embracing diverse perspectives in their teams. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into these strategies and provide practical guidance on how leaders can implement them to foster a culture of innovation during uncertain times.

1.     Encouraging Exploration: Leaders can stimulate curiosity and experimentation by fostering an environment that welcomes new ideas and unconventional thinking. Emphasizing a 'learning by doing' approach, they can motivate their teams to step out of their comfort zones, test hypotheses, and learn from the outcomes.

2.     Fostering Resilience: Uncertainty often comes with setbacks and failures. Leaders can turn these into learning opportunities by promoting a culture of resilience. They can emphasize the importance of perseverance and tenacity in facing challenges, helping their teams view setbacks as stepping stones to success and not as roadblocks.

3.     Promoting Inclusivity: Innovative leaders value diversity and inclusivity. They understand that a multiplicity of perspectives can bring about groundbreaking ideas and ensure that every voice within the team is heard and respected. They cultivate a culture that celebrates differences and ensures that everyone feels valued.

4.     Embracing Diverse Perspectives: Leaders can foster innovation by welcoming a range of perspectives and ideas. They understand that homogeneity can stifle creativity and encourage diverse thought within their teams. By doing so, they can facilitate the generation of unique and creative solutions to complex problems.

5.     Adapting to Change: In an uncertain environment, adaptability is key. Innovative leaders are flexible and willing to pivot their strategies in response to changing circumstances. They encourage their teams to be nimble, to anticipate change, and to be proactive in adapting to new circumstances.

4 Uncertainties Ripe for Innovation

In our rapidly evolving world, we face many uncertainties that challenge us and offer unique opportunities for innovation. These uncertainties offer a fertile ground to rethink existing frameworks, challenge the status quo, and explore uncharted territories. Let's delve into some of today's most pressing uncertainties that, with the right mindset and the spirit of innovation, hold the potential to reshape our future.

Economic instability leading to job insecurity and financial uncertainty.  

Economic instability is a pervasive uncertainty, often characterized by unpredictable fluctuations in the market, inflation rates, and employment levels. These fluctuations can lead to job insecurity, as businesses may need to downsize or restructure in response to changing economic conditions. Such a volatile environment can influence consumer behavior, too, causing hesitancy in spending and investments, which, in turn, can further exacerbate the instability. However, amidst these challenges lie immense opportunities for innovation. For instance, the rise of the gig economy, remote work models, and digital platforms are all testaments to how innovation can thrive under economic instability. Such innovations create new job opportunities and contribute to economies' resilience, helping them withstand and adapt to fluctuations.

Rapid technological advancements leading to a state of constant learning and adaptability.

Rapid technological advances present a significant source of uncertainty as they continually shift the landscape of practically every industry. The pace at which new technologies are emerging and evolving is unprecedented, from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to blockchain, robotics, and beyond. These technological advancements necessitate constant learning and adaptability, as organizations must keep abreast of the latest trends and developments to remain competitive. This sometimes rapid and relentless change can be daunting and disruptive, potentially causing job displacement and a skills gap. 

However, it also opens up exciting avenues for innovation. Technological advancements can drive the development of new products, services, and business models, enhance efficiency and productivity, and create opportunities for personal and professional growth. For instance, AI and data analytics enable more personalized and user-friendly services. Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize transactions and contracts, while robotics and automation can transform manufacturing and logistics. Despite the challenges posed, the potential benefits of these advancements are astronomical, signaling an exciting era of innovation and discovery.

Social and political divide leading to feelings of unease and fear. 

Social and political divides present another form of uncertainty that society grapples with. Characterized by differing ideologies, beliefs, and values, these divides can lead to conflict, miscommunication, and a lack of cohesion within societies. They can instigate unease, fear, and insecurity, hindering cooperation and unity. 

However, such divisions also present opportunities for innovation. They can catalyze dialogue, fostering an environment where varied perspectives can be shared and understood. This could inspire the creation of new platforms for communication, social networking tools that promote empathy and understanding, or educational programs aimed at cultivating a more inclusive society. Moreover, the political divide could stimulate innovative public policies, contributing to a more harmonious and prosperous society.

Changing customer demands and market trends creating business uncertainty.

Changing customer demands and market trends present a significant source of business uncertainty. Consumers' expectations and requirements continually evolve as they become more informed and empowered. This might include a growing demand for personalized and seamless experiences, a shift towards sustainability and ethical consumerism, or an increased expectation for digital and mobile solutions. These dynamic shifts can render traditionally successful products or services inadequate, necessitating companies to constantly innovating to meet these changing demands. On the other hand, market trends can also fluctuate rapidly because of factors such as technological advancements, regulatory changes, and socioeconomic developments. Businesses, therefore, must stay nimble and adaptable, identifying and responding to these trends promptly and effectively. 

Yet, within this uncertainty lies a wealth of opportunity for innovation. By embracing these changes, businesses can uncover new avenues for growth, develop unique offerings, and build stronger customer relationships. For instance, companies are increasingly leveraging technologies like AI and data analytics to offer hyper-personalization, while others are committing to sustainable practices to attract eco-conscious consumers.

These are only four major uncertainties, but countless others present challenges and opportunities for innovation. The spirit of innovation becomes our greatest ally, transforming challenges into opportunities and continuously paving the way for progress, growth, and prosperity in an ever-evolving world.

Conclusion

Navigating through the landscape of uncertainty is indeed a daunting task, yet it is also brimming with possibilities for individuals, organizations, and societies willing to embrace change and innovation. The key lies in cultivating a mindset that sees uncertainty not as a threat but as a breeding ground for creativity, resilience, and growth. Whether it's economic instability, rapid technological advancements, social and political divides, or changing customer demands and market trends, each of these uncertainties presents unique challenges that require innovative solutions.

Leadership in such uncertain times demands courage, adaptability, and a clear vision that can guide others through the complexities of change. Leaders must foster an environment that encourages continuous learning, open dialogue, and collaboration. Innovation thrives through such an environment, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and improvement.

Leading through uncertainty is about transforming challenges into opportunities. It's about seeing the potential in the unknown and using it as a catalyst for innovation and growth. It requires a balance of courage, vision, adaptability, and resilience. As we navigate the complex uncertainties of today's world, let us remember that it is the very nature of these uncertainties that drives us to innovate, adapt, and, ultimately, evolve.

[1] Jones, Benjamin, et al. "A Calculation of the Social Returns to Innovation?" National Bureau of Economic Research, 2020. An interesting review of the paper can be found here.

Have you ever found yourself lost in your thoughts, daydreaming, or ideating without barriers? That's your creative imagination at work! Creative imagination is an incredible power within us—it can manifest our hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Unleashing the power of our creative imagination can be the key to realizing our personal and professional goals.

What is Creative Imagination?

Creative imagination is our ability to form mental images, concepts, and ideas that are unique and original. It is the source of our creativity, innovation, and imagination. Our creative imagination enables us to think outside the box and develop unconventional ideas, perspectives, and solutions.

It's a multidimensional process that involves both conscious and subconscious minds. It's a rich blend of our experiences, knowledge, intuition, and emotions. With creative imagination, we can visualize scenarios or solutions that don't yet exist, bridging the gap between the present and myriad possible futures.

Our creative imagination allows us to challenge conventions, break boundaries, and create new paradigms. It empowers us to perceive the world uniquely and interpret our experiences through fresh lenses. From creating a beautiful piece of art to pioneering a groundbreaking scientific theory, the power of creative imagination underlies all forms of human innovation and progress.

Each one of us possesses this power. However, like any other skill, it must be nurtured, cultivated, and practiced to reach its full potential.

How Does Creative Imagination Manifested?

Creative imagination manifests in many ways, including daydreaming, visualization, ideation, and creativity. It is the source of our inspiration, motivation, and passion. Creative imagination is also associated with our ability to create and innovate and our capacity to explore and develop new ways of thinking. We use our creative imagination in our personal and professional endeavors, such as:

1) Problem-solving:

Whether figuring out a complex business challenge at work or deciding the best route to navigate a traffic jam, our creative imagination fuels our problem-solving abilities. It allows us to visualize multiple scenarios and outcomes, helping us to choose the most effective strategies.

2) Art and Creativity:

This is the most apparent manifestation of creative imagination, evident in the works of artists, writers, and musicians. These individuals draw upon their creative imagination to conceive and express unique ideas, emotions, and perspectives.

3) Innovation:

Every groundbreaking invention or discovery in history has been the product of someone's creative imagination. From Thomas Edison's light bulb to Elon Musk's vision for SpaceX, these innovations were once mere thoughts in the minds of their creators.

4) Learning and Education:

Students use creative imagination to understand and remember complex concepts. For instance, a student of history might imagine themselves in a historical event to understand its nuances better.

5) Personal Development:

Creative imagination can guide us in our personal growth and self-improvement efforts. By visualizing our ideal selves, we can map out the steps needed to reach our goals.

So, whether we are conscious of it or not, we constantly use our creative imagination to shape our world and experiences with its power.

The Power of Creative Imagination

Creative imagination has immense power! It can transform our lives by enabling us to serendipitously ideate, create, and innovate. Harnessing the power of our creative imagination can inspire us to achieve our goals and realize our ambitions. We can visualize our perfect lives, careers, and relationships and use our creative imagination to manifest these into reality. Here are some key aspects that highlight its significance:

1) Realizing Possibilities:

Creative imagination empowers us to visualize endless possibilities and solutions beyond ‌our physical senses and immediate environment. It allows us to escape the constraints of the present moment, enabling us to travel in time and anticipate future outcomes. This ability to foresee potential scenarios aids in decision-making and strategizing, thus giving us an advantage in navigating life's challenges.

2) Driving Innovation:

The power of creative imagination is the cornerstone of all technological and societal advancements. It fuels the minds of scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs, enabling them to create products, services, and solutions that reshape our world. Without creative imagination, there would be no iPhone, internet, or electric car.

3) Elevating Artistic Expression:

Creative imagination allows artists, writers, musicians, and performers to conceive and communicate unique ideas, emotions, and narratives in art and literature. It is the foundation of their creative process, transforming abstract thoughts and feelings into tangible works of art.

4) Personal Transformation:

On a personal level, creative imagination aids in self-improvement and personal development. Through visualization techniques, we can imagine our ideal selves, helping us to establish and pursue personal goals. By imagining our desired future, we can align our actions and behavior to those visions, leading to personal transformation and growth.

Increasing Your Creative Imagination

There are several actionable tips and steps to increase your creative imagination, including:

Foster curiosity

Curiosity, the innate desire to know and understand, is a fundamental driver of creative imagination. It prompts us to explore the unknown, question the familiar, and seek new experiences and perspectives. Fostering curiosity is an effective way to stimulate and harness your creative imagination. Here's how:

1. Embrace the Unknown: Step out of your comfort zone and delve into topics, cultures, or disciplines you know little about. This foray into the unfamiliar can trigger new ideas and insights, stimulating your creative imagination.
2. Ask Questions: Don't accept things at face value. Instead, ask "why," "how," and "what if" to delve deeper. This inquisitive mindset can lead to new connections and ideas.
3. Seek Diverse Experiences: Novel experiences broaden your perspectives, fueling your creative imagination. Travel to new places, read across various genres, engage with people from diverse backgrounds, or try out different cuisines.
4. Lifelong Learning: Commit to lifelong learning. Stay open to acquiring new skills, knowledge, and experiences. This continuous learning helps maintain a fresh and active mind ripe for creative imagination.

You keep your creative imagination vibrant, versatile, and ready by fostering curiosity. Remember, every great invention, every brilliant piece of art, and every revolutionary idea started with a curious mind.

Cultivating Creativity

Creativity forms the bedrock of the imaginative process, and fostering it can significantly enhance the power of your creative imagination. It translates your intangible thoughts into concrete expressions, cultivating your ability to conceive unique and innovative concepts. Here are some effective strategies to cultivate your creativity:

1. Immerse in Diverse Art Forms: Explore different artistic disciplines such as poetry, architecture, painting, or music. These arts incite fresh perspectives and can stimulate creative thinking. By appreciating the creativity of others, you can inspire your own.
2. Free Writing or Drawing: Set aside a specific time for free writing or drawing each day. This unstructured and spontaneous activity allows your thoughts to flow freely, releasing withheld creativity.
3. Creative Spaces: Designate a space for creative pursuits. This could be a room filled with art supplies, a corner with a musical instrument, or a quiet spot for writing. A dedicated creative space can help invoke your creative spirit.
4. Collaboration: Engage in group activities that require creative problem-solving. Collaboration exposes you to different ideas and perspectives, stimulating your creative imagination.

Creativity extends beyond art—it applies to every aspect of life. From solving complex problems to making everyday decisions, cultivating creativity can make you a more innovative thinker and help you harness your creative imagination to its fullest potential.

Engaging in Imagination

Engaging in imaginative activities is key to cultivating and strengthening your creative imagination. This practice allows you to flex your imagination, encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Here's how you can engage in imagination:

1. Visualization: This is a powerful tool for mentally simulating a situation, concept, or object. By visualizing, you can explore possibilities, foresee challenges, and create solutions in your mind before taking any real-world actions. Athletes often use this technique to enhance their performance, and artists use it to conceive their creations.
2. Daydreaming: Contrary to popular belief, daydreaming isn't always a waste of time. It's a spontaneous, self-generated thought that allows your mind to wander freely. This can lead to the birth of original ideas and unique solutions you might not have discovered through analytical thinking alone.
3. Reading Fiction: Reading fiction is a form of 'indirect' imaginative engagement. As you delve into different worlds, characters, and narratives, you indirectly stimulate your creative imagination, broadening your horizons and fostering empathetic and creative thinking.
4. Playing 'What If' Games: Regularly challenging yourself with 'what if' scenarios is a great way to stimulate your creative imagination. Pondering hypothetical situations forces you to think outside the box and develop creative solutions.

By regularly engaging in these imaginative exercises, you can effectively cultivate and enhance your creative imagination. Remember, your imagination is like a muscle - the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Look With Fresh Eyes

Seeing the world with 'fresh eyes' is a powerful way to harness your creative imagination. This involves perceiving things from a new perspective, challenging preconceived notions, and daring to think differently. Here are some ways to achieve this:

1. Challenge Assumptions: Question the status quo and challenge established assumptions. This may not only lead to innovative thoughts but can also stimulate out-of-the-box thinking.
2. Reframe Problems: View obstacles as opportunities and try to reframe problems into challenges. This shift in perspective can spark creative solutions.
3. Practice Empathy: Try to understand situations from other people's perspectives. This empathetic approach can broaden your worldview and stimulate diverse thought processes.
4. Explore Multiple Angles: Don't be content with the first solution or idea that comes to mind. Cultivate the habit of considering various facets of a problem or concept.

Keeping your eyes fresh and mind open, you can tap into the depths of your creative imagination, unlocking endless possibilities and fostering innovation. Remember, a fresh perspective is all you need to uncover the hidden gems waiting to be found in the world.

Keeping an Open Mind

Maintaining an open mind is a quintessential prerequisite for fostering your creative imagination. It allows you to explore new ideas, accept differing opinions, and step outside your comfort zone, which can fuel your creativity. Here are some ways to cultivate your creative imagination by keeping an open mind:

1. Embrace Uncertainty: Instead of fearing the unknown, embrace it. The uncertainty of new experiences can stimulate your imagination, pushing you to think in ways you haven't before.
2. Welcome Different Perspectives: Seek out and respect opinions that differ from your own. This can give you a broader range of ideas to draw from and enhance your creative thinking.
3. Be Open to Learning: Maintain a lifelong learner's attitude. This willingness to learn can expose you to many concepts and ideas, feeding your creative imagination.
4. Experience Diversity: Diversify your experiences and interactions. Engage with different cultures, philosophies, and lifestyles. The more varied your experiences, the richer your imagination becomes.
5. Question Everything: Adopt a questioning attitude. Explore the ' why ' behind things rather than taking information at face value.

Keeping an open mind facilitates a conducive environment for your creative imagination to flourish. It enables you to see beyond the obvious, question the ordinary, and venture into extraordinary possibilities. Remember, an open mind is the doorway to a world of creative potential.

Celebrate Your Creativity

Part of harnessing your creative imagination involves recognizing and celebrating your creativity. Regardless of the outcome, creating holds intrinsic value and is a testament to your imagination at work. Here are some ways to celebrate your creativity:

1. Acknowledge Your Effort: Each creative endeavor requires courage and effort. Acknowledge your dedication, irrespective of the result. This fosters a positive mindset and motivates you to continue creating.
2. Share Your Work: Don't shy away from sharing your creations with others. The feedback and reactions you receive can offer new perspectives and ideas. Your work might inspire others and stimulate their creative imagination.
3. Reflect on Your Process: Reflect on your creative process. What did you learn? What would you do differently next time? Reflection promotes the growth and refinement of your creative skills.
4. Reward Yourself: Give yourself a small reward after completing a creative task. This positive reinforcement can elevate your mood and inspire you to tackle your next creative challenge with renewed energy.

Celebrating your creativity will validate your creative journey, nurture your creative confidence, and set the stage for a more vibrant, creative imagination. Embracing and celebrating your creativity is not just about acknowledging your achievements; it's about recognizing the power of your creative imagination and its endless possibilities.

Conclusion:

Your creative imagination is not just an intangible concept; it's a powerful force that can transform your personal and professional life. It can turn the ordinary into extraordinary, the mundane into magical, and the routine into remarkable. By nurturing your creative imagination through exercises, fresh perspectives, an open mind, and celebrating creativity, you're not just enhancing your problem-solving skills or improving your innovative thinking but unlocking a world of limitless possibilities. Thus enabling yourself to dream, explore, and create beyond the boundaries of common thought. You're equipping yourself with the ability to look at life through different lenses and to find opportunities where others see none.

But perhaps the most inspiring aspect of your creative imagination is its uniqueness. It's inherently yours - a reflection of your experiences, knowledge, and perspectives. No one else in the world possesses your creative imagination. Therefore, your creativity has the potential to contribute something truly unique and valuable to the world.

So, dare to imagine, create, and share your creativity with the world. Through your unique creative imagination, you can inspire others, make a difference, and leave a lasting impact.

Remember, every incredible creation today began as a mere figment of someone's imagination. So, who's to say what extraordinary creations your nurtured imagination might bring to life? Embrace your creative imagination, cherish it, and let it guide you through uncharted territories. The world awaits your creativity.

In one of the most insightful episodes of Killer Innovations, I had the pleasure of hosting Mark Tubinis from Veea. Our conversation revolved around bridging the digital divide with cable technology, particularly in Panama. Mark passionately shared his experiences, recounting how people, for the first time, could use the internet from devices other than just mobile phones. Witnessing this transformation was profoundly moving.

We explored the challenges and opportunities in creating digital identities for individuals without internet access, particularly in rural areas. Mark shared about the innovative use of a prepaid system for home broadband for unbanked populations. This system would allow for budgeting and device streaming, potentially transformative for these communities.

The discussion took us to Indonesia, specifically to its least-connected villages. Mark underscored the urgent need for edge computing and connectivity in these areas. We delved into the Digital Village Project, a consortium of 5,000 villages in Indonesia working to solve connectivity challenges. The sheer scale of the task was sobering, with 75,000 villages needing solutions.

Our conversation then shifted to how innovation can solve such global problems. We highlighted the challenge of providing sustainable, profitable internet infrastructure in developing countries, with a specific look at Indonesia and China. Mark illustrated the potential of Veea’s technology to provide enhanced services, like smart agriculture, in these regions.

The Rural Cloud Initiative aims to bring precision agriculture to farms through partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Honeywell. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to normalize data and make it accessible to farmers, a game-changer for the agriculture sector.

The digital divide and innovation in agriculture was another topic we explored. We discussed the transformative impact of digital innovation in Rwanda, particularly in the fish farming industry, where technology adoption has drastically reduced waste and increased efficiency. Mark agreed that bringing broadband to homes is vital to unlocking the economic potential in certain cultures, emphasizing countries with limited access to power and connectivity.

Our closing thoughts dwelled on the importance of leaving a legacy and making the world a better place through our work. Mark shared his experiences working with innovators like Dean Kaman, making significant contributions to energy innovation.

It was a truly enlightening conversation, reminding us all of the transformative power of innovative technology.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Paul Broadhurst, the President and CEO of the Technetix Group. We met in the mobile studio during SCTE Cable-Tec Expo in Denver, CO. Paul shared his excitement about the growing confidence and support in the cable broadband industry. He particularly emphasized the emergence of new vendors and sponsors at the event, a clear indication of the sector's growth trajectory.

One of the main topics we touched upon was DOCSIS 4 and the crucial need for network upgrades. Paul voiced his concerns about a skills shortage in the industry and stressed the importance of upgrading networks to meet DOCSIS 4 requirements. We both concurred on the essential need for future-proof networks.

Paul pointed out an interesting fact - the cable industry needs to employ around 400,000 individuals to finish the required work. He suggested that the focus should be on educating younger individuals to be proficient and effective in the industry. We also spoke about the shift from manual network maintenance to automated systems.

Our conversation moved towards the potential of cable broadband and future trends. As someone who's always been curious about the future of technology, I found Paul's insights particularly compelling. He highlighted the importance of future-proofing networks and possibly upgrading cable networks to 100 Gigabit speeds using existing infrastructure.

Looking ahead, Paul predicts that wireline broadband networks will mature and become more efficient over the next 15 years. He pointed out the possibilities of self-healing capabilities and reduced power consumption, which could be a game-changer for the industry.

Paul envisions an industry with increased competition and innovation driven by new market entrants and federal investment in high-performance networks. We also had an intriguing discussion about the unique culture of the cable industry. We both appreciate its focus on collaboration, trust, and people. There's a friendly and collaborative environment where operators share ideas and meet regularly, with CableLabs playing a crucial role in fostering this culture.

Towards the end of our conversation, Paul expressed his curiosity about the potential for the possibilities with medical monitoring and security.

Reflecting on the interview, Paul's insights and vision for the industry's future showcase his dynamic thinking and leadership, making our conversation a valuable experience for the listener.

In this episode of Killer Innovations, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ken Grelck, SVP of Sales at Calix, about the company's impressive transformation from a hardware-focused organization to a cloud and software-centric business. Ken shed light on how Calix concentrates on improving customer experience, regardless of the size of their network. Their dedication to customer experience is central to their shift toward software-defined networks.

Ken and I explored how this transformation has impacted the cable industry, discussing Calix's decade-long journey and $1 billion investment in creating a platform that optimizes customer problem resolution. A significant shift in operator skill sets within the organization also marked this transformation. Michael Weaning, ex-Salesforce executive, joined Calix as President, playing an instrumental role in changing the company's customer engagement approach.

Calix's Service Cloud and Ops Cloud solutions are reshaping customer service through invaluable data insights that help service reps and technicians, significantly reducing call times and boosting efficiency. These solutions are products of Calix's commitment to innovation. Our team at CableLabs collaborated with Calix on a co-innovation project, Adrenaline, which spearheaded hardware acceleration through an open-source approach. This project was a true testament to the power of remote collaboration and the impact of technology on hardware capabilities.

Our conversation also touched on Calix's innovation strategies and culture. They cultivate innovation around market needs, gathering inputs from their 1800 customers via leadership advisory boards. Their approach embodies a broad-market focus, avoiding innovation targeted at specific customers.

Ken provided insights into Calix's groundbreaking product, Smart Town, which arose from customer recommendations. Developed over 12-18 months, it addressed the digital divide exacerbated by the pandemic. Smart Town is a stellar example of innovation turning into a mission, intending to bridge the digital divide in rural and tribal areas in the U.S. We both believe that serving these communities should be about the greater good rather than just economic benefit.

Our discussion moved onto the ethical aspects of innovation, particularly concerning AI and child safety. Ken and I agreed on protecting children from online threats, making AI monitoring tools increasingly vital. The conversation reflected on the challenges of protecting older children, the role of parents in this task, and the potential unintended consequences of innovation.

Responding to my question, "What are you most curious about?" Ken spoke about his curiosity and concerns about the impact of AI. Our conversation underlined the importance of considering potential negative consequences while harnessing AI's potential.

This episode underscored the complex intersection of innovation, transformation, and ethics in our ever-evolving tech landscape.

Rob Wilmoth from Red Hat joined me in the mobile studio at the 2023 SCTE Cable-Tech Expo, where we delved into numerous discussions on enterprise technology, software customization, open-source security, and innovation. Red Hat, known for its 30-year history, has been instrumental in the enterprise technology landscape. The company’s ability to harden, secure, and provide supportability for open-source technology, benefiting customers and contributing to the ecosystem, underlines its integral role in the industry.

Rob highlighted the importance of software customization, collaboration, and scalability for enterprise software users. He compared the software development process to motorsports, requiring fine-tuning performance optimization while maintaining balance. Red Hat's ability to provide customization in their Enterprise Linux and the flexibility to swap components with certified partners like Juniper reinforced their reputation for responsiveness and partnerships in the telco and cable industries.

Innovation at Red Hat

Discussing innovation at Red Hat, Rob noted their forward-thinking approach, looking 18-24 months ahead to align technology with people's needs. Red Hat's culture of innovation encourages associates to bring ideas forward while maintaining a balance between innovative thought and practical application.

Security and innovation in open-source software was another key point of discussion. Red Hat prioritizes innovation through upstream community contributions, tackling countless security threats, including unintentional errors and zero-day vulnerabilities. The company’s emphasis on multiple reviewers to catch security issues swiftly was a testament to their commitment to security in open-source software.

Open-Source and Security

Addressing open-source software development and security vulnerabilities, Rob revealed Red Hat’s approach to maintaining close ties with security organizations to address vulnerabilities. He shared an example of a public cloud provider utilizing their code to fix vulnerabilities, demonstrating Red Hat's dedication to being a responsible community steward.

Rob also touched on the crucial aspect of technical debt in open-source software, warning of the challenges for companies customizing a base platform, which could lead to increased time and effort for future updates. He also highlighted the significance of understanding a company's open-source policy and the role of involvement and contribution in open-source communities during hiring.

We concluded by discussing the need for standardization in tech and the cable industry. Rob expressed concerns about rigid standards and suggested APIs as a possible solution to bridge gaps between vendors. He and I agreed to rethink standards, focusing on interoperability to avoid silos and unintended consequences.

Have you ever been present when something has gone wrong, and everyone is quick to assign blame? It's human nature to want to hold someone accountable when there's a failure, but what happens when we let a blame culture take over?

The blame culture will stifle creativity and innovation in an organization. When each team member focuses on avoiding responsibility at all costs, there's little room for growth, learning, or experimentation. It discourages individuals from speaking up about potential solutions or ideas, causing progress to stagnate and morale to plummet.

The Desire to Assign Blame

The impulse to assign blame is often driven by more than just a desire for justice. Psychologically, blaming others helps us maintain our self-esteem by diverting attention and criticism from ourselves. When something goes wrong, pointing fingers at others is a defense mechanism that preserves our self-image and allows us to evade personal responsibility.

Blame can also stem from fear. In an organizational context, employees may fear the consequences of failure, such as job loss or damage to their reputation. Thus, they may instinctively assign blame to others to protect their professional standing.

The act of blaming can create an illusion of control. By attributing failure to someone's actions or decisions, we convince ourselves that we can avoid future mistakes by simply avoiding the same path. Unfortunately, this simplistic view doesn't account for business's complex and often unpredictable nature, and it prevents us from learning and growing from our mistakes.

When We Are Blamed

When someone blames us, we immediately try to avoid culpability by shifting the blame to someone else. That person then shifts the blame

 to someone else. This creates a vicious cycle of finger-pointing that only drives teams further apart. This quick-fire response of pointing fingers rather than seeking solutions masks the real problems and fosters unproductive behavior, which impacts results.

The need to apply blame comes from a lack of trust. Without mutual trust and respect, collaboration becomes impossible. This can lead to an environment where people are more interested in self-preservation than contributing to the organization's success.

Innovation Culture and Blame

Innovation culture thrives in an environment where blame is not the default response to failure. Instead, every failure is viewed as an opportunity for learning and growth, fostering a mindset that encourages experimentation and creativity. In a blame-free innovation culture, there's a collective understanding that failure is not a reflection of personal shortcomings but an inevitable part of the innovation process.

Individuals tend to take risks, share ideas, and collaborate openly when we remove blame. This creates a breeding ground for innovation, as new ideas are freely exchanged and explored. With the fear of blame removed, we empower employees to think outside the box, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful organizational change.

However, building this kind of culture requires strong leadership. Leaders must model the behaviors they wish to see, fostering a sense of psychological safety where employees can openly share their ideas and failures. They must also communicate that we expect and accept failure as long as it leads to learning and improvement. By doing so, they can help dismantle the blame culture and cultivate an environment that values curiosity, bravery, and resilience, thus paving the way for sustained innovation.

Accountability vs Blame

We must distinguish between accountability and blame. While blame focuses on finding someone to hold responsible for the problem, accountability focuses on finding a resolution for the situation. Accountability seeks to identify the root causes and how to correct them. In contrast, blame focuses on passing the buck and assigning guilt. This mindset discourages open communication, results in defensiveness, and stifles creativity.

Therefore, leadership must resist the urge to assign blame when there's a failure. One way that a leader can still hold team members accountable without assigning blame is to reframe the discussion. Rather than solely focusing on who's responsible for the issue, leaders can ask how we can solve the problem. This subtle shift changes the focus from a punitive tone to accountability, cooperation, and collaboration.

Leaders should also model the behavior they expect from their team. Showing empathy and understanding rather than judgment or criticism will help create a culture where people feel safe to take risks, develop new ideas, and experiment with different solutions.

Ultimately, blame has no place in an innovative workplace. We need to foster an environment of trust and collaboration if we are to be successful. Leaders must create a culture that encourages learning and growth, where we see mistakes as opportunities for improvement rather than grounds for punishment. We can unleash creativity and innovation in our organizations by breaking the blame culture.

Eliminating The Blame Culture

Organizations increase their resilience, growth, and innovation impact by eliminating the blame culture. If organizations can foster an environment that values creativity, takes calculated risks, and supports those who have tried new things and failed, they are on the right path to success.

So, what are the steps to dismantle the blame culture?

Promote Open Communication:

Promoting open communication is a key factor in dismantling the blame culture within an organization. Open communication creates an environment where individuals feel safe to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of being blamed or criticized. It encourages active dialogue, fosters transparency, and helps build a trust and cooperation culture.

When employees feel they can openly communicate, they are more likely to share their ideas, voice their concerns, and take calculated risks. This greater freedom can lead to innovative problem-solving and more effective collaboration. Open communication ensures everyone is on the same page, reducing misunderstandings that could lead to unfair blame.

In a culture with open, solid communication, mistakes are not hidden but addressed openly. This shifts the focus from blaming individuals for mistakes to collectively finding solutions and learning from the experience. This approach not only promotes accountability but also encourages learning and continuous improvement.

Open communication can help dispel the fear often associated with blame. When leaders are open, honest, and transparent, it sends a clear message to the team that it's okay to make mistakes as long as it uses them as a learning opportunity. This shift in mindset can contribute to dismantling the blame culture.

An example of promoting open communication can be found in a practice many successful organizations employ: the "no-fault post-mortem" meeting. This technique is commonly used after a project or event, especially if things are unplanned. We encourage all team members to share their perspectives on what happened, what went wrong, and what could be improved without fearing punishment or blame.

Foster a Learning Environment:

Cultivate a culture where mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth. By shifting the focus from blame to learning, we see each failure as an opportunity for growth and innovation rather than a cause for punishment. This cultivates an organization-wide mindset shift where mistakes are not feared but embraced as part of the learning process.

Employees are encouraged to try new ideas and take calculated risks in a learning environment. This approach inherently acknowledges that failure is a possibility. Yet, instead of discouraging these attempts, it rewards them, recognizing that every failure brings valuable lessons that drive improvement and innovation. This environment breaks the cycle of blame as employees no longer feel the need to conceal their mistakes or defend their actions for fear of blame.

Moreover, leaders can encourage open dialogue about failures by setting a precedent that mistakes are learning opportunities. This leads to collective problem-solving, with the team working together to understand what went wrong and how to prevent it in the future. In such an environment, blame has no place, as the focus is not on who caused the mistake but on what we can learn from it.

This learning-oriented culture encourages transparency, trust, and accountability, effectively dismantling the blame culture. It promotes resilience, as teams that learn from their failures are more agile and better equipped to face future challenges. Thus, fostering a learning environment eliminates the blame culture and paves the way for an innovative, collaborative, and successful organization.

An excellent example of fostering a learning environment comes from a common practice at leading Silicon Valley companies such as HP and Google. They encourage their employees to spend 20% of their work time on personal projects, a policy known as "20% Time". This initiative allows employees to explore their ideas and learn through trial and error without fear of failure. They encourage employees to view mistakes as part of innovation and learn from them.

Develop Trust:

Developing trust within an organization is a crucial stepping stone towards dismantling a blame culture. Trust fosters an environment where employees feel valued and secure, reducing the impulse to deflect blame onto others. When individuals trust their colleagues, they are more likely to believe in the collective competence and intentions of the team, feeling less need to assign blame when things go awry.

Trust creates a safe space for open dialogue, enabling teams to address mistakes and failures openly and objectively, focusing on solutions rather than casting blame. It encourages individuals to admit when they are at fault, confident that their honesty will not result in punitive measures but is a learning opportunity.

Trust forms the foundation of effective collaboration. In a trusting environment, team members work together towards a common goal, emphasizing collective success over individual performance. This shift in perspective minimizes defensive behaviors and promotes accountability, both crucial elements in eradicating a blame culture.

Trust also strengthens the relationship between leaders and employees. When leaders demonstrate trust in their teams' abilities and intentions, it empowers individuals, promoting innovation and risk-taking. It sends a clear message that failure is not a catastrophe but a normal part of the path to success.

We can see an example of developing trust in the practice adopted by Netflix. The company is renowned for its "Freedom and Responsibility" culture, which is heavily rooted in trust. Netflix offers its employees great autonomy, trusting them to make decisions that align with the company's best interests. This high-trust culture eliminates the fear of blame and promotes a collaborative, innovative, and transparent working environment.

Encourage Accountability:

Encouraging accountability is a critical strategy for dismantling a culture of blame. When accountable, employees recognize and accept responsibility for their actions and outcomes. This shift moves the focus away from blaming others, fostering a culture of ownership and personal responsibility.

Accountability prompts individuals to consider the consequences of their actions, leading to more thoughtful decision-making and a stronger commitment to the tasks undertaken. This enhances the quality of work and reduces the likelihood of mistakes precipitating blame.

Accountability cultivates open-mindedness and humility, as accountable individuals tend to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes rather than deflect blame. This fosters a continuous learning and improvement culture, where we view errors as growth opportunities rather than failures.

When accountability is encouraged, it reduces the defensive behaviors often associated with a blame culture. Instead of wasting energy on assigning blame, teams can focus on constructive problem-solving to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future, promoting a more efficient and collaborative environment.

When leaders model accountability, it sets a precedent for the entire organization, establishing an ethos of integrity, responsibility, and trust - collectively working to dismantle the antithesis of a blame culture. This leadership encourages all members to act similarly, collectively working towards dismantling the blame culture.

A great example of encouraging accountability is the approach used by Amazon. Amazon's leadership principle of "Ownership" encourages employees to act on behalf of the entire company, not just themselves or their teams. This principle fosters a sense of personal investment and accountability, dissuading a blame culture. It illustrates that when every employee feels personally responsible for the company's success, they are less likely to shift blame and more likely to strive for continuous improvement.

Lead by Example:

Leading by example is a powerful way to dismantle the blame culture within an organization. When leaders demonstrate accountability, empathy, and open-mindedness in the face of mistakes and failures, it sets a precedent for the entire team. Leaders who own and use their mistakes as learning opportunities show their teams that it's acceptable to fail as long as we use these failures to fuel growth and improvement.

Leaders can foster a culture of trust, respect, and continuous improvement by adopting an approach focused on learning rather than blaming. When leaders avoid the blame game and instead focus on constructive problem-solving, it encourages the same behavior among their team members. This reduces defensiveness and fear and promotes open dialogue and collaboration.

Leaders who lead by example reinforce the idea that everyone, regardless of their position in the organization, is accountable for their actions. This equitable approach discourages blame-shifting and encourages individual accountability.

When leaders model the behavior they wish to see, it can significantly influence the organization's culture. Through their actions, leaders can shift the focus from blame to learning, fostering an environment where failures are stepping stones to success rather than setbacks. By leading by example, leaders can effectively dismantle the blame culture and pave the way for a more resilient, innovative, and successful organization.

A shining example of leading by example is Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. Nadella took the helm when Microsoft was known for its internal competitiveness, often resulting in a blame culture. Satya Nadella, however, helped transform this culture by demonstrating empathy and encouraging a growth mindset. He emphasized learning from mistakes rather than allocating blame. This shift in leadership style fostered a more collaborative and innovative environment, demonstrating how impactful leading by example can be in dismantling a blame culture.

Reframe the Discussion:

Reframing the discussion plays a pivotal role in dismantling a blame culture. This strategy shifts the focus from assigning fault to finding solutions, promoting collaboration and collective problem-solving. Instead of a punitive approach when issues arise, encourage dialogue centered around comprehension and resolution. This reduces the fear of blame and encourages individuals to come forward with their mistakes, viewing them as learning opportunities rather than career-threatening occurrences.

In a solution-oriented environment, they see mistakes as a part of the process, not as catastrophic failures. This mindset fosters continuous learning, encourages risk-taking, and drives innovation. It leans into the idea that progress is often built on trial and error, removing the sting from missteps.

Reframing the discussion also enhances team cohesion and mutual respect. When teams engage in constructive, solution-focused conversations, it fosters a sense of camaraderie, promoting a sense of shared responsibility toward achieving collective goals. This shared responsibility diminishes the urge to lay blame on individuals, fostering a supportive, inclusive, and efficient work environment.

Reframing the discussion helps to dismantle the blame culture by encouraging transparency, fostering team collaboration, and promoting a focus on solutions over blame. This approach contributes to a positive organizational culture, empowering individuals and teams and facilitating growth and success.

We can see an excellent example of reframing the discussion in how the multinational corporation IBM handled project failures. Instead of resorting to blame when a project failed, Thomas J. Watson Sr., IBM's CEO, reframed the conversation around understanding the reasons behind the failure and learning from them. He famously said, "If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate." This approach encouraged employees to view mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth rather than personal shortcomings to be penalized. Consequently, it helped to foster a culture of innovation and continual improvement rather than a blame culture.

Provide Constructive Feedback:

Providing constructive feedback is an essential strategy in dismantling a blame culture. Constructive feedback focuses on growth and learning, tackling mistakes as opportunities for improvement rather than failures. It aims at highlighting the areas of improvement rather than pointing fingers and blaming individuals for mistakes.

Giving constructive feedback opens a productive dialogue wherein individuals can express their perspectives and devise solutions to avoid repeating the same mistakes. This approach fosters an environment of trust and mutual respect, where individuals feel valued and motivated to improve their performance.

Constructive feedback ensures that individuals are not left feeling blamed or criticized by focusing on behavior or performance, not the person. Instead, they are encouraged to analyze their actions and understand how to enhance their performance. This reduces the defensiveness and fear associated with blame, promoting a culture of open communication and continuous learning.

Constructive feedback also ensures accountability. When individuals receive direct, clear, and fact-based feedback about their actions and impacts, they are likelier to take ownership of their actions. This fosters a sense of responsibility, reducing the chance of blame-shifting and promoting a culture of ownership and accountability.

By implementing these steps, organizations can gradually move away from a blame culture towards one of trust, accountability, and innovation.

A prime example of a leader giving constructive feedback is Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook. Sandberg is known for her "radical candor" approach to feedback, which involves caring personally and challenging directly. Following a presentation given by her colleague, Sandberg opted for private feedback, expressing that she thought the presentation was phenomenal, but the constant use of filler words was distracting. Instead of focusing on the negatives, Sandberg began with positives, addressed the improvement area, and provided a solution.

Conclusion

Our blame culture often holds us back from our potential, as we look to assign blame first instead of seeking solutions. Failure is critical to innovation and essential to creating an environment that allows people to take risks without fear of being blamed. Leaders must shift their focus from blame to accountability to foster open communication, a willingness to take risks, and the growth of creativity. Organizations that foster an environment that values accountability and creativity will reap the benefits by tapping into the true potential of their employees. Ultimately freeing everyone to collaborate, experiment, and innovate and helping your organization to rise to the next level.

As the world becomes more digital and technology-focused, the need for innovation has never been greater. Startups and entrepreneurs drive this innovation, creating solutions to problems that have never been solved before. However, innovation is more than just creating a new product or service - it requires a supportive ecosystem to thrive. This is where the government can play a crucial role.

What role should governments play in encouraging, supporting, and growing innovation success?

Each of the three levels of government (local (city), regional (state), and national (federal)) has a role to play in enabling innovation so that their constituents can compete in the innovation economy.

Local (City) Government and Innovation

The local government can play a pivotal role in growing innovation success by creating an ecosystem that supports startups and entrepreneurs. They can achieve this by providing access to affordable office space, promoting networking events, and offering tax incentives to attract startups to the area. In addition, local governments can invest in initiatives that support the growth of the local startup ecosystem. The result will be an increase in the number of startups and entrepreneurs in the area, which will drive job creation, economic growth, and innovation.

Strengthening Education and Workforce Development

Local governments can enhance innovation success by bolstering education initiatives and workforce development programs, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). By fostering a solid educational environment, local governments can ensure a steady stream of skilled workers to meet the needs of innovative industries. Workforce development programs can also offer adult retraining options, providing all community members can contribute to and benefit from the thriving innovation ecosystem.

One example of a successful partnership between local government and education to support innovation is the LaunchCode program in St. Louis, Missouri. This initiative provides free coding boot camps for individuals interested in pursuing careers in technology. The city government has invested in this program, recognizing the potential for job creation and economic growth through developing a skilled workforce.

Providing Infrastructure and Resources

Robust infrastructure is a fundamental requirement for the growth of innovative businesses. Local governments can provide high-speed internet, efficient transportation, and reliable utilities, making the area attractive for startups. They can also facilitate the establishment of innovation hubs, incubators, and co-working spaces that provide entrepreneurs with vital resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

One example is the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) in Boston, Massachusetts. The city government supported the development of CIC by providing tax incentives and helping navigate regulatory processes. Today, CIC houses over 1,000 startups and has played a significant role in establishing Boston as a leading innovation hub.

Affordable Housing and Competitive Cost-of-Living

The presence of affordable housing and a competitive cost of living are critical elements in fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem. Affordable housing options allow entrepreneurs, startup employees, and other local talent to live and work in the same area, supporting a diverse and inclusive community. A competitive cost of living can help attract and keep talent, as individuals and families are more likely to settle in regions where their income stretches further. By actively working to maintain or lower the cost of living, local governments can ensure that their region remains attractive for innovation-focused businesses and the talented individuals they employ.

One example of a local government addressing housing affordability for innovation success is the City of Austin, Texas. The city implemented an innovative program called "Affordability Unlocked" to encourage developers to include affordable units in new developments. This has helped maintain Austin's status as a desirable location for startups and entrepreneurs while ensuring that affordable housing remains accessible.

Streamlining Regulatory Environment

Lastly, local governments can play a significant role in streamlining the regulatory environment. By simplifying business registration processes, easing zoning restrictions, and creating straightforward tax systems, local governments can make it easier for startups to launch and scale their businesses. They can also promote transparency, stability, and predictability in their regulatory processes to ensure innovators can focus on their work without bureaucratic hindrances.

One notable example is the city of Fargo, North Dakota. The city has implemented a streamlined online business registration process called "StartFM," which allows entrepreneurs to register their businesses in as little as 15 minutes. This initiative has made it easier for startups to enter the market, contributing to the growth of innovation

and entrepreneurship in Fargo.

Regional (State or Provincial) Governments Role in Innovation

Regional governments can also have a significant impact on innovation success. They can invest in initiatives that support the growth of the startup ecosystem in the region by creating incubators, accelerators, and grant programs to fund early-stage startups. In addition, they can collaborate with universities and research institutions to develop a pipeline of talent that can feed into the startup ecosystem. Finally, they can provide access to capital for startups through angel investor networks, public-private partnerships, and venture capital funds.

Advancing Research and Development

Regional governments can advance innovation by committing to research and development. They can collaborate with local universities and research institutions to stimulate scientific and technological advancement, encouraging the burgeoning of innovative startups in their regions. By promoting and investing in R&D, regional governments can position their region at the forefront of technological progress.

The North Carolina Innovation Fund, established by the state government, provides grants to universities and research institutions for groundbreaking research projects. This has helped foster a strong innovation ecosystem in North Carolina, leading to numerous successful startups and attracting investment from large technology companies.

Fostering Regional Collaboration and Partnership

Another pivotal role that regional governments play is fostering collaboration and partnerships, both within and outside the region. They can encourage cross-regional collaboration to share knowledge, resources, and best practices. Such collaboration can expedite innovation processes and yield more robust results. Besides, regional governments can facilitate public-private partnerships, combining the strengths of both sectors for the common goal of innovation.

The New York Digital Health Accelerator program is one example of successful cross-regional collaboration. The state government partnered with healthcare providers, technology companies, and venture capital firms to support and mentor early-stage digital health startups. This initiative has led to a thriving healthcare innovation ecosystem in New York and has attracted significant regional investment.

Implementing Sound Economic Policies

Regional governments can make the economic environment conducive to innovation through sound economic policies. Policies that stimulate economic growth, encourage investment, and promote competition are beneficial. They can also offer tax incentives and subsidies to innovative businesses to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.

The "Innovative Rhode Island Small Business Express Program" offered by the state government provides loans and grants to small businesses, demonstrating potential for innovation and growth. This program has helped many startups in Rhode Island overcome financial barriers and succeed, contributing to the region's overall economic development.

Nurturing an Innovation Culture

Regional governments can also nurture a culture of innovation by recognizing and celebrating success. Regularly highlighting local startups and entrepreneurs making a difference can ignite a spirit of innovation among the populace. They can also organize innovation challenges and competitions to spark creativity and generate original solutions to regional challenges.

The "Innovate BC-New Ventures Competition," organized by the British Columbia government, is a prime example of fostering an innovation culture. This annual competition offers mentorship, education, and funding opportunities for early-stage tech startups in the province, attracting international attention and investment to the region.

Championing Legislative Support

On a legislative level, regional governments can champion laws that promote and protect innovation. They can ensure the existence of strong intellectual property laws that protect the rights of innovators, thereby encouraging more people to innovate without fear of their ideas being stolen. They can also lobby for legislation that supports startups and makes funding more accessible.

The "Michigan Invests Locally Exemption" law passed by the state of Michigan exempted crowdfunding from securities regulation, making it easier for startups to raise funding from local investors. This has led to an increase in startup growth and investment in Michigan, promoting innovation and economic development in the region.

National (Federal) Government Role

The national government has a crucial role in growing innovation success, as it can create policies and provide funding that can significantly impact the startup ecosystem. For example, the government can offer tax incentives to investors who fund startups and create grant programs that fund research and development. In addition, the government can create procurement programs that give startups access to government contracts, which can be a significant source of revenue. Finally, the government can invest in initiatives supporting the startup ecosystem's growth, such as accelerators, incubators, and training programs.

Formulating Appropriate Infrastructure Policies

National governments have the power to formulate and implement policies that develop the required infrastructure for innovation. This includes investment in digital infrastructure like high-speed internet, which is crucial for a technology-driven economy. Moreover, the development of efficient transport and logistics infrastructure can bolster the operational capabilities of businesses, making the country an attractive destination for innovative firms.

One example of a national government successfully implementing infrastructure policies is Estonia. The country's "e-Estonia" initiative has created a leading digital infrastructure, making it an attractive location for innovative businesses. This, combined with favorable tax policies and a tech-savvy workforce, has led to Estonia being dubbed the "Silicon Valley of Europe."

Establishing Strong Education Policies

Education is a vital component of an innovative ecosystem. National governments can shape the future workforce by implementing robust education policies emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and promoting creativity and critical thinking. They can also support programs that bring technology and digital literacy into classrooms, preparing the next generation for a digital future.

The "Education Quality and Curriculum Enhancement Project" implemented by the Government of Pakistan, with assistance from the World Bank, focuses on improving STEM education in public schools. This project has already trained over 13,000 teachers and provided modern teaching equipment to schools, creating a more skilled and technology-literate workforce in the country.

Promoting International Collaboration

At the international level, national governments can foster innovation by establishing bilateral or multilateral collaborations in science and technology. These partnerships can encourage the exchange of knowledge and skills, joint research projects, and cross-border entrepreneurial activities.

The "Digital Nations" initiative, launched in 2017 by New Zealand, Canada, and Estonia governments, aims to establish a global network for supporting digital innovation. Through this partnership, countries can learn from each other's experiences and collaborate on initiatives that drive digital transformation and growth.

Investing in National Research and Development

National governments can directly influence the scale and direction of innovation through their research and development (R&D) policies. Investment in R&D at the national level, whether through government agencies or funding to universities and research institutions, is critical for scientific discovery and technological advancement. This, in turn, can spur the growth of innovative startups and drive economic development.

In 2021, the German government announced a record-breaking budget of €9.5 billion for R&D in 2022. This investment will support research in key areas such as digitalization, climate change, and health, positioning Germany as a leader in these fields and driving innovation across various industries.

Implementing Effective Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

Lastly, national governments play a crucial role in developing the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern innovation, covering intellectual property rights, data protection, and cybersecurity. By ensuring these laws are clear, up-to-date, and effectively enforced, governments can create an environment that encourages innovation while protecting the rights and interests of all stakeholders.

In 2018, the European Union implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a comprehensive data privacy law that applies to all companies and organizations operating in the EU. This framework has increased consumer trust and confidence in technology and digital services, allowing more innovative solutions to thrive without compromising data privacy.

Importance of Government Collaboration

Effective collaboration across various levels of government - local, regional, and national - is a cornerstone for building a robust and dynamic innovation ecosystem. Such coordinated efforts can optimize resources, align policies, and create cohesive strategies that foster a conducive environment for growth and innovation. Collaboration also allows for sharing best practices, learning from successful models, and avoiding unnecessary duplication of efforts. This collective approach ensures that the needs and aspirations of different regions and localities are accounted for and addressed appropriately in national policies. Informed and strategic collaboration between various governmental levels promotes a balanced, inclusive, and sustainable innovation ecosystem that maximizes potential, minimizes risks, and delivers value to all stakeholders. Overall, a strong partnership between all levels of government is necessary for creating and sustaining an environment that nurtures innovation and drives economic growth.

What Will the Future Look Like?

There are two futures. One where the government steps up and plays its role in ensuring innovation success. The other when it does not.

The former leads to a vibrant and dynamic economy where startups thrive, technology constantly evolves, and society benefits from new solutions to old problems. This future requires governments at all levels to actively promote innovation and create an environment that fosters growth and development.

The consequences will be significant if the government takes no action to encourage, support, and grow innovation success. Without government intervention, startups will struggle to access funding and resources needed for growth. Research and development efforts may stagnate, and the economy may lack new ideas and solutions. In the future, other countries with more supportive policies will surpass those neglecting innovation.

Therefore, governments must recognize their role in promoting innovation success and take action to develop policies and programs that support it.

Conclusion

The government is crucial in encouraging, supporting, and growing innovation success. Local, regional, and national governments can take specific steps to create a supportive ecosystem that fosters the growth of startups and entrepreneurs. These steps include providing access to affordable office space, creating incubators and accelerators, investing in talent development and research, and creating policies and incentives that support the growth of startups.

Collaboration between the three levels of government is essential for creating a coordinated effort that maximizes resources and enables entrepreneurs to thrive.

Without government intervention, the consequences will be significant, including a slowdown of economic growth, fewer job opportunities, and a decline in competitiveness in the global economy.

Creativity and practicality are often two opposing forces in problem-solving and decision-making. On the one hand, we desire to develop innovative ideas and think outside the box. On the other hand, we require practical solutions that we can efficiently implement. However, contrary to popular belief, these two forces do not have to be at odds. When balanced correctly, they can complement each other, leading to even greater success.

The Importance of Creativity

Creativity is the ability to think in new and original ways, enabling us to find unique solutions to problems. It allows us to avoid traditional thinking patterns and explore alternative perspectives. In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, creativity is becoming increasingly important. The skill ranked by CEOs as #1 is the ability to think creatively. It allows individuals and organizations to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to new challenges.

Creativity drives innovation and progress. Without it, we would still use outdated methods and technologies. Creativity is the driving force behind all major advancements, from art and design to science and technology. It enables us to push boundaries and explore new possibilities.

The Need for Practicality

Practicality is essential for turning creative ideas into tangible results. It involves considering the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of a solution. Without practicality, even the most brilliant ideas would remain mere concepts and fail to make an impact.

Practicality also helps us stay grounded and focused on achieving our goals. It ensures we use resources wisely and make decisions based on practical considerations rather than abstract ideas.

Finding the Balance

While creativity and practicality may clash, they are two sides of the same coin. Both are crucial for achieving success in any endeavor. The key is finding the right balance between the two.

Too much focus on creativity without practicality can lead to unrealistic and unattainable goals, wasting valuable time and resources. On the other hand, too much emphasis on practicality can stifle creative thinking and limit potential breakthroughs that can drive progress.

Fulfilling a culture that embraces creativity and practicality is essential to strike the right balance. Encouraging open-mindedness, risk-taking, and experimentation can achieve this while promoting critical thinking, strategic planning, and effective implementation.

Ask Yourself the Right Questions

If you want to ensure the proper balance between creativity and practicality, ask yourself the following questions before deciding to go forward:

Is the idea practical?

When we ask if an idea is practical, we examine its feasibility, viability, and ease of implementation in real-world scenarios—being practical means grounding creative innovation in reality and ensuring that we can translate ideas into actions that produce impactful, measurable outcomes.

This requires an assessment of various factors, such as the resources necessary, general approach, and timeline.

1. Resources: A comprehensive understanding of the resources at your disposal is vital. This includes manpower, skills, finances, tools, and technology. An idea that requires resources beyond your current capacity may not be achievable.
2. Approach: The method of implementation is another crucial aspect. Is there a clear path from conception to execution? One should have a well-defined approach for a feasible idea to turn an idea into a reality.
3. Timeline: One should also evaluate time constraints. An otherwise achievable idea might become unrealistic if it requires implementation within an unfeasible timeline.
4. Risk Assessment: Potential risks and roadblocks should be identified and addressed. Are there any foreseeable challenges that could derail the implementation process? If the risks outweigh the potential benefits, it is wise to reconsider.

Does the idea align with the organization's culture and mission?

The alignment of an idea with the organization's culture and mission is a key determinant of its potential success and acceptance. A culture-embracing idea fosters cohesion and unity, reinforcing the values and principles that underpin the organization. It resonates with the workforce, encouraging a sense of ownership and commitment that significantly boosts morale and productivity.

The alignment with the mission ensures that the idea contributes directly to the organization's overarching objectives. It helps maintain focus on the company's strategic direction, ensuring that innovation and creativity do not divert resources from the core goals. An idea that aligns with the mission statement is inherently valuable, as it reinforces the company's purpose and propels it toward its envisioned future.

The congruence of an idea with the culture and mission of the organization is not merely desirable but ‌crucial. It ensures that the innovation strengthens the organization's identity, drives its strategic progress, and garners widespread support from the workforce.

Do you think the idea will be profitable?

Profitability is a crucial determinant of an idea's viability. We deem an idea profitable if it can generate a significant return on investment. This implies that the revenue produced by implementing the idea should be greater than the total cost associated with its execution, including production, marketing, distribution, and other related expenses.

When evaluating an idea's profitability, you should consider several factors.:

1. Market Demand: High demand for a product or service suggests potential profitability. Comprehensive market research can provide valuable insights into consumer needs, preferences, and buying behavior.
2. Pricing Strategy: An effective pricing strategy can significantly enhance profitability. The price should not only cover the cost of production but also bring in a decent profit while appealing to customers.
3. Competition: Competitive analysis is crucial. Achieving profitability can be challenging if the market is saturated with similar products or services.
4. Cost Efficiency: Streamlining operations and processes to reduce costs can increase profitability. This includes optimizing resource utilization, eliminating wastage, and improving productivity.
5. Risk factor: An idea may seem profitable on the surface, but conducting a thorough risk analysis is important. This includes assessing the potential for market changes, regulatory issues, or unforeseen costs that could impact profitability.

An idea's profitability is not merely a calculation of revenues and costs, but a comprehensive assessment that considers market conditions, competitive landscape, pricing dynamics, cost efficiency, and potential risks.

Examples of Success and Failure

While many businesses have learned to achieve harmony between creativity and practicality, some have not been as fortunate.

Tesla

We could position Tesla as the poster child of the successful balance between creativity and practicality. The company's innovative electric vehicles are a creative response to the environmental challenges posed by traditional gasoline-fueled cars. Yet, Tesla's vehicles are eco-friendly and practical, with competitive driving ranges, high performance, and luxury features that appeal to a broad range of consumers.

Elon Musk had to push his team on creativity to achieve this balance while ensuring they adhere to practical considerations such as cost, safety, and consumer demand. As a result, Tesla has not only achieved profitability but also disrupted the automotive industry and become a leader in sustainable transportation.

Google Glass

Google's ambitious product, Google Glass, is an example of creativity not backed by practicality. Despite being a feat of creativity with its groundbreaking technology and futuristic appeal, Google Glass failed to resonate with consumers. They criticized the product for its impractical design, high cost, and privacy concerns, which made it less appealing to the public. This example underscores the importance of balancing creativity with practicality. While out-of-the-box thinking can lead to groundbreaking innovations, ensuring these ideas are practical and in line with market needs and consumer expectations is crucial.

Segway

The Segway Personal Transporter, despite being a creative invention, did not achieve market success due to its lack of practicality. When it debuted, it introduced the innovative two-wheeled, self-balancing personal transporter, unlike anything else on the market. However, the Segway failed to be practical for most consumers due to its high cost, difficulty navigating urban environments, and regulatory issues.

The iBot, developed by Mobius Mobility using Segway technology, is a remarkable example of creativity needing to find its true purpose. When this technology was reimagined and repurposed into the iBot, it discovered a market among those who needed it most - individuals with mobility impairments. This next-generation wheelchair offered mobility and independence previously unattainable with traditional wheelchairs.

Despite its initial failure, Segway technology could find its place in the market, albeit in a different form, and create a significant impact.

Practical Experience

Given my 30-plus-year career in innovation, I have learned that balancing creativity and practicality is an ongoing process - and more complex than it looks. It requires strategic thinking, market understanding, and consumer insights. As a leader in innovation, I have had to find this balance for countless projects throughout my career.

One particular project that stands out was the development of a new business unit at HP called HP Gaming. The idea was to leverage HP's existing technology and expertise, combined with some acquisitions, to enter the high-growth gaming market. However, we faced a significant challenge - how do we make HP Gaming stand out in an already crowded market? We knew that just releasing another gaming laptop or desktop would not be enough; it must be unique and innovative.

Through collaboration with our team of designers, engineers, and marketing experts, we developed the concept of "premium gaming" - a combination of high-performance hardware with luxury features and design elements. This idea focused on creativity and practicality - appealing to gamers' desire for top-of-the-line technology while catering to their growing interest in customizable, aesthetically pleasing devices.

We conducted extensive market research to ensure our idea was practical, testing different designs and features with potential consumers. We also iterated our concept multiple times, refining it until we found the perfect balance between creativity and practicality.

The result? We introduced such award-winning products at the HP Blackbird and HP Firebird.

HP Gaming became a meaningful player in the gaming market, gaining recognition for its innovative approach and achieving success through balancing creativity and practicality.

Even after leaving HP over a decade ago, you can still see the fruits of our team's efforts in HP products such as the Omen.

How to Balance Creativity and Practicality

The following are the lessons learned from the examples on the success and failures of balancing between creativity and practicality:

Involve the Right People

Collaborate with a team of creative individuals, including product developers, designers, and marketers, to ensure that your idea is practical and doable. You can harness individual strengths and expertise to balance creativity and practicality by involving the right mix of people.

Set Realistic Expectations

Don't get carried away with your creativity; establish realistic expectations to keep your project on track and avoid unrealistic goals. Consider market demand, competition, and cost when setting expectations for your idea's success. This will help you stay grounded and make practical decisions throughout the project.

Test and Validate Your Idea

Conduct market research to ensure your idea is innovative and practical and meets a specific market demand. Validate your idea with potential consumers, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments to ensure its feasibility and success.

Iterate Your Idea

Don't try to get everything right the first time. Reworking your original idea to make it practical and sustainable might be necessary. By iterating your idea, you can identify and address any potential issues before they become costly mistakes.

Don't Be Afraid to Change Direction

If an idea is not working out, ‌pivot and try something different. Changing direction and finding a practical solution is better than sticking with an unfeasible idea. Please stay open and flexible, and be willing to adapt your initial idea to make it more practical.

The Fine Line

When balancing creativity and practicality, it's easy and less risky to pull back and put more emphasis on practicality. Don't. Know where the line is and balance your creativity with practicality.

Leave room for innovation while considering an idea's market needs and feasibility. By finding this sweet spot, you can achieve profitability and sustainably impact your industry. So ‌unleash your creativity, but remember to keep it grounded in practicality. Keep pushing the boundaries, but ensure they align with market demand and consumer expectations.

That's the key to success and a sustainable future for your business. Don't be afraid to take risks; ensure they are calculated and aligned with practical considerations. You can create a winning formula for success in any industry by finding the perfect balance between creativity and practicality.

For years, the British Cycling team was known for their spectacular failure, not winning a single Tour de France for over a century. Then came Dave Brailsford in 2003, who introduced the concept of "marginal gains." Brailsford believed that by improving every area related to cycling by just 1%, the cumulative gains would lead to significant overall improvement. He focused on a broad range of elements, from the nutrition of the riders to the type of pillow that suited each rider for the best night's sleep.

The result? British Cycling saw a remarkable transformation, winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and nine gold medals at the 2012 Olympics. In 2012, the British Cycling team won the Tour de France, and they dominated the sport for the next decade, proving the power of marginal gains.

This concept has since been applied to various fields. From personal development to business strategies, the 1% factor has proven to be a game-changer. It's not about making radical changes or massive improvements; it's about making small, consistent, and constant gains that ultimately lead to monumental results.

The Power of Marginal Gains

The theory of marginal gains dates back to the 1960s, when Peter Drucker, a renowned management consultant, introduced the concept of continuous improvement. This led to continuous improvement over time to achieve significant overall improvement. By focusing on small improvements in every aspect of a process or system, the cumulative impact will eventually lead to substantial gains.

In the world of consulting, the power of marginal gains has been widely accepted, with organizations across various industries putting it into practice through programs like Six Sigma. Six Sigma, for instance, is a set of techniques and tools designed for process improvement, aiming to reduce defects to 3.4 per one million opportunities. It employs a data-focused approach to identify, analyze, and eliminate defects, thus optimizing business processes and enhancing performance. This is a prime example of implementing the 1% factor, resulting in substantial improvement through small, consistent gains.

Applying the 1% Factor in Personal Development

The 1% factor is not just limited to businesses and organizations; individuals can also apply it in their personal lives for self-improvement. By focusing on making slight improvements in various areas of life, an individual can achieve significant progress over time.

For example, in pursuing physical fitness, instead of setting lofty goals and making drastic changes that may lead to burnout, one can focus on small daily improvements. This could be as simple as committing to a 1% increase in the steps taken per day or incorporating one additional healthy meal into their diet each week. These small improvements, when consistent, will ultimately lead to significant physical fitness improvement.

In terms of personal finances, instead of saving a large sum at once, individuals can focus on making small adjustments in their spending habits and increasing savings by 1% every month. Over time, these marginal gains will add up and considerably impact an individual's financial well-being.

Marginal Gains and Innovation

When applied to the realm of innovation, the concept of marginal gains emphasizes the remarkable impact that incremental improvements can have. Rather than seeking radical, ground-breaking innovations, it promotes the idea of constant, iterative improvements to existing systems, processes, or products. Each small enhancement may seem trivial when viewed in isolation. However, the cumulative effect of these marginal gains can lead to substantial advancements over time.

Consider the case of software development, where continuous iteration and frequent updates are common practice. Each update might only bring minor fixes or feature improvements but significantly enhance the overall user experience and software functionality. The same principle is in manufacturing, where marginal improvements in production processes can lead to higher efficiency, better product quality, and increased profitability.

Many innovators look down on incremental innovation. However, these seemingly small improvements can lead to monumental breakthroughs. The power of marginal gains challenges the belief that innovation must be disruptive and revolutionary.

Marginal Gains To How You Innovate

Many organizations struggle to start or grow their abilities to innovate. By applying the concept of marginal gains to how you innovate, you can break down the process into smaller, achievable steps. This approach eliminates the pressure of seeking a radical launch improvement in its ability to innovate and enables organizations to continuously improve their innovative goals.

One way to implement the 1% factor in innovation is through regular idea-generation sessions on improving an organization's innovation ability. Treat your innovation process just like any other process inside your organization. You'll eventually create an efficient and effective innovation engine by continuously developing and refining the process.

How To Implement Marginal Gains with Innovation

To successfully implement the concept of marginal gains as part of an innovation program, you can follow these detailed steps:

Identify Opportunities for Improvement

To identify opportunities for improvement, it's crucial to perform a comprehensive analysis of your existing innovation process. Begin by breaking down your processes into individual elements and examining each. Look for inefficiencies or aspects that could be enhanced, however minor they seem. Utilize tools such as flowcharts or process maps to visualize your operations, making pinpointing improvement areas easier. Remember, the goal is not to seek out massive, sweeping changes but to identify small, incremental improvements that, when compiled, can lead to significant gains.

Set Clear Objectives

When setting objectives, ensure they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For instance, if you aim to improve your innovation pipeline, your objective is 'to increase the number of ideas by 1% over the next month.' This objective is specific (improving the number of ideas), measurable (by 1%), achievable (through various improvements like better ideation processes or improved idea management capture systems), relevant (improves the innovation funnel), and time-bound (to be achieved in the next month). Be sure to communicate these objectives clearly to your team so everyone understands their role in the collective pursuit of these marginal gains. Also, establish a system for tracking progress towards these objectives. This might involve regular check-ins or project management tools to monitor tasks and deadlines.

Develop an Action Plan

Once your objectives are set, creating an action plan providing a step-by-step roadmap for achieving these goals is time. This plan should clearly outline the steps needed, assigning responsibilities to individuals or teams for each task.

1. Define Tasks: Break down each objective into smaller, manageable tasks. Each task should be straightforward and simple, enabling team members to understand what is expected of them.
2. Assign Responsibilities: Each task should have a designated person or team responsible for innovating a marginal gain. This ensures accountability and ownership of the tasks.
3. Set Deadlines: Every task should have a clear timeframe for completion. This will create a sense of urgency and keep the team on track. Be realistic while setting these deadlines, keeping in mind the complexity and scope of the tasks.
4. Identify Resources: Determine what resources will be needed to complete each task, whether it's manpower, technology, equipment, or financial resources.
5. Monitor and Adjust: Finally, establish a system for tracking progress on these tasks. Regularly review the plan's implementation, adjusting tasks or timelines as needed based on the progress made. This will ensure the plan remains flexible and adaptable to any changes or challenges.

Remember, the aim here is to make small, consistent improvements. Don't be disheartened if progress seems slow initially. With time and consistent effort, these small changes will accumulate, leading to significant advancements. Implementing marginal gains as part of your innovation program can improve efficiency, increase profitability, and, ultimately, a more successful business.

Gather Data

Data collection is vital to implementing marginal gains in an innovation program. It provides an evidence-based approach to determining where incremental improvements can be made and offers insights into the effectiveness of those changes.

1. Baseline Data: Before implementing any changes, gathering baseline data is crucial. This data will provide a snapshot of your current innovation efforts, against which you can compare future performance. This could include measures like an innovation pipeline or the funding of innovation experiments – depending on the areas identified for improvement.
2. Data Collection Methods: Use various methods to gather a rich, multifaceted understanding of your innovation operations. This could include surveys, interviews, observations, or review of existing documentation. Utilize digital tools and analytics software to automate and streamline the data collection process.
3. Post-Implementation Data: After implementing the changes, continue collecting data. This will allow you to track progress, measure the improvements' impact, and assess whether objectives are being met.
4. Data Analysis: Analyze the data collected pre and post-implementation to identify trends, measure the effect of your incremental changes, and guide further improvements. It's important to be patient and persistent during this stage, as the benefits of marginal gains often take time to materialize.
5. Feedback Loops: Establish feedback loops to share insights from the data with your team. This encourages continuous improvement and keeps everyone engaged in the process.

Remember, the goal is not to seek out massive, sweeping changes but rather small, incremental improvements that, when compiled, can lead to significant gains. Consistent data collection and analysis will be the compass that guides you toward that goal.

Monitor and Review Outcomes

Monitoring and reviewing outcomes is a crucial step in the innovation program. This step ensures that the innovation objectives are met and guides future decision-making.

1. Progress Tracking: Use your established system to track progress towards the set objectives continuously. This can involve project management tools or performance dashboards that provide real-time insights into the status of tasks and overall progress.
2. Outcome Evaluation: Compare the outcomes with the objectives set at the beginning of the program. Evaluate whether the 1% improvements have led to the desired outcomes, such as an improved innovation pipeline, increased idea quality, or more innovation experiments.
3. Data-Driven Review: Use the data collected during the post-implementation phase to conduct a comprehensive review of the program. Analyze trends and patterns to understand the impact of the marginal improvements and identify areas for further enhancement.
4. Feedback Collection: Collect feedback from team members and other stakeholders involved in the program. This can shed light on any challenges encountered, provide insights into the program's effectiveness, and suggest ways to improve future iterations.
5. Adjust and Refine: Based on the review, make necessary modifications to the innovation program. This could mean adjusting objectives, redefining tasks, or even reshaping the entire approach if required. Refining your strategy based on tangible evidence and feedback ensures continuous improvement and long-term success.

Remember, monitoring and reviewing is not a one-time process but a continuous cycle that drives the innovation program. This iterative process of fine-tuning and improvement embodies the philosophy of marginal gains.

The Importance of Consistency

The key to achieving monumental results with the 1% factor is consistency. Making small daily gains may seem insignificant, but over time, they add up and lead to significant progress. One must be patient and persistent in pursuing marginal gains, knowing that each small improvement contributes towards a larger goal.

In addition, consistency is essential in maintaining these improvements. It's not enough to make small gains quickly and revert to old habits. The 1% factor should become a way of life, continuously seeking ways to improve and grow.

Example Impacts from Marginal Gains

Marginal gains have been applied to various fields and have yielded significant results. One example is the implementation of lean principles in manufacturing. Companies have reduced waste, increased productivity, and improved quality by identifying and making small improvements to various areas, such as inventory management, production processes, and workflow.

Toyota

In the 1950s, Toyota introduced the Toyoda Production System (TPS), a pioneering application of lean principles and marginal gains that transformed the automobile industry. At the heart of TPS was the kaizen philosophy, which emphasizes continuous, incremental improvement. Every aspect of the production process was meticulously scrutinized for potential improvement, even if the benefit seemed minuscule.

One significant innovation was introducing the "Just-In-Time" (JIT) production system. This system, focusing on producing only what was needed, when it was needed, and in the quantity needed, resulted in significant reductions in waste, streamlined production, and improved efficiency. Each small adjustment may have appeared insignificant in isolation, but when combined, they resulted in substantial overall gains in productivity and quality.

Furthermore, Toyota empowered its employees to participate in the marginal improvement process. Workers were encouraged to pause the production line if they identified a problem or a potential efficiency improvement. This approach increased operational efficiency and fostered a culture of continuous improvement, underscoring the belief that everyone, at every level of the organization, could contribute to the marginal gains philosophy.

Through these seemingly minor modifications, Toyota significantly shortened production times, decreased costs, and improved quality, setting a new standard in automobile manufacturing. Their commitment to the philosophy of marginal gains is a testament to the power of small, continual improvements and is a significant factor behind their rise to global prominence.

Advertising Industry

Consider the digital marketing landscape, where data-driven decisions and iterative improvements have revolutionized campaign success. By leveraging the power of analytics, advertisers can break down their strategies into several components and apply the marginal gains philosophy to each, thereby incrementally improving overall performance.

For instance, let's take the aspect of ad targeting. Marketers can observe a noticeable improvement in engagement rates by making small adjustments, such as honing in on a more specific demographic or adjusting the time of day when the ad is displayed. Similarly, tiny modifications to the ad copy, like changing the call-to-action or tweaking the headline, can significantly increase click-through rates.

Programmatic advertising, another burgeoning field, employs marginal gains to optimize ad buying in real-time. This approach allows marketers to make small improvements based on real-time data, leading to a more cost-effective allocation of ad budgets.

These seemingly minor enhancements, when implemented together, can result in an exponential increase in overall campaign success, illustrating the power of the marginal gains. This constant experimentation and optimization method, driven by marginal gains, can determine a campaign's success or failure.

Warnings About Marginal Gains

While the concept of marginal gains has been celebrated in many sectors for its potential to bring about significant overall improvements, it's not without its critics. Here are some common criticisms against the philosophy of marginal gains.

1. Lack of Focus on Major Improvements: Critics argue that focusing on small, incremental changes often diverts attention from larger, more impactful improvements. By focusing on minutiae, organizations might miss out on making significant leaps in innovation and, instead, find themselves stuck in a cycle of small, often insignificant changes.

2. Time and Resource Intensive: Identifying and implementing marginal gains can be time and resource-intensive. It requires careful scrutiny of all processes and thorough data collection and analysis. These efforts might not always deliver proportional returns, making it an inefficient strategy in some critics' eyes.

3. Overemphasis on Optimization: Critics also point out that a hyper-focus on marginal gains can lead to an overemphasis on optimization at the expense of creativity and risk-taking. This could stifle innovation and limit the potential for major breakthroughs.

4. Dependency on Perfect Conditions: The strategy of marginal gains can be highly dependent on the perfect alignment of conditions, which may not always be possible, particularly in volatile and unpredictable business environments. Critics argue that this philosophy works best in controlled environments, like manufacturing or sports, with stable, repeatable processes.

5. Unpredictable Results: Finally, critics highlight that the seemingly minor changes made in pursuit of marginal gains can sometimes have unpredictable, unintended consequences that could negatively impact other parts of a system or process.

In conclusion, while marginal gains can undoubtedly provide incremental improvement and drive continual progress, balancing this approach with a broader vision that encourages significant innovation, allows for risk-taking, and accommodates larger system-level improvements is critical.

In conclusion, the philosophy of marginal gains can significantly contribute to innovation, highlighting the compounding power of seemingly insignificant ideas.

However, it's crucial to acknowledge the pitfalls of marginal gains. Critics warn of the risk of losing sight of larger, transformative improvements, the potential stifling of creativity and risk-taking, and the unpredictable consequences of minor changes. They argue that this philosophy could become a resource-intensive endeavor that doesn't always yield proportional returns, especially outside controlled environments.

Balancing the philosophy of marginal gains with an overarching vision for innovation is the key. Organizations should strive for a blend of marginal improvements and significant leaps in innovation. This requires fostering an environment that rewards small enhancements and bold, creative ideas, ensuring neither is undervalued. If employed judiciously, the philosophy of marginal gains is valuable in the innovation toolkit, driving constant refinement and progress. However, it should not be the sole strategy but coexist with other approaches championing significant, transformative change.

In this light, the philosophy of marginal gains provides a valuable insight: innovation isn't always about spectacular breakthroughs but often about the relentless pursuit of better, regardless of how small the improvement might be.

Imagine a tree that grows in the heart of your community. Each branch represents a different innovation. It's not simply content to grow and reach for the sky independently. Instead, it shares its bounty with the community around it. Its fruits provide nourishment, its shade offers comfort, and its roots stabilize the soil.

The tree is an apt metaphor for benevolent innovations, which some call social innovations. Benevolent innovations are guided by the philosophy of doing good – aiming to enhance the quality of life, mitigate societal issues, or preserve our planet.

The importance of benevolent innovations lies in their potential for large-scale positive impact. They can address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty, or health disparities, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world. Further, they inspire a shift in innovation thinking, emphasizing society's well-being over mere profitability.

In contrast to benevolent innovations, innovations created primarily for profit or efficiency may not always prioritize societal or environmental well-being. While they can contribute positively to economic growth and consumer convenience, they may also inadvertently lead to negative consequences such as resource depletion, ecological degradation, or widening social inequalities if not managed responsibly. Therefore, a balance of both profit-driven and benevolent innovation is vital to sustainable progress.

Examples of Benevolent Innovations

What do we mean by benevolent innovations?

1. The Solar Stove: The Solar Stove was a brainchild of Lorin Symington, who was inspired to create a clean and affordable cooking solution for communities in developing regions where traditional cooking methods involve hazardous open fires or inefficient stoves. Designed to harness the sun's power, the Solar Stove operates completely emission-free. It reduces the reliance on fossil fuels, offering a sustainable cooking solution that benefits both the environment and human health.
2. The LifeStraw: The LifeStraw is a portable water filter designed by Vestergaard Frandsen, a Swiss-based company. The innovation was born from the need to provide a practical solution to the global water crisis, particularly in regions with scarce access to clean drinking water. The LifeStraw removes bacteria and parasites, providing a safe drinking solution for needy individuals and significantly reducing the incidence of water-borne diseases.
3. The GravityLight: Designers Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves conceptualized the GravityLight to provide a safer and more affordable alternative to kerosene lamps often used in homes without electricity. The GravityLight generates power by lifting a weight, creating a safe, renewable source of light that positively impacts disadvantaged communities by reducing their dependency on hazardous and costly kerosene lamps.
4. The See & Spray technology: The See & Spray technology was created by a precision agriculture company, Blue River Technology, aiming to minimize the negative environmental impact of farming. Rather than spraying an entire field with pesticides, See & Spray uses machine learning to identify and spray only the weeds, reducing the amount of chemicals used by up to 90%. This innovation advances sustainable farming practices, contributing to environmental preservation and human health.

The Importance of Leadership Styles

Leadership styles are crucial in fostering an environment conducive to developing benevolent innovations. The leaders set the vision, cultivate the culture, and provide the strategic direction for innovation to thrive. Different leadership styles can significantly influence this process.

Transformational leadership, for instance, is characterized by vision, inspiration, and challenge. These leaders can inspire their teams to transcend their self-interest for the greater good, fostering a culture that values benevolence. They can paint a compelling vision of a better world by motivating their teams to develop innovations that contribute to societal well-being.

On the other hand, servant leaders prioritize the needs of others, focusing on the growth and well-being of their team and the community they serve. The philosophy of benevolent innovation inherently aligns with such a leadership style. Servant leaders can foster a caring and empathetic culture, encouraging innovations that address societal challenges.

Finally, democratic leaders encouraging participation and consensus among team members can ensure that the innovation process considers diverse perspectives. This can lead to more inclusive and equitable innovations, addressing the needs of underserved or marginalized communities.

Balance of For-Profit and Benevolent Innovations

Achieving harmony between profit-driven and benevolent innovations is pivotal for sustainable progress. This balance is key because businesses must ensure their financial viability while addressing the world's social and environmental challenges.

Profit-driven innovations aim to create products or services that consumers will pay for, leading to revenue generation and economic growth. However, businesses may neglect their social and environmental responsibilities if they focus solely on profit-driven innovations. In the long run, this could lead to unsustainable practices, damaging the environment, exacerbating social inequalities, or exploiting vulnerable communities.

On the other hand, benevolent innovations face challenges such as financial constraints, market acceptance, and regulatory hurdles. Businesses that focus only on benevolent innovations risk compromising their economic sustainability.

The balance between profit-driven and benevolent innovations is not just about surviving but thriving. Businesses should see profit and benevolence not as opposing forces but as complementary elements that can fuel each other. Profit-driven innovations can fund R&D for benevolent innovations, while benevolent innovations can enhance a business's social reputation, creating a loyal customer base and opening new market opportunities.

To maintain this balance, businesses should adopt a "shared value" approach, creating economic value in a way that creates value for society. Considering societal challenges in their innovation processes, they can integrate benevolence into their business strategy. Businesses can collaborate with stakeholders from various sectors, such as governments, non-profits, and academia, maximizing the social impact of their innovations while minimizing potential negative consequences.

In sum, balancing profit-driven and benevolent innovations is critical to sustainable progress. By embracing this balance, businesses can ensure financial viability and contribute to societal well-being.

Challenges and Solutions

The journey of creating and launching benevolent innovations is not always smooth.

Financial Constraints

Benevolent innovations often require substantial upfront investment in research and development (R&D), yet their return on investment can be uncertain or long-term. This financial strain can dissuade many organizations from pursuing these innovations.

Market Acceptance

While the idea of benevolent innovations is appealing, they may not necessarily align with the immediate needs or expectations of the market. For instance, a product designed to preserve the environment might come at a higher cost than its conventional counterparts, making it less attractive for cost-conscious consumers.

Regulatory Hurdles

Innovations, particularly those in the health and environmental sectors, often require rigorous testing and approval from regulatory bodies. Navigating these processes can be time intensive and complicated, potentially delaying the launch of the innovation.

To cope with these challenges, organizations need robust strategies. Some of these include:

Crowdfunding and Grants

Crowdfunding initiatives or grant programs can alleviate financial constraints. This can help to mobilize resources for benevolent innovations, particularly those of small organizations.

Test Markets Organizations need to assess the market acceptance of their innovations before launching them across the board. Test markets can gauge consumer sentiment before full-scale release.

Leveraging Regulatory Partnerships Organizations can partner with regulatory bodies to reduce compliance burden. This way, innovators can leverage existing processes and standards, streamlining the approval process.

Future Perspectives

Emerging societal needs and technological advancements will drive the diversification and expansion of benevolent innovation. However, some essential future needs might not be apparent at first glance.

1. There will be a growing need for innovations catering to individuals' mental health and wellness. The modern world, laden with stress and rapid change, has seen a rising incidence of mental health issues. Benevolent innovations in this domain could include digital platforms that provide accessible, affordable, and stigma-free mental health support. These innovations could also incorporate AI and machine learning to offer personalized therapeutic solutions.
2. The aging population will necessitate innovations focused on enhancing the quality of life for the elderly. This could include assistive devices that foster independence, digital platforms that combat loneliness, or health monitoring technologies that provide real-time insights into their well-being. Considering this demographic's potential technological literacy gap, these innovations must be intuitive and easy to use.
3. There is a latent need for innovations that promote inclusivity and equity in digital spaces. As more aspects of our lives move online, ensuring that these spaces are accessible to all, irrespective of socio-economic status, ability, or location, becomes critical. Benevolent innovations could look at providing affordable internet solutions, developing user-friendly interfaces for differently-abled individuals, or creating digital literacy programs for marginalized communities.
4. Protecting privacy in an increasingly connected world is a less obvious yet vital area for benevolent innovation. Innovations could include secure communication tools, data anonymization techniques, and digital literacy initiatives that educate the public about online safety.
5. Climate change remains a pressing issue, and there will be a need for innovations that encourage sustainable lifestyles without compromising convenience and affordability. This could be as simple as creating mobile apps that educate consumers on sustainable choices or as complex as developing affordable renewable energy solutions for households.

Next Steps

As we stand on the precipice of incredible technological advancements, we cannot overstate the importance of benevolent innovation. Whether you're an entrepreneur, an investor, a consumer, or a concerned citizen, there are many ways to contribute to this cause.

In our unique capacities, we can help shape a future wherein innovation serves economic growth, societal well-being, and environmental sustainability. So, let's take this step together towards a more sustainable world. Your support and involvement can make a difference.

Please get involved today, and let's create a better tomorrow together!

Storytelling has been a part of human culture since the dawn of time. In ancient times, our ancestors used cave paintings and oral traditions to tell tales of their exploits, the world, and the gods they worshipped. These stories were a way to instill values, pass down history, and maintain cultural identity.

As societies evolved, storytelling developed and took different forms: myths, legends, folklore, and literature. The industrial revolution ushered in mass media, enabling stories to be shared on a scale never before possible. In the digital era, storytelling has taken on new dimensions with ‌social media, podcasts, and virtual reality.

At its core, storytelling is a way to make sense of the world around us. Stories provide context, give meaning to complex ideas, and help us understand our place in the grand scheme. But why do we respond so powerfully to stories?

This strong response can be traced back to our evolutionary roots. Humans are wired to respond to stories because they effectively transmit information - a survival mechanism honed over thousands of years. A well-told story can captivate an audience, evoke powerful emotions, and inspire action. This emotional connection makes storytelling persuasive in various fields, from politics and marketing to education and beyond.

Storytelling Structures

While there are multiple structures to stories, some of the most common ones are the hero's journey and the inverted pyramid structure.

Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey, known as the monomyth, is a narrative pattern in many cultures and literary works. It was first conceptualized by Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist and scholar, in his seminal work 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces.' The structure of the Hero's Journey can be broken down into three key stages: Departure, Initiation, and Return.

Departure: This is the stage where the hero is drawn out of their familiar world and into a new one. This usually involves answering a call to adventure, which is often initially met with reluctance. It's the initial push that sets the events of the story in motion.

Initiation: In this stage, the hero faces trials and tribulations, encountering allies, enemies, and perhaps even a mentor who helps them along their journey. This is where the hero learns invaluable lessons and faces the greatest challenge, often a confrontation with their greatest fear or most potent enemy.

Return: The final stage of the Hero's Journey is the return, where the hero, having defeated the enemy or overcome the challenge, returns to their familiar world. However, they are not the same as when they began; they have grown, transformed, and often carry a reward or newfound wisdom that benefits their original world.

This archetypal narrative resonates with audiences because it mirrors our life journeys. We all face challenges, learn lessons, and grow from these experiences. By using this structure in storytelling, businesses can connect deeply with their audience, as consumers can easily identify with the hero and their journey.

Inverted Pyramid

The Inverted Pyramid is a journalistic style of storytelling developed with the advent of newspapers. This method is characterized by a hierarchical information structure, with the most critical details presented first. The model comprises three main segments: the Lead, the Body, and the Tail.

The Lead: This is where the most newsworthy information is presented. It includes the story's who, what, when, where, and why, providing the reader with the key details upfront. In a fast-paced world, where attention spans are short, this approach ensures that the core message is conveyed even if the reader does not complete the article.

The Body: This part of the story involves expanding on the details introduced in the lead. Here, essential facts are explored in further depth and supplemented with additional information. This section often includes direct quotes, statistics, and other supporting data that bring richness and context to the story.

The Tail: The end of the pyramid includes the least important information, background details, or lesser-known facts that are not crucial to understanding the main story. It's designed this way so that if space is limited, this section can be easily trimmed without losing the essence of the story.

The inverted pyramid structure in business is valuable for press releases, news articles, and emails. It helps to grab the reader's attention quickly, convey the key points efficiently, and keep the audience engaged. This structure is particularly effective in today's digital age, where information overload is common and readers scan content rather than read in-depth. Delivering the most critical information ensures your core message isn't lost in the noise.

Creating Compelling Business Stories

Compelling business stories depends on understanding the target audience and tailoring the story accordingly.

A great example is that of "Apple" who has mastered this skill with their "Think Different" campaign. This campaign focused on a message resonating with the target audience: people passionate about technology. Apple used a variety of storytelling structures to convey its message in powerful and memorable ways.

To create a compelling business story, there are several elements to remember.

Authenticity

People can tell when a story is genuine and connect more with authentic stories. An authentic story reflects your brand's values and mission without feeling forced or contrived. It doesn't shy away from showing the setbacks along the way, as these make the victories even more rewarding.

Relevance

Your story must be relevant to your audience, addressing their needs, interests, or concerns. Understanding your target audience, their values, and what triggers their emotions is essential. This requires extensive market research and a deep understanding of your customer persona. The more relevant your story, the more your audience will relate to it.

Emotion

A compelling story elicits emotions. It makes people feel something, whether it's happiness, sadness, excitement, or inspiration. Tapping into your audience's emotions can help strengthen your connection with them, as people are more likely to remember and share stories that made them feel something profound.

Simplicity

A compelling story is easy to understand. It doesn't overcomplicate things or get lost in unnecessary details. It follows a clear and simple structure—a beginning, middle, and end—that makes it easy to follow and digest.

Uniqueness

A compelling story is unique and distinct. It separates you from your competitors by highlighting what makes your brand different and special. Your unique selling proposition (USP) should be woven into your story to make it stand out.

Conflict and Resolution

Every good story has some form of conflict and resolution. This often involves presenting a problem your innovation can solve in a business context. The resolution should be satisfying and demonstrate how your brand can positively change your audience's lives.

Innovation Storytelling

I encourage you to use storytelling when introducing an idea or innovation. Innovation storytelling is a powerful tool for communicating the process, problems, and solutions of innovation in a way that resonates with your audience emotionally.

Innovation storytelling is unique because it tells how future innovations will impact our lives. It is the best approach to convey your idea, and you will find that it helps to inspire, captivate, and motivate your audience to believe in and champion your innovation.

Innovation storytelling requires a different approach as compared to traditional storytelling. Here are some points to consider:

Visionary Perspective

Innovation storytelling must include a visionary perspective. You're not just sharing a story about the present or the past; you're narrating a tale about the future. This requires a deep understanding of your innovation and its potential impact on society or industry. Could you paint a vivid picture of the future that your audience can see and aspire to?

Showcase the Innovation

Your story should clearly articulate the innovation, how it works, and why it's significant. This doesn't mean you must delve into the technical details but focus on the benefits and transformation it can bring. Please explain the problem your innovation addresses, how it does so, and the potential for improvement or change.

Make It Relatable

Despite the futuristic aspect of the story, it's crucial to make it relatable. Connect your innovation to the everyday experiences and needs of your audience. Please explain how the innovation will affect them directly. This can be achieved by using relatable characters, scenarios, or comparisons your audience can identify with.

Appeal to Emotion

Just like traditional storytelling, appealing to emotion is vital in innovation storytelling. Although your story revolves around a future concept, it should evoke hope, excitement, or curiosity. The more emotionally invested your audience is, the more they'll care about your innovation.

Use of Visuals

Visuals are especially effective in innovation storytelling as they can help your audience understand and imagine the future you're painting. Use diagrams, animations, infographics, or virtual reality to convey your vision.

Examples of Great Storytelling

Now, let's dive into some famous examples that showcase the power of storytelling. These instances demonstrate how a well-crafted narrative can have a significant impact. Each instance provides a unique take on storytelling, offering valuable insights and lessons that can be used to enhance your storytelling technique.

Apple's "1984" Commercial

Apple's "1984" commercial is an iconic example of storytelling that caused a significant shift in the tech industry. The commercial, aired during the Super Bowl, portrayed a dystopian future dominated by a 'Big Brother' figure, symbolizing the existing tech giants. A lone woman (representing Apple) disrupts this, signaling a new era of personal computing. This narrative positioned Apple as a revolutionary player that empowers individuals, creating a massive stir and paving the way for the success of the Macintosh.

Lesson: Use storytelling to establish your brand's identity and mission, differentiating it from competitors.

The Dove Real Beauty Campaign

Dove's Real Beauty campaign is a powerful example of storytelling that triggered a change in the beauty industry. The campaign highlighted that real women, representing various shapes, sizes, and ethnicities, are often underrepresented in media and advertising. By telling real stories of real women, Dove challenged the stereotypes and sparked conversations about the definition of beauty.

Lesson: Authentic stories that resonate with your audience's experiences can create a solid emotional connection, driving meaningful change.

Airbnb and The Power of User Stories

Airbnb's success can be attributed to its leveraging user stories to build trust and community. In the early days, Airbnb faced trust issues as people were reluctant to open their homes to strangers. They tackled this by featuring stories of hosts and guests who had positive experiences, thereby humanizing the platform and instilling trust.

Lesson: User stories can be a powerful tool to address concerns, build trust, and strengthen your community.

Tesla's Vision for a Sustainable Future

Under Elon Musk's leadership, Tesla uses storytelling effectively to advocate for a sustainable future. Musk envisions a world powered by renewable energy and communicates this vision by narrating a compelling story where Tesla's electric vehicles and solar products are vital to combating climate change. This narrative has helped Tesla garner a loyal following and disrupt the auto industry.

Lesson: Storytelling can share your vision and inspire people to join your cause.

Microsoft's Vision of a Connected World

Microsoft's 'Empowering' ad, aired during the 2014 Super Bowl, is a prime example of impactful innovation storytelling. Narrated by former NFL player Steve Gleason, who lives with ALS, the commercial painted a picture of a world where technology enables people to achieve more, regardless of their circumstances. This narrative, centered on Microsoft's innovations, spanned from a woman hearing for the first time with the help of a hearing implant to a child with prosthetic legs running. It showcased how their technology transcends disabilities, empowers individuals, and connects the world in unthinkable ways.

Lesson: An innovation story that places human experiences at the heart of technological advancements can deeply resonate with audiences, emphasizing the transformative power of innovation.

Boston Dynamics and The Evolution of Robotics

Boston Dynamics, a ground-breaking robotics design company, offers a prime example of conveying a future shaped by innovative technology. Boston Dynamics doesn't merely display its robots' technical capabilities compared to others in the field. Instead, it tells engaging stories about the potential role of these robots in our lives. With videos showcasing their robots' abilities, such as SpotMini doing household chores or Atlas navigating rough terrains, Boston Dynamics paints a picture of a future where robots are integrated into our everyday lives, enhancing our capabilities and simplifying tasks. This narrative of coexistence and mutual progress has sparked global interest and stimulated thoughtful conversation about robotics's ethical implications and future.

Lesson: Engaging storytelling can effectively convey the capabilities of complex technology while stimulating public interest and dialogue about its potential implications and applications.

My Attempts at Storytelling

If you want to see some examples of innovation storytelling, here are a few examples I have created over the years.

• Roku's Reward: A short film created in 2005 that told the story of a future of AR and VR intertwined with real life and its impact on entertainment and gaming. Watch it here.
• The Near Future - A Better Life: A short film that paints the near future (3 to 8 years) of innovations allowing the aging population to age in place/at home. Watch it here.

Conclusion

Storytelling is a powerful tool that businesses can and should use to make a human connection with customers and to stimulate innovation within the company. Storytelling is a way to communicate ideas effectively that resonate with individuals emotionally.

Everyone has a unique story to tell, and by using storytelling, customers will understand the message and feel emotionally invested in it.

By putting stories at the forefront of your business strategy, you can create a lasting impression on customers and build strong relationships with them.

In today's society, success is often glorified and celebrated, while failure is viewed as shameful and something to be avoided at all costs. However, failure can be an essential part of the innovation process. Many of the world's greatest inventions and breakthroughs have come about due to failure.

Why is failure a powerful catalyst for innovation? How can you turn a failure into an innovation that leads to success?

The Importance of Failure in Innovation

People often view failure as a negative thing, something to be avoided at all costs. However, without failure, there would be no progress. Failure is essential to learning and can provide valuable feedback and insights. When Thomas Edison was working on the light bulb, he famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Edison understood that failure was an integral part of the innovation process and that every failure brought him one step closer to success.

Walt Disney shared a similar perspective about failure. Disney was fired from his first job in a newspaper for "lacking creativity." Later, his first animation studio went bankrupt. Despite these numerous setbacks, Disney persevered. He learned from his failures and used them as stepping stones to create the Disney empire we all know and love today. Instead of deterring him, these instances fueled his innovation and drove him to produce some of the most beloved animated films.

By embracing failure and seeing it as an opportunity to learn, you will be better positioned to innovate.

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

One of the main reasons people avoid failure is due to the fear of embarrassment or shame. However, it's essential to understand that failure does not reflect your abilities or worth. Every successful person has experienced failure at some point in their life, and what they do with that failure sets them apart. To overcome the fear of failure, reframing your mindset and viewing failure as a necessary part of the innovation process is essential. Instead of viewing it as a personal failure, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Consider the case of Google. They have created a separate division within the tech giant that encourages its employees to work on so-called "moonshot" projects – highly ambitious projects aiming to solve enormous problems using radical solutions.

However, what sets Google apart is its perspective on failure. The organization celebrates failure, understanding that it's integral to innovation. They even have a "Failure Award" award given to teams whose projects didn't succeed but demonstrated valuable learnings.

This approach mitigates the fear of failure among its employees and fosters a culture of innovation and creativity. By embracing failure and recognizing it as a stepping stone toward success, Google actively encourages its employees to take calculated risks, cultivating an environment conducive to groundbreaking innovation.

Learning from Failure

Once you've embraced failure as a part of innovation, it's important to learn from it.

Failure can provide valuable feedback and insights that can help you refine and improve your idea. When something doesn't work, take the time to analyze why it failed and what you can do differently next time. This process of trial and error is essential for the innovation process and can help you create something groundbreaking. Many successful companies and products have emerged from learning from failure.

For example, Apple's first attempt at a tablet, the Newton, was a massive failure. However, they learned from that experience and eventually created the highly successful iPad.

Here are some steps to follow to review a failure and extract lessons learned:

1. Acknowledge the Failure: The first step is to acknowledge that a failure has occurred. Denying it or ignoring it will not serve your innovation journey.
2. Gather Information: Collect data and information about what happened. What were the circumstances that led to the failure? What was the expected outcome, and how did the actual result differ?
3. Analyze the Situation: Once you have all the facts, begin analyzing. What factors contributed to the failure? Look at the situation from multiple perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding.
4. Identify the Learning Points: What can you learn from this failure? Identify the takeaways that can inform your future actions.
5. Create an Action Plan: Develop a plan based on your learnings. This might involve tweaking your strategy, adjusting your processes, or investing additional resources or training.
6. Implement the Plan: Put your plan into action. Remember to remain adaptable – the path to innovation often requires revisions and alterations.
7. Document the Process: Record your failures and the subsequent learnings. This documentation will serve as a valuable resource in your innovation journey.
8. Share the Lessons: Foster a culture of transparency and growth by sharing your failures and learnings with your team. Doing so encourages others to take risks and learn from their mistakes, which fuels a culture of innovation.

Remember, failure is not a dead-end but a detour to a different route. By reviewing your failures and capturing the learnings, you can turn setbacks into opportunities for innovation.

Pivoting a Failure into Innovation

When failure occurs, not giving up or abandoning your idea is essential. Instead, look at the problem differently and find a new solution. This process involves a series of steps that, when combined, can lead to groundbreaking innovation.

First, there's a need to reassess your vision and redefine your objectives. What was the original goal? Is it still relevant, or does the failure open up a new direction that could be more beneficial?

Second, identify the root cause of the failure and understand its implications. This is where a deep dive into the details is crucial. In doing so, you might uncover overlooked opportunities or hidden insights.

Third, brainstorm new solutions. Use the knowledge from the failure to think of innovative approaches or strategies that could work better.

Fourth, prototype and test these new ideas. Not every new idea will be successful, but through prototyping and testing, you'll get closer to finding a solution that works.

Fifth, iterate on the process. Innovation is rarely a one-off event. It's a continuous learning process, designing, testing, and refining.

By following these steps, you can make the most out of failure and use it as a springboard to drive innovation. It's essential to stay open-minded and be willing to take risks to foster meaningful change and unlock new opportunities.

When Failure Leads to Success

The concept of 'when failure leads to success' revolves around the idea that our mistakes and setbacks can allow us to learn, adapt, and improve. This concept highlights the importance of resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset. It encourages us to view failure not as an outcome but as a feedback mechanism, a source of learning, and a guidepost directing us toward a potentially more promising and innovative path.

Moreover, many successful people and organizations have their share of failures. They have missed the mark, stumbled, and fallen, but what sets them apart from their competitor is their ability to pick themselves up, learn from their mistakes, and turn their failures into stepping stones for success. Embracing this perspective can transform how we approach challenges, handle setbacks, and pursue innovation.

Here are some real-life examples where failures ultimately led to breakthrough successes.

Consider the case of Dyson. James Dyson, the company's founder, went through 5,126 failed prototypes over 15 years before perfecting his revolutionary vacuum cleaner. His ability to learn from each failure and persist with his vision led to an innovative product that disrupted the industry.

Another excellent example of this is the Post-it note. The inventor was trying to create a super-strong adhesive but ended up with a weak, reusable adhesive. Rather than viewing this as a failure, he saw the potential for a new product that generates 50 billion Post-it Notes annually.

Innovation Culture and Failure

Creating a strong innovation culture is crucial in today's ever-evolving business landscape. Often, companies that embrace an innovation culture are the ones that can adapt and thrive amidst changes and challenges.

Innovation culture is an environment that fosters creative thinking, encourages experimentation, and values learning from failure. It is where ideas, no matter how outlandish they may seem, are welcomed and discussed, where creativity is not just encouraged but is expected, and where failure is not feared but is seen as an integral part of the learning process.

In companies with a strong innovation culture, employees are empowered to take calculated risks and challenge the status quo. They are not afraid to voice their ideas, to showcase their creativity, and to test their hypotheses – even if these may lead to failures. This is because they know that failures are not the end but are stepping stones to success in an innovation culture.

Innovation culture also fosters resilience. Companies with a strong culture of innovation are better equipped to bounce back from setbacks. They can turn their failures into innovations.

Actionable Steps for Developing an Innovation Culture

Creating a strong innovation culture is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Here are some actionable steps that organizations can take to foster such a culture:

1. Communicate the company's vision and mission. Ensure everyone understands the organization's direction and how their contributions will help achieve this goal.
2. Create an environment that stimulates creativity and encourages experimentation. Ensure employees can access the right tools, resources, and training to develop innovative ideas and solutions.
3. Promote collaboration and teamwork. Encourage employees to collaborate, share their knowledge and experience, discuss ideas, and respectfully challenge one another.
4. Celebrate successes - big and small. Acknowledge the efforts of employees who have contributed to the team's success and recognize their achievements.
5. Embrace failure. Create an environment where employees are not afraid to take risks and try new things, even if they may lead to failure. Encourage people to learn from their mistakes and use them as stepping stones to success.
6. Encourage open communication and feedback. Create an atmosphere where employees feel comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback and openly expressing their ideas without fear of judgment or criticism.

Conclusion

Innovation is often born out of failure, a concept vividly illustrated by innovations we use daily. Embracing an innovation culture in an organization is crucial to fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to take risks, voice their ideas, and learn from failures, knowing that these are not endpoints but stepping stones to success.

Steve Jobs once said, "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." But can it distinguish between a successful business and a failure? The answer is yes. In this age of cut-throat competition, innovation is key to your success and survival in the market. However, the million-dollar question is how to monetize your innovation skills to turn them into personal and professional success.

We understand that turning your passion for innovation into a business can be challenging, but it's not impossible.

I will share my lessons learned and insights on identifying and monetizing your innovation skills without sacrificing the soul of your creativity.

Ways To Monetize Your Innovation Skills

It's important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to monetizing your innovation skills. There are myriad ways to turn your creativity into a profitable venture, and the best method depends on your strengths, your market, your innovation reputation, and what you're passionate about. Let's explore some of these diverse strategies to help you identify the path that best suits your innovative spirit.

As An Employee

One of the most direct ways to monetize your innovation skills is to become employed in a role that values and rewards innovation. This could be in a tech startup, a research and development department of a large corporation, or any company that prioritizes ingenuity. As an employee, you can negotiate a salary that reflects your creative potential and ability to drive the company forward.

The additional benefit is that if the company is known for innovation, you can establish your credentials and credibility faster than on your own.

While I was innovating products throughout my career, my work as the Chief Technology Officer at HP helped me build my profile as an innovation expert. My work at HP gave me a source of funding and resources to nurture my ideas and bring them to life. The result was ten years of creating new and innovative products that are still in use worldwide.

As A Consultant

Another lucrative avenue is to offer your services as an innovation consultant. This involves helping organizations identify areas where they could innovate and provide solutions. As a consultant, you can charge a fee for your services, and there is potential for substantial earnings, especially as you gain experience and recognition in the field.

The challenge in today's environment is that innovation consultants have flooded the market. Therefore, distinguishing yourself as an innovation consultant requires a unique blend of skills, experience, and marketing strategies. One key aspect of standing out is demonstrating subject matter expertise. This doesn't mean knowing everything but specializing in a specific industry or innovation methodology. Becoming an expert in a particular niche can set you apart from the generalists.

Next, your track record matters. People want to hire consultants with proven results. Showcase your past successes with case studies, testimonials, and references. Each successful project enhances your credibility and attracts more clients.

Last, consider writing and publishing thought leadership articles on innovation-focused sites like The Innovators Network. By sharing your insights and perspectives on industry trends and developments, you can establish yourself as an authority in your field. This boosts your visibility and builds trust with your potential clients.

Joining An Innovation Agency

Joining an innovation agency is another potential opportunity. These agencies focus on providing innovative solutions for their clients, often through creative problem-solving, design thinking, and technology. Working in such an environment allows you to collaborate with other innovative minds, and your earnings will typically come as a salary or project-based compensation.

In my case, I founded one of the first innovation agencies - Techtrend Group. Techtrend is a full-service innovation agency that supports its clients in creating innovations, technologies, and award-winning products that their customers will love. They are behind the innovations that half-billion people are using today. Techtrend is a "collective" team of experienced innovators who have helped create some of the most successful innovations in the market today.

Interesting side note. HP was a customer of Techtrend Group. HP recruited me to become their Chief Technology Officer through that work and the resulting products.

I am now the non-executive Chairman of Techtrend Group and still do a few projects for clients to keep my innovative edge.

Starting Your Own Business

Starting your own business is another way to monetize your innovation skills. This could be a product-based business, where you create an innovative product that solves a problem or meets a need, or a service-based business, where you provide innovative services to clients. This path requires significant effort and risk but can also lead to exceptional rewards if your business succeeds.

I started 12 businesses around an innovative idea that either failed or was sold to survive. None of these amounted to anything significant.

However, my biggest success was my 13th venture. This one worked out well and transformed me financially. It was a wireless communication company called Teligent. I was part of the team that founded the company in 1996. We took it public in 1998.

The keyword, if you take this path, is perseverance. You will kiss a lot of frogs before you find the prince.

Innovation Coaching and Mentoring

Becoming an innovation coach or mentor is another effective way to monetize your innovation skills. This role involves guiding individuals or organizations to foster a culture of innovation, teaching them practical strategies to generate innovative ideas and navigate the implementation process.

As an innovation coach or mentor, you can earn through session fees or long-term contracts with your clients. The advantage of this approach is its flexibility, allowing you to work with a range of clients from different industries and backgrounds.

Your credibility as a coach or mentor will be directly linked to your track record and the success of your innovative projects. Therefore, building a portfolio of successful innovation projects can help attract clients. Offering your expertise to budding innovators or established organizations seeking a fresh perspective could be a rewarding and lucrative way to leverage your innovation skills.

Remember, mentoring or coaching is not just about imparting knowledge. It's also about motivating and inspiring others to think differently, take risks, and embrace change - all key ingredients in the recipe for innovation.

I've taken on a few innovation coaching and mentoring clients. The biggest challenge is ensuring the other party is committed to the work involved to take their innovation skills and abilities to the next level. Most times, people are not committed. They want access to the Rolodex. Thus, I never do coaching and mentoring for free. I charge my total rate — but then donate the fees to charity.

One client that worked out well was in Europe. We met weekly for an hour to discuss their innovation efforts, work on skills, etc. Between the weekly calls, I would expand their innovation pipeline with ideas I would develop. Once a year, I flew in for an entire week of working with their leadership, including attending a special session of the Board. This work went on for years.

Serving on an Innovation Advisory Board

Joining an Innovation Advisory Board for a company is a strategic move that can monetize your innovation skills while providing significant value to the organization. As an advisory board member, your primary role would be to guide the company's innovation strategy, drawing from your wealth of experience. You would offer insights into emerging trends, identify opportunities for innovative advancements, and help the company navigate the complexities of the ever-evolving business landscape.

Your compensation for this role can come in various forms, ranging from fees to equity in the company or a combination of both. If you choose the fee-based compensation, you can negotiate a fixed retainer for your services or opt for a per-meeting fee, depending on the time commitment and the level of input required.

Alternatively, if you believe in the company's potential for growth and success, taking an equity stake as part of your compensation can be a lucrative option. This gives you a share in the potential future profits of the company, aligning your interests with the long-term success of the company.

Sometimes, a mix of fees and equity can be negotiated, ensuring a regular income and allowing you to participate in the company's future earnings. This hybrid approach can offer an optimal balance between immediate financial rewards and future growth potential.

It's worth noting that serving on an Innovation Advisory Board monetizes your innovation skills, enhances your professional network, builds your reputation, and exposes you to new ideas and perspectives. Combining these benefits makes this option a compelling consideration for any seasoned innovator.

An example of this working out quite well was when I joined the Innovation Advisory Board for a small startup in Silicon Valley. I worked with their founder and his team on the core idea of the product, which was in a space I had deep experience in. The relationship was an "equity" only structure, given I knew the founder well. Over the years, I forgot about the deal. One day, I got a call from a stockbroker for the company asking me what I wanted to do with my shares. What shares? It seems the company was going public. I sold the shares, and the proceeds paid for my horse farm in Virginia.

Licensing Your Ideas

Lastly, if you have an innovative idea but don't want to start a business, you could consider licensing your idea to a company. This would involve selling the rights to your idea in exchange for royalties, providing a potential income stream without the responsibilities associated with running a business. This option requires diligent research and negotiation but can be a lucrative path for the right idea.

While this can sound enticing, breaking into the licensing approach can be difficult. After all, you are essentially selling an intangible product—your innovative idea—and convincing someone to buy it is no small feat. Therefore, engaging a lawyer or licensing specialist is wise to help navigate the process and ensure that your intellectual property is adequately protected.

Be careful, as several licensing specialists are less than reputable. Look for people with a proven track record of success and can show previous licensing deals they've secured. Talk to the innovators who have used them.

All of my attempts at licensing have failed.

Steps To Making A Living in Innovation

No matter the path you choose, there are some steps you need to take before starting down the road of monetizing your innovation skills.

Identify your innovation skills:

The first step to monetizing your innovation skills is to identify them. Take a moment to think about what you're good at and what makes you stand out. It could be a particular skill set or a unique approach to problem-solving. Once you know what sets you apart, you can start thinking of ways to monetize it.

For example, if you're skilled at brainstorming and problem-solving, you can offer consultancy services to clients struggling with a particular issue. Similarly, you can monetize your innovation by designing products if you're creative. The key is recognizing your skill set and leveraging it in the marketplace.

Build your brand:

Once you've identified your innovation skills, building your brand is time. Your brand is the way people perceive you and your work. It's what sets you apart from the competition. To build your brand, define your mission and vision and create a personal logo and tagline representing you and your brand.

It would help if you also had a solid online presence to reach potential clients. Set up a website and social media accounts and build a following. Share your work and engage with your audience regularly. The more you can showcase your expertise in your area of innovation, the more clients will be drawn to you.

Market your skills:

Once you've built your brand, you need to market your skills. This involves identifying your target audience and creating a marketing strategy that speaks to them. Use your website and social media accounts to showcase your past work and your unique approach to innovation.

This approach even applies to employment opportunities.

Network:

Networking is also critical when monetizing your innovation skills. Attend industry conferences and events where innovators gather to share ideas and find work. Connect with people online by joining innovation-related communities and groups. You can even use social media to reach potential clients and employers directly.

Stay ahead of the curve:

Finally, staying ahead of the curve is important to make a living as an innovative person. Keep an eye out for new trends and technologies, and be willing to adapt your skills to meet the changing needs of your clients.

Attend industry events, subscribe to relevant publications, and continue to educate yourself about your area of innovation. The more you can stay ahead of the curve, the more you can stand out in the marketplace.

Conclusion

Innovation is crucial for success in today's market, but knowing how to monetize your skills is essential. Warning. Making a living as an innovative person is not a sprint but a marathon. It takes hard work, dedication, and patience to build a monetization approach that stands the test of time.

If you're willing to put in the effort, innovation can be a lucrative and fulfilling career path.

As an innovator, you must understand the innovation economy and how your creative work will affect you personally and professionally.

The innovation economy, often characterized by rapid technological advancements and digitalization, is emerging as a powerful global force. It represents a shift from traditional industries to more knowledge-based ones, where ideas, innovation, and intellectual capital drive economic growth.

The significance of the innovation economy is paramount in today's world. It fosters creativity and entrepreneurship, propels job creation, and is a potent weapon against economic stagnation. As we navigate through the 21st century, understanding the mechanics of the innovation economy becomes increasingly crucial, as it has the potential to redefine our societal structures and shape our future.

Redefinition of Value in the Innovation Economy

The innovation economy has radically redefined value, moving beyond traditional metrics. Previously, tangible assets like real estate, machinery, and raw materials were the primary indicators of a company's worth. Today, intangible assets such as ideas, innovation, and intellectual capital form the cornerstone of economic value.

For instance, consider how companies like Uber and Airbnb have revolutionized their respective industries. Uber, owning no cars, became the world's largest taxi service, while Airbnb, owning no real estate, transformed into the biggest accommodation provider. These companies underscore the power of innovative ideas, turning conventional business models on their heads and redefining value in service, convenience, and user experience.

This seismic shift represents the crux of the innovation economy, where value is derived from what we can see or touch but also from the novelty and utility of ideas.

Innovation Economic Definition

The key difference between innovation and traditional economies lies in their value drivers.

Traditional economies focus primarily on producing goods and providing services, with value driven by physical assets and manual labor. This model often relies heavily on established procedures and practices, with less emphasis on novel ideas or strategies. Traditional economies are slower to adapt to change and are characterized by steady, incremental growth.

Contrastingly, the innovation economy is dynamic, adaptable, and agile. It prioritizes knowledge, creativity, and intellectual capital above physical assets. It's characterized by rapid technological advancements and the continuous evolution of ideas. Growth in an innovation economy is exponential rather than linear, with new markets and industries emerging at an increasing pace.

In an innovation economy, the flow of information is critical. Thanks to the digital revolution, ideas and information can be shared instantly across the globe, leading to faster innovation cycles. In this context, technology is not merely a tool but a fundamental driver of economic value.

To realize the impact, the innovation economy places immense importance on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs, with their inherent risk-taking ability and penchant for disruptive ideas, are at the heart of this new economy, often leading the way in creating new industries and reshaping existing ones.

Innovation Economy is Changing the World

The innovation economy is driving monumental changes across the globe, reshaping industries, altering labor markets, and revolutionizing our daily lives. One of the most vivid examples is the transformation within the retail industry. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores faced disruption with e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Alibaba. They harnessed digital technology, big data, and customer insights to create personalized shopping experiences, making shopping more convenient and efficient.

Another industry that's been dramatically altered by innovation is transportation. Tesla, with its electric vehicles, is not just an automotive company; it's a vanguard in the energy industry. By marrying technology with sustainable energy, Tesla is redefining what it means to be a car company, disrupting the auto industry.

Healthcare, too, is experiencing a significant overhaul. Digital health technologies, like telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostics, are making healthcare more accessible and affordable, marking a shift from disease-centered models to patient-centered ones.

Innovation is also facilitating change in the way we work. The gig economy, enabled by platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, is challenging traditional employment, offering flexibility and creating a diverse pool of talent accessible anywhere in the world.

These transformations underscore the power and reach of the innovation economy.

Challenges of Innovation

However, the innovation economy is not without its challenges. One of the foremost obstacles individuals and organizations face today is the rapid pace of technological change. As new technology develops quickly, keeping up with the latest advancements and integrating them effectively into business operations can be daunting.

Another challenge is the scarcity of a skilled workforce equipped to handle the complexities of an innovation economy. The innovation economy necessitates skills that differ from traditional sectors, leading to a 'skills gap' that can dampen innovation and growth.

Organizations also grapple with the inherent risks associated with innovation. Venturing into unknown territories and investing in novel ideas can lead to unforeseen complications and financial losses, making many wary of embracing an innovation-centric approach.

So, how can these challenges be addressed?

The key lies in building a robust culture of innovation. Encouraging continual learning and upskilling can help individuals adapt to fast-paced technological changes. Businesses should recruit those with innovation skills across their entire organization workforce.

To manage the risks associated with innovation, organizations must develop a balanced innovation portfolio — investing in incremental and disruptive innovations. They must also foster an environment that encourages experimentation and does not punish failures.

Lastly, government policies can be crucial in supporting the innovation economy.

Role of Government in the Innovation Economy

Governments play a critical role in shaping and supporting the innovation economy, particularly by fostering an environment conducive to research and development (R&D), entrepreneurship, and ease of business.

Governments worldwide recognize the significance of R&D as a catalyst for innovation. To stimulate R&D activities, they should provide tax incentives, grants, and subsidies to firms and institutions investing in research. Policymakers also should aid in establishing research institutions and foster partnerships between academia and industry to advance scientific research and its application.

Promoting entrepreneurship is another crucial area of focus for governments in the innovation economy. Policymakers should craft strategies to develop a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, from providing funding opportunities and startup incubators to implementing regulatory reforms that reduce bureaucratic red tape. By easing regulatory burdens, governments can encourage the formation of new businesses and expedite their growth.

Furthermore, governments can facilitate the ease of doing business by simplifying administrative procedures, improving transparency, and strengthening legal and property rights. They can also invest in digital infrastructure to enable seamless online transactions, fostering a business environment that encourages domestic and foreign investment.

In essence, the government's role in the innovation economy is to create an enabling environment that promotes the generation of new ideas, their transformation into marketable products, and the diffusion of these innovations across the economy.

Economic Growth and Prosperity

The innovation economy is indeed reshaping economic growth and prosperity on a global scale. The rise of tech giants like Apple and Google, unicorns like Uber and Airbnb, and thousands of startups worldwide display the economic potential fueled by innovation. By developing groundbreaking technologies and services, these companies generate jobs, increase productivity, and drive economic growth.

An innovative economy also democratizes wealth creation. In an innovation-based world, anyone with a transformative idea can launch a startup, disrupt an industry, and prosper. Think Silicon Valley, Shenzhen, or Bangalore, where countless entrepreneurs have turned their ideas into successful businesses.

Moreover, the innovation economy is fueling digital transformation, making economies more accessible to everyone. For instance, financial technology, or FinTech, is making financial services accessible to those previously unbanked, stimulating economic activities in underserved areas.

On a broader scale, the innovation economy helps countries transition from a dependence on finite resources, such as oil, copper, and lithium, to infinite resources, like human creativity and information. This transition offers a path to global prosperity, as physical limits do not constrain the number of great ideas.

The benefits of the innovation economy, however, are not without challenges. Income inequality, job displacement because of automation, and privacy concerns are some issues that countries need to address. The innovation economy's full potential can only be realized when these challenges are effectively managed.

Redefining Economic Decision-Making

The innovation economy is significantly influencing economic decision-making processes. Data is the new oil in this era, serving as a valuable resource for making informed decisions. With the rise of technologies such as big data and AI, businesses, and governments have access to a wealth of data that can be harnessed for strategic decision-making. For instance, predictive analytics can provide insights into future market trends, enabling businesses to make proactive decisions and stay competitive.

Moreover, the speed of innovation is prompting companies to be more agile in their decision-making. The traditional long-term planning approach is being replaced with a more flexible approach that allows for quick adjustments in response to dynamic market conditions.

Simultaneously, governments are already leveraging innovation to make smarter policy decisions supporting economic growth. For example, they are using digital tools to analyze societal trends and citizens’ needs to inform policy-making.

Benefits of the Innovation Economy

The innovation economy extends its benefits across individuals, organizations, and society.

For individuals, it offers exciting career opportunities in emerging fields and promises a higher quality of life through technological advancements. Education, healthcare, and daily routines are transformed by the novelty of apps and innovative technologies, enriching individual experiences and opportunities.

Organizations stand to gain significantly too. The innovation economy encourages a culture of constant evolution, pushing enterprises to adapt, rethink their strategies, and stay competitive. It enables businesses to increase their operational efficiency through automation and data-driven decision-making, leading to higher productivity and profitability.

From a societal perspective, the innovation economy has the potential to drive economic growth and prosperity. It democratizes wealth creation, allows for efficient resource allocation, and fosters a more inclusive economy. The innovation economy can play a pivotal role in creating a more equitable society by catalyzing job creation and promoting sustainable growth.

Conclusion

The innovation economy holds immense potential for individuals, organizations, and society. Key to unlocking this potential is fostering a mindset that embraces collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning.

By understanding the innovation economy and its implications, we can create a more prosperous world for everyone driven by human creativity and innovative ideas.

The way forward is to embrace the intrinsic power of the innovation economy. The future is ripe with opportunity, and it belongs to those who are ready to shape it.

The world we inhabit is constantly changing. From the technological advances of interconnectivity to the global movements that bring about social change, nothing seems stagnant for long. But often, it's not the sweeping revolutions that move us forward - it's the small, everyday changes that can create a ripple effect and have a big impact on our lives.

The Myth of Big Innovations

The prevailing belief is that only grand, monumental innovations can orchestrate significant change. This mindset, however, can be misleading. It often overlooks the transformative power of small innovations - the subtle yet impactful adjustments that often lay the foundation for large-scale change.

Consider the evolution of the smartphone, which wasn't born out of a sudden, revolutionary idea. It was the product of numerous small innovations stacked over time - a gradual progression from landline phones to mobile phones and internet-enabled devices. Each seemingly insignificant incremental step was a critical component of the transformative technology we now cannot imagine living without.

Consequently, we need to debunk the myth that only monumental disruptive innovations create a significant impact. The reality is that small, incremental innovations hold tremendous potential and often serve as the building blocks of the larger, more revolutionary changes we celebrate.

Surprising Examples of Small Innovations with Major Impact

Let's look at several examples highlighting the tremendous potential of small innovations with outsized impacts.

The Mouse Wheel

This seemingly insignificant feature now seen on almost every mouse was not originally part of the design. It was only introduced in 1995 by the Microsoft IntelliMouse. Before the advent of the mouse wheel, users had to drag the scrollbar to navigate through the content, which was often cumbersome and time-consuming.

The introduction of the mouse wheel brought about a significant shift in how users interacted with their computers. It allowed quick and seamless scrolling through documents and web pages, significantly improving navigation efficiency. This small, incremental innovation also enhanced productivity and enriched the overall user experience, contributing to the broader goal of making technology more intuitive and user-friendly.

Today, it's hard to imagine a mouse without a scroll wheel.

QR Codes

The QR Code, or Quick Response Code, is a two-dimensional barcode initially created by the automotive industry in Japan in 1994. It was originally developed by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, to track car parts during manufacturing.

The QR Code improved on the traditional barcode, capable of storing significantly larger information and being read from any angle. Its initial application was limited to the auto manufacturing process, but its potential for broader use was quickly recognized. In the years that followed, with the advancement of smartphones equipped with cameras, the QR Code was used in various public and commercial applications.

Its first use outside the automotive industry was marketing, as companies used QR Codes for promotional purposes. It went on to facilitate a wide range of use cases, from contactless payments to ticket validations and quick website access. The QR Code made life easier and more efficient in countless ways.

Contactless Payments

Contactless payments took shape in the late 1990s and were born out of the desire for faster and more convenient methods. The first hint of this technology was when Mobil introduced the Speedpass in 1997, a keychain device that allowed customers to pay at gas stations by simply waving the device near the pump.

However, it wasn't until 2007 that the first contactless credit cards started appearing, with Mastercard's PayPass and Visa's payWave leading the charge. These credit cards were embedded with a chip and an antenna allowing data transfer via Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Customers could now pay for their transactions by simply tapping their card against the payment terminal, eliminating the need for swiping the card or entering a PIN.

The innovation didn't stop there. With the advent of smartphones and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the stage was set for the next evolution in contactless payments: mobile wallets. In 2011, Google launched Google Wallet, the first mobile wallet in the United States. It enabled users to store their phone card information and make payments by tapping their device against a payment terminal.

Today, contactless payments have become the norm in many parts of the world, with several other players like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay joining the fray. What started as a simple idea to make payments faster and more convenient has transformed how we transact, impacting millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. I

LED Lighting

LED lighting, an innovation that revolutionized the world of artificial illumination, has humble origins in the early 20th century. The principle theory behind LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, was discovered in 1907 by British experimenter H. J. Round. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that practical applications of LEDs were first explored. Nick Holonyak Jr., an engineer at General Electric, is credited with inventing the first practical visible-spectrum LED in 1962.

The earliest LEDs only emitted a low-intensity red light, which found its use in calculators and watches. Over the next few decades, the technology gradually improved, with the development of new materials allowing for LED lights of different colors, including the white light we see today. However, these early white LEDs were expensive and inefficient, limiting their usage to specific applications.

The first practical LED display was developed at HP Labs in 1968. Howard Borden and Gerald Pighini led its development. The LED displays used integrated LED circuit technology and was the first intelligent LED display. It was a revolution in digital display technology, becoming the basis for later LED displays.

The real breakthrough in LED technology came in the mid-1990s when a team of researchers led by Shuji Nakamura, then working at Nichia in Japan, developed the high-brightness blue LED. This game-changer; made it possible to create white light by combining blue light with phosphor, which improved efficiency and reduced the cost of LED lighting.

The transformation from traditional incandescent bulbs to LEDs has resulted in substantial energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint worldwide. According to the US Department of Energy, LED lights use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. Today, LED lighting is everywhere, from our homes and offices to our streets and vehicles.

3D Printing

The roots of 3D Printing, or additive manufacturing, can be traced back to the 1980s. Chuck Hull, an engineer, and physicist, invented the first 3D printing process known as "stereolithography" in 1984 based on the inspiration from traditional Printing and applying its concepts to 3D objects.

Hull's invention allowed for the creation of 3D objects by successively layering thin sheets of ultraviolet photo-curable material one on top of the other. This process marked a significant shift from traditional manufacturing methods, which were largely subtractive, involving cutting or drilling parts from larger materials.

Hull's company, 3D Systems, commercialized the first 3D printer 1987. However, the technology was expensive and primarily used for industrial prototyping. It wasn't until the 21st century, with technological advances and lower-cost 3D printers, that the process became more accessible to a broader market.

The subsequent significant development in 3D Printing came in 2009 when the UK's RepRap project, a university-based initiative, created the first self-replicating 3D printer. This printer could print its parts, dramatically reducing the cost and increasing the accessibility of 3D printing technology.

Today, 3D Printing's influence can be seen across various industries. From automotive and aerospace, where it's used for creating prototypes and complex parts, to the medical field, where it's used for producing custom prosthetics and even human tissues, 3D Printing continues to push the boundaries of innovation. Its potential in transforming production processes and customizing products to individual needs is only beginning to be realized, marking a new era in manufacturing and design.

HDMI Cables

High-Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI, is a technology that has dramatically simplified and improved how we connect our audio and video devices. The development of HDMI can be traced back to 2002, when seven prominent electronics manufacturers, including Sony, Philips, and Toshiba, collaborated to create a single cable that could transmit uncompressed audio and video signals. This was a significant departure from the multitude of cables that were previously required for this purpose, such as composite, S-video, and VGA cables.

The simplicity and effectiveness of HDMI were apparent, and it quickly gained acceptance in the consumer electronics industry. In addition to simplifying the setup process, HDMI cables offered significant improvements in audio and video quality. They could transmit high-definition (HD) and later ultra-high-definition (UHD) signals, offering a far superior viewing experience to standard-definition signals.

In the years following its introduction, HDMI standards have continued to evolve, with new versions offering improved functionality, higher speeds, and better signal quality. Today, HDMI is the de facto standard for connecting high-definition devices, from televisions and projectors to gaming consoles and computers. Its widespread adoption is a testament to its success in simplifying our digital lives and delivering high-quality audio and video experiences.

Slinky

The Slinky, a beloved children's toy and a marvel of physics, has an interesting origin story that dates back to the 1940s. It was invented by naval engineer Richard James, who accidentally discovered the toy. James knocked over a sample coil while working on a project to develop springs for stabilizing sensitive equipment aboard ships. To his amazement, the coil "walked" down the stack of books, onto the tabletop, and then onto the floor, where it re-coiled itself. James saw potential in this, and in 1945, he and his wife Betty launched James Industries, producing the first Slinkys.

What started as a simple toy has found unexpected applications in diverse fields. In science classrooms worldwide, Slinkys demonstrate wave properties, harmonic motion, and energy propagation. The toy's ability to 'walk' down steps demonstrates essential physics principles, particularly converting potential energy into kinetic energy. Scientists have even used Slinkys in seismology to model P and S waves during earthquakes. Moreover, in music, the Slinky has been used as an improvised musical instrument, and its unique sound is used in the production of various songs and soundtracks.

The Slinky's journey from accidental discovery to a household name demonstrates the fascinating interplay between simple concepts and far-reaching applications. Its popularity as a toy and a teaching tool continues to endure, proving that sometimes, the simplest ideas can have the most profound impacts.

Lessons Learned from These Innovations

The innovations detailed above provide valuable lessons applicable to multiple fields:

1. Embrace Serendipity: As seen in the creation of the Slinky, sometimes a chance observation can lead to a groundbreaking invention. Keeping an open mind and seeing the potential in unexpected occurrences is essential.
2. Collaboration is Key: The development of HDMI was a collaborative effort by several electronics manufacturers. This underscores the importance of collaboration in driving innovation.
3. Simplicity Sells: Both the Slinky and HDMI cables highlight how simplicity can drive user adoption. The Slinky's simple physics and HDMI's single-cable solution both won over consumers with their straightforward, easy-to-understand design.
4. Evolution is Essential: Like 3D printing technology and HDMI standards, successful inventions often need to evolve to meet changing consumer demands and technological advancements.
5. Cross-Disciplinary Influence: The Slinky, originally a toy, found applications in education, seismology, and music. This demonstrates that innovations can have far-reaching impacts across various disciplines, often beyond their intended use.
6. Enhance User Experience: Contactless payments and the mouse wheel highlight the importance of user experience when developing new technologies or improving existing ones. A positive user experience can lead to rapid adoption and customer satisfaction.
7. Understand User Needs: The success of the mouse wheel underscores the importance of understanding user needs and behaviors. By addressing a specific user need (easy navigation), the mouse wheel significantly improved the functionality of the computer mouse.
8. Seamless Integration: As demonstrated by contactless payments, seamless integration of technology into everyday routines can lead to widespread adoption. This requires a deep understanding of the context in which the technology will be used and designing solutions that fit naturally into that context.

How To Identify Small Innovations

Identifying potential small innovations in everyday life can be achieved through various strategies:

Mindful Observation: Pay attention to your daily routines and those of others. Look for inefficiencies, inconveniences, and pain points. These are opportunities for improvement and innovation.

Welcome Feedback: Feedback, whether from colleagues, friends, or family, can help identify gaps or areas for improvement that you may have overlooked.

Staying Updated: Follow trends and advancements in technology, science, and other fields of interest. These can inspire new ideas or enhancements to existing objects or processes.

Experimentation: Don't be afraid to experiment. Some of the most impactful innovations arise from trials and iterations.

Cross-Pollination of Ideas: Apply solutions or concepts from one field to another. This can lead to innovative solutions that might not have been apparent within the original context.

Remember, it's not always about creating something entirely new. Often, the most influential innovations are those that improve or refine existing processes or tools, making life easier, more efficient, or more enjoyable.

Conclusion

Small innovations' profound impact often extends far beyond their original purpose or field. From the accidental invention of the Slinky to the intentional design of HDMI cables and contactless payments, these examples demonstrate how simple ideas can transform into groundbreaking innovations.

So, look around you, engage with your world, and don't stop experimenting with ideas, no matter how small or simple they may seem. Remember, even the most straightforward idea has the potential to create a ripple effect, leading to significant improvements and far-reaching impacts. So, keep innovating, keep improving, and remember - no idea is too small to make a big difference!

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a creative rut, unable to develop fresh ideas? Or maybe you struggle to find inspiration for a new project or task. It can be frustrating and discouraging, but you're not alone. It's easy to fall into a routine and rely on the same old ways to find ideas, but we limit our creative potential by doing so.

In this post, we will explore ten uncommon and non-obvious ways to spark your creativity and find new ideas. These techniques can serve as a starting point to get you out of your comfort zone and help you find new ideas.

So, grab your pen and paper, and let's dive in!

Finding New Ideas

Let's jump into the diverse methods you can employ to rejuvenate your thought process and stimulate your imagination. These strategies are designed to shake up your usual routines by offering new perspectives. The goal is not only to inspire fresh ideas but also to revolutionize how you approach creativity in your everyday life.

1) Mine your old ideas:

Mining your old ideas not only includes flipping through old journal entries or project archives but also involves revisiting past conversations, failed projects, or ideas that sparked your interest but couldn't see the light of day due to various constraints. Sometimes the missing link in those ideas was the lack of a particular skill or resource at that time, which you might have acquired now.

Try to view your old ideas with a new lens. Consider the changes in the environment, technology, or even your own perspective that could give these ideas a new life. Has there been a shift in market demands? Have new tools become available that could overcome previous obstacles? How has your own view evolved over time?

Moreover, it's essential to remember that creativity is not a linear process. An idea that seemed irrelevant or impossible in the past could perfectly fit into a new context. This practice of revisiting and revamping your old ideas is like a treasure hunt where you're not only searching for gold but also refining it to create something valuable in the present. With this approach, you're not starting from a blank slate, but you're building on a foundation already laid, albeit in the past. So, flip through those old notebooks, revisit those brainstorming sessions, and give your past ideas a chance to infuse new life into your present creativity.

2) Think Add-Ons

Instead of always striving for brand-new ideas, why not improve on what already exists?

Building upon an existing idea is often less daunting than creating something completely new. An "add-on" approach encourages critical evaluation and improvement of established concepts. The beauty of this method lies in its simplicity; just take what's already there and make it better. This could be an existing product, a service, or a process in your daily life or work that you believe could be enhanced.

Consider technology upgrades as an example. Each new smartphone or software application version is fundamentally an add-on, a series of improvements and enhancements to an existing product. These updates are based on customer feedback, market trends, and technological advancements, demonstrating that you don’t always need to reinvent the wheel to innovate.

This strategy requires an analytical mindset and a focus on problem-solving. Begin by identifying a product, service, or process you believe has room for improvement. Then, brainstorm ways in which it could be enhanced. Remember, even small changes can have a significant impact, leading to a breakthrough idea.

3) Think macro:

Thinking macro is about shifting your focus from the minute details and considering the overall impact or implications. This approach requires you to constantly question and analyze the broader implications of your idea, its potential evolution, and how it fits into a larger context or ecosystem.

For instance, if you were developing a sustainable product, you wouldn't just consider the immediate benefits, such as reducing waste or using recycled materials. You'd need to consider the long-term effects on the environment, and the market shifts towards sustainability, how your product could influence consumer behavior, and how it could drive industry standards towards more eco-friendly practices.

This broad, macro view can open up new avenues for creativity. It enables you to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities on a larger scale, which could lead to bigger and bolder ideas. It encourages you to think beyond the immediate scope of your project and consider how your idea could have a wider-reaching impact or influence.

4) Embrace unexpected learning:

Embracing unexpected learning is about venturing into the unfamiliar and embracing the lessons that come with it. This approach exposes you to fresh perspectives, different cultures, unique skills, and a wealth of knowledge that may be completely unrelated to your current project or area of expertise. However, it's precisely this novelty that can spark innovative ideas.

Take, for instance, the act of learning a new language. It's not just about memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules. It involves understanding the culture, the nuances, and the thought processes of those who speak that language. This new understanding can provide a fresh lens through which to view your projects, perhaps leading to a creative breakthrough.

Similarly, reading a book outside your usual genre can expose you to different writing styles, themes, and perspectives that you may have never considered before. These new insights could offer unique angles or solutions to the challenges you're facing in your creative process.

Moreover, unexpected learning can come from less formal avenues. Even watching a documentary, attending a local event, or having a conversation with a stranger can offer unexpected insights and inspiration.

The key to embracing unexpected learning is to remain open-minded and curious. It's about stepping out of your comfort zone and being receptive to new experiences and knowledge, regardless of how relevant they may seem at first. This mindset can enrich your understanding, broaden your horizons, and, ultimately, fuel your creativity. So, make it a habit to learn something new and unexpected regularly, and watch as your creativity flourishes.

5) Reverse brainstorming:

Reverse brainstorming is a creative problem-solving technique that encourages you to challenge conventional thinking and approach problems differently. This method is especially useful when traditional brainstorming techniques fail to generate novel solutions or when you are stuck in a rut of typical, predictable thinking patterns.

In reverse brainstorming, you first pose the problem in reverse. For instance, if your original problem was, "How can we improve customer service?" you might ask, "How could we make our customer service worse?" This reversal can dislodge habitual thinking, allowing for a more unrestricted flow of ideas.

The next step involves listing as many responses as possible, no matter how absurd or improbable they might seem. This phase is about quantity over quality, promoting free thought and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking. It's important that during this phase, judgment is suspended, and every idea is accepted.

Finally, you take these "reverse solutions" and flip them back into solutions for the original problem. This might involve directly contradicting the reverse solution or simply using it as a springboard to inspire new, constructive ideas.

For example, if one of your "worsening" ideas was "make customers wait a long time to get help," a corresponding solution could be "implement a live chat feature on our website to provide immediate assistance."

By flipping the problem on its head, reverse brainstorming can help you uncover unique solutions you might otherwise overlook. This technique broadens your creative thinking and offers a fun and interesting twist to problem-solving sessions.

6) Brainwriting:

Brainwriting encourages individual ideation and creativity by allowing participants to express their ideas in writing rather than verbalizing them. This method can be particularly advantageous in diverse groups where some individuals may be more reserved or less comfortable sharing ideas out loud.

In a brainwriting session, each participant starts with a sheet of paper and writes down their ideas related to the problem or topic. The sheets are passed to the next person, usually a few minutes after a predetermined time. Each participant then reads the ideas on the new sheet they receive and uses them as inspiration to generate more ideas, which they then add to the sheet. This process continues until all participants have had the chance to contribute to each sheet.

Brainwriting fosters a non-judgmental environment where all ideas are valued, and there's no fear of instant criticism. This can often result in a wider variety of ideas, as participants are free to jot down even the most outlandish thoughts without fear of immediate critique. It also ensures that everyone's voice is equally heard, regardless of their communication style, personality type, or role in the organization.

Moreover, brainwriting can lead to a snowball effect of creativity, as each participant's ideas can inspire and build upon others. This cumulative process can lead to innovative solutions that might not emerge in a traditional brainstorming session.

7) Using Metaphors:

Metaphors are a powerful tool for enhancing creativity. By likening one thing to another, metaphors allow us to see connections and relationships that we might otherwise miss.

Consider, for example, the challenge of improving a company's workflow. Instead of viewing it through the traditional lens of processes and systems, imagine it as a river. The inputs are the river's source, the departments or stages are the various twists and turns, and the output is the sea. This metaphor might prompt questions like: Where is the river flowing smoothly? Where are there blockages or slow points? How can we increase the flow rate? Such a perspective can inspire innovative solutions such as removing unnecessary steps (clearing blockages) or improving communication (enhancing the flow).

Using metaphors can also help in communicating complex ideas in a relatable way. For instance, describing a computer's processor as a "brain" can make it more comprehensible to non-tech-savvy individuals.

However, while metaphors can open doors to creativity, it's important to use them selectively. Overuse or misuse of metaphors can lead to confusion rather than clarity. Like any other creative tool, their effectiveness lies in their appropriate and thoughtful application.

8) Mindfulness:

When we practice mindfulness, we tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. This heightened awareness can enhance our understanding, allowing us to see familiar things in a new light, thereby sparking innovative ideas.

Often, our minds are cluttered with thoughts and concerns that distract us from the present moment. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to quiet these distractions and increase our mental clarity, making room for creativity to flourish.

Moreover, mindfulness can help us manage stress and improve our overall emotional well-being, creating a healthier mental environment for creativity. It enables us to gain insights into our emotions, helping us understand how they can influence our thinking processes. By recognizing these patterns, we can create mental space for innovative thinking.

9) Embracing Limitations:

Often, constraints are viewed as obstacles, but in the creative process, they can serve as catalysts for innovation. When faced with restrictions, our brains are compelled to think differently, push boundaries, and devise inventive solutions that wouldn't have come to light in a limitless environment.

For instance, consider the scenario of designing a product with a limited budget. This financial constraint might inspire cost-efficient yet high-quality solutions, such as repurposing existing materials, leveraging inexpensive technologies, or simplifying the design for easy manufacturing. The result could be a product that meets budget requirements and offers customers unique value.

Similarly, time constraints can compel us to prioritize tasks, streamline processes, and make effective decisions. Imagine launching a marketing campaign with only one week to plan. This tight timeframe pushes you to focus on the most impactful strategies, eliminate unnecessary details, and collaborate efficiently with your team. The result might be a powerful, condensed campaign that resonates with your audience more effectively than a drawn-out, complex strategy would have.

Such constraints stimulate our problem-solving skills and encourage us to look at the situation from various angles, often leading to innovative outcomes. Embracing limitations, therefore, is not about compromising on quality or ambition. Instead, it's about harnessing the power of constraints to spur creativity and innovation.

10) Free Writing:

Free writing is a liberating practice that encourages the spontaneous expression of thoughts without interrupting self-editing. It can be a powerful creative catalyst, allowing ideas to flow uninhibited, frequently leading to unexpected connections and insights.

In free writing, you let your thoughts pour out onto the page or screen, disregarding the traditional grammar, punctuation, and spelling rules. The goal is to maintain a steady stream of consciousness, moving your pen or fingers for a set period, usually around 10 to 15 minutes, without any pause.

This process can serve as a creative warm-up, clearing the mind of clutter and sparking the imagination. It can help unclog mental blocks and alleviate the pressures of producing perfect, polished content. More importantly, free writing can lead you to explore ideas and concepts you might otherwise overlook, providing a fertile ground for innovation.

Bear in mind, though, that this technique is not about producing a ready-to-use piece of writing. Instead, it's about exploration and discovery. Once the session is over, you can review the text for any emerging themes, intriguing ideas, or unique perspectives that could serve as seeds for your creative projects.

In essence, free writing invites your thoughts to roam freely. It doesn't matter where they wander or how they're articulated. What matters is the act of writing unrestrainedly, letting ideas merge, collide, and evolve in their own unique way. Incorporating this practice into your creative routine can be a transformative step towards fostering an innovative mindset.

Conclusion:

In pursuit of creativity, these ten strategies form a powerful toolkit to rekindle creativity. These tools invite us to redefine our perceptions, to see not just with our eyes but with our minds, exploring the world in novel ways. They encourage us to delve deep within ourselves, to introspect, to harness the power of constraints, and to let our thoughts flow freely.

They remind us of the raw power of our minds and that creativity isn't a finite resource but a renewable reservoir of ideas ready to be tapped into. Incorporating these strategies into your creativity toolbox can help you find new ideas and explore new areas of your imagination.

You've probably heard the saying that 'Creativity is a muscle.' Like your biceps or triceps, your creative mind needs regular exercise to stay in shape. What exercises will let you build your creative muscle? How do you turn these creativity exercises into a habit that is a routine part of your daily life?

For many of us, developing creativity habits can seem overwhelming.

Starting Small and Simple

Where do you even begin?

Research has shown that starting small is the key to creating sustainable habits. Renowned psychologist B.J. Fogg, for example, emphasizes the concept of "Tiny Habits," suggesting that an individual should start with behavior that's easy to do and can be accomplished in less than 30 seconds. This could be as simple as sketching a single line on paper or writing one sentence in a journal.

James Clear, author of "Atomic Habits," recommends an approach of 1% improvement each day. Clear suggests that success is the product of daily habits—not a once-in-a-lifetime transformation. So rather than trying to write a novel in a day, aim to write one paragraph. Over time, these small increments can add up to substantial progress.

Another best practice is to anchor your new creative habit to an existing routine—this is known as habit stacking. For example, if you already have a routine of having a cup of coffee every morning, add a few minutes of your chosen creative habit to this routine.

And finally, make sure to reward yourself. Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator in habit formation. So after each successful day of practicing your creative habit, allow yourself a small reward. Over time, this creates a positive association with your new habit, making you more likely to stick with it.

The goal isn't to do something creative once and forget about it. The goal is to incorporate creativity into your daily life naturally and sustainably. And with these research-backed strategies, that goal is well within reach.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are habits. It's not about making massive changes overnight but taking small steps consistently.

Habits to Cultivate Creativity

The following are a few habits that can fan the flames of your creativity and help you tap into your innate inventive spirit. This is not an exhaustive list but merely a starting point. As you embark on building creative habits, you may find others that work better for you. Don't feel confined by this list—feel free to add, modify, and explore other practices that spark your creative energies. The most effective habits are the ones that resonate with you and your unique creative process.

Here are some habits you might consider:

Daily Journaling:

Daily Journaling can genuinely be a transformative habit. It serves as a personal canvas where you can paint your thoughts, emotions, and ideas freely and without restraint. This practice declutters the mind and fuels creativity by helping you explore different trains of thought and identify patterns over time.

Moreover, daily journaling can be adapted according to your preferences. Some individuals prefer traditional narrative journaling, while others might opt for bullet journals, sketching, or digital journaling. The form it takes isn't as important as consistently putting your thoughts on paper.

Also, journaling can act as an incubator for your ideas. For instance, you might jot down a passing thought or a spark of an idea in your journal and then revisit it later to develop it further. This practice especially benefits creative people who need an outlet to capture their flowing ideas.

The key to journaling is not to censor yourself. This is your private space for exploration, reflection, and creativity. So let your mind wander, let your pen flow, and you might be surprised at the innovation and creativity that emerge from the pages of your journal.

Mindfulness Practices:

Mindfulness practices have gained prominence as powerful tools to nurture creativity. They involve focusing on the present moment, accepting it without judgment, and developing a deeper awareness of your surroundings and internal experiences. This increased sensitivity and openness to the present can spark new insights and ideas, enriching your creative output.

Meditation, one of the most common mindfulness practices, can be particularly beneficial. Regular meditation sessions can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and promote mental clarity—all of which create a conducive environment for creativity.

Consider starting with just a few minutes of meditation each day, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable. Sit in a quiet, comfortable place, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. When your mind wanders—and it will—gently bring it back to your breath. This practice of returning to the moment can strengthen your ability to focus, a critical skill in creative endeavors.

Mindful walking is another mindfulness practice you might try. This involves focusing on the sensation of walking, the feeling of your feet touching the ground, and the rhythm of your footsteps. This practice can be an effective way to clear your head and foster a state of relaxed alertness that can lead to creative breakthroughs.

Just like any other habit, mindfulness requires consistency and practice. But with time, you can cultivate a more mindful approach to life that opens up new pathways for creative thinking.

Curiosity Feeding:

Curiosity feeding is about intentionally seeking out new knowledge and experiences. It's a habit that can nurture creativity by broadening your perspective and providing fresh inspiration. Each day, make a conscious effort to learn something new. This can be as simple as reading an interesting article, listening to a podcast, or diving into a new book. You might watch a documentary, learn a new word, or even converse with a stranger.

The key is to keep an open mind and embrace the unfamiliar. This can lead you to stumble upon unexpected ideas and connections, fueling your creativity. Engaging with a diverse range of topics also helps to build a rich reservoir of knowledge that can be drawn upon during the creative process.

Moreover, curiosity feeding encourages you to ask questions and challenge assumptions—an essential aspect of creative thinking. By nurturing your curiosity, you foster a mindset of continuous learning and exploration conducive to creativity.

The aim is not just to amass knowledge but to stimulate thought and inspire innovation. So be curious, be open, and immerse yourself in the joy of discovering something new every day.

Idea Generation:

Idea Generation, often known as brainstorming, is about unleashing your mind to explore different possibilities and avenues. It's about breaking free from the constraints of logical thinking and embracing wild and crazy ideas. This practice stimulates your creative muscles and opens up a treasure trove of potential innovations.

Here are a few strategies to make the most of your idea-generation sessions.

Firstly, create a conducive environment. Choose a quiet, comfortable space where you can think without distractions. Some people find that certain settings, like a park or a café, stimulate their creativity more than others. Experiment and find what works best for you.

Secondly, set a timer. Giving yourself a specific timeframe, like 15 minutes, can create a sense of urgency that pushes your brain to think more creatively.

Thirdly, remember that there are no bad ideas during brainstorming. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible, not to judge them. Write down everything that comes to your mind, no matter how absurd or impractical. This encourages free thinking and can often lead you down unexpected paths to brainstorm innovative ideas.

Lastly, do it often. The more frequently you brainstorm, the more readily your brain can generate new ideas.

The purpose of idea generation is not only to come up with solutions to specific problems but also to nurture a mindset of creativity and innovation.

Creative Exercises:

Creative exercises are vital activities that stimulate your brain, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and idea generation. They take various forms and can be tailored to individual preferences and interests.

One popular creative exercise is solving puzzles. Whether it's a jigsaw, crossword, or Rubik's cube, puzzles force you to think strategically and look for patterns. They challenge your brain to work in ways it normally wouldn't, fostering creativity.

Artistic endeavors such as painting, drawing, or sculpting are also great creative exercises. They allow you to express yourself freely and create something unique from your imagination. Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, creating art can stimulate creative thinking.

Cooking a new recipe is another form of creative exercise. It's about mixing ingredients in different ways to create unique flavors. Experimenting with cooking methods can also lead to discoveries in the kitchen, like how experimenting with ideas can lead to innovation.

Writing exercises, like poetry or storytelling, can also stimulate creativity. They encourage you to play with words, conjuring compelling narratives from your imagination.

The goal of these exercises isn't necessarily to create a masterpiece but to spark creativity and have fun in the process.

Next Steps To Creating Habits

The next step is commitment. Commit to doing one of these exercises every day for 30 days. Why 30 days? Because science tells us that's about how long repeated actions become a habit.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. Set Clear Goals: Begin by setting a clear and achievable goal. It should be something that you can realistically accomplish within the 30-day time frame. For example, if you want to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine, your goal could be to meditate for 10 minutes each day.
2. Start Small: It's crucial to start with small, manageable tasks. If your goal is to read a book a week, you might start by reading a few pages each day and gradually increase your reading time. Starting small makes the habit easier to adopt and less overwhelming.
3. Consistency is Key: Consistency is the cornerstone of habit formation. Stick to your routine every day for 30 days. If you aim to engage in creative exercises daily, ensure you set aside time each day for this activity, whether in the morning, during lunch breaks, or in the evening.
4. Be Patient and Persistent: It takes time to form a habit. You might encounter obstacles or have off days, but it's important not to get disheartened. Persistence is key, and consistently repeating the activity leads to habit formation. Remember, the goal isn't perfection. It's consistency. There will be days when it feels harder to engage your creativity. That's okay. What matters is showing up, day in and day out.
5. Stay Positive: Finally, staying positive and maintaining a growth mindset is essential. Each day is an opportunity to learn and grow. Celebrate your successes, even the small ones, and be kind to yourself when you feel discouraged or frustrated.
6. Tell Someone: Being held accountable by having someone checking in on you can be motivating. Find an accountability partner who will support and encourage your endeavors.

Creating a creative habit isn't easy, but it is achievable with these strategies. With consistency and dedication, it won't be long before you experience the reward of a more creative life.

Benefits of Cultivating a Creativity Habit

People who cultivate a creative habit experience numerous benefits. It opens up new possibilities and expands your horizons, and creativity can also improve physical and mental well-being. Here are some of the most prominent advantages associated with nurturing a creative mindset:

1. Improved Problem Solving: Creativity can help you develop more efficient solutions to problems. This is because it encourages divergent thinking, which involves considering multiple perspectives and approaches to problem-solving.
2. Heightened Focus and Concentration: Creative activities are often engaging and stimulating, positively affecting your focus and concentration levels. Working on creative problems or projects can help you stay focused for extended periods.
3. Higher Levels of Self-Esteem & Confidence: Taking risks and engaging in creative activities can boost your self-esteem, giving you a sense of accomplishment and pride. This increased confidence can have far-reaching implications, improving personal and professional relationships.
4. Increased Happiness & Satisfaction: Research has shown that engaging in creative activities can improve our happiness levels and overall life satisfaction. This is because creativity helps us to express ourselves and get more in touch with our inner selves.

Wrapping Up: The Power of Cultivating Creativity

We can all significantly enhance our creativity through dedication and commitment. We can awaken our inherent creative forces by making creativity exercises a part of our daily routine. It's not about creating masterpieces daily but about sparking creative energy within us. Whether it's solving puzzles, painting, or even experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, these activities stimulate our brains in unique ways, fostering creativity.

The journey of cultivating a creative habit doesn't have to be solitary. Sharing this journey with an accountability partner can provide mutual encouragement and motivation.

Regardless of the obstacles, be patient and persistent because every step in this journey brings us closer to reaping the numerous benefits of a creative mindset, from improved problem-solving skills and heightened focus to increased self-esteem and happiness.

The journey to enhanced creativity might seem long and challenging but worthwhile. So, dare to commit to this transformative journey, for the destination promises an enriched life overflowing with creativity.

It's time you unleashed your inner Da Vinci!

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovation series, we look at David Su’s innovative solution to the problem of disposable and short-lived battery life and his tips for success that helped him start Atmosic.

 Being connected has become an essential part of our daily lives. Wireless has made huge strides over the past two decades.  IoT is connecting our world in ways we would have never imagined.  With the growing demand for constant connectivity, one area that needs fine-tuning is battery life.  All these devices we use throughout the day require battery power. Today’s guest saw this as an opportunity.  David Su is CEO of Atmosic.  His company is innovating battery life.  Creating technologies to reduce battery usage, Atmosic develops solutions that keep things powered up.  

Stanford to Startup

Much of David’s career has been in the wireless space.  With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford, David joined Atheros Communication in 1999 as its fifth employee.  David continued with Atheros as it grew and went public. He stayed on when Qualcomm acquired Atheros. After some years, David felt his time at Qualcomm had run its course.  He ventured into new areas.  With four former work colleagues, he started a new company.  

Atmosic’s Vision

In the wireless world, battery power can be a boon and a bane.  Reliance on wireless means dependence on batteries for power. When batteries lose charge, things can come to a standstill.  Limited battery life also means a lot of batteries get thrown out – to the tune of three billion per year.  Two and a half years ago, David and fellow co-founders started Atmosic with this in mind.  David, Masoud Zargari, David Nakahira, Srinivas Pattamatta, and Manolis Terrovitis brainstormed.  They sought advice from experts in the field. Their vision began to coalesce – to keep connected devices powered with little to no battery usage.  

With the vision in place, Dave and his team went to work innovating battery life.  They started with battery-powered Bluetooth devices.

Solving Core Battery Problems

The advantages Autmosic’s technologies will offer:

·        Lowest power usage without compromising quality.

·        Turns device off when not in use with system level check that transmits only when needed.

·        RF energy harvesting, enabling the battery to last forever.

Long-term vision:

·        “Battery-free utopia” – ecosystem in enterprise applications.

Lessons Learned

What has David learned along the journey toward innovating battery life?  David has some tips for people whether they’re starting a company or pursuing innovation.  

·        Interoperate – work with what is already known and improve it.

·        Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and be willing to listen.

·        Make sure what you are doing is what you truly believe in and are passionate about.

·        Ground what you are doing in reality.  

By innovating battery life, Atmosic is focusing on a problem that affects us all.  Powering down to power up will keep us connected sustainably.

To track what Atmosic is doing, visit www.atmosic.com/   For the latest updates, check them out on Twitter and LinkedIn.  

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovation series, we examine how one creator, Rama Sreenivasan of Blitzz, looked outside the box and created solutions to the hindrances he faced on his innovative journey.

When you're in the middle of an important project and equipment fails, you want it fixed fast.  In this week's show, I talk with Blitzz Co-founder Rama Sreenivasan. His company is solving the inefficiencies of tech support.  Blitzz's customer support innovation integrates AI, AR, and live video to solve problems faster.

Winding Journeys Connected

Rama's path has taken some unexpected twists, from a chemical engineer working on medical devices to starting a SaaS company.  But at the heart of it, he is a problem solver.  The source of his inspiration: his dad, who he likes to call "MacGyver."

Rama founded Blitzz together with co-founder Keyur Patel two years ago.  They most recently participated in CableLabs Filterator.  This accelerator program helps startups develop a product-market fit for the cable industry.

A System That Assesses Without the Hassle

When instruments stop working, it's time to bring in a helpful live assistant. Blitz's customer support innovation allows a better perspective of and feel for the problem. Through live video chat, companies can avoid spending on onsite technician visits. Customer support is not only heightened but it is also trained to see around the inconspicuous.  Innovation in repair operations contributes to cuts in labor fees and time processing.  What prompted Rama to create Blitzz's innovative approach?  During his PH. D and Post-Doctoral work, frustration with equipment breakdown mid-experiment was the impetus.  The long wait to get repairs done seemed a waste. Rama felt there had to be a better way.

AR Perception

In any given company, customer support could always be better. That's why the addition of AR technology adds to the customer experience. Questions can be answered faster and more efficiently. One no longer has to worry about the hassle of scheduling an in-person visit. AR perception captures it all. This innovation allows one on one human interaction on a more convenient level.

AI Intelligence

Equipment can malfunction and run the risk of being unreliable. AI customer support can redirect the customer to questions and answers that may be a better fit. This AI customer support innovation becomes its teacher. The AI brings the ability to learn from the information it processes.

Lessons Learned

Rama highly recommends entrepreneurs go through an accelerator.  He learned critical elements of the startup process through that experience.  He also credits passion for driving the startup process. Connecting with mentors can help fan the flames of that passion.

If you'd like to track the latest with Blitzz, visit the website: https://blitzz.co/ or check out Blitzz on LinkedIn and Twitter.

 We'd love your feedback on what you'd like to hear on Killer Innovations. Get in touch and let me know.

Creating a Disruptive Ideation Workshop

You can learn, practice, and perfect the skill of innovation. To keep the innovation funnel flowing, generating quality ideas is essential. So, how do you boost innovation in a team lacking confidence? One practical approach is organizing a disruptive ideation workshop. Let's explore how to create a successful one.

Condensed Boot Camp

I run an intensive four-day Innovation Boot Camp course a few times yearly. Students often request a condensed one-day version for their teams. In response, I developed the Disruptive Ideation Workshop, which focused on a disruptive approach to generate more and better ideas using the FIRE method. The workshop aims to teach the skill, apply it, and create a pipeline of ideas for the organization. Recently, we tested the workshop with 25 senior leaders with no innovation background. The results surpassed expectations, leading us to name it the "Disruptive Ideation Workshop."

Overview of the Disruptive Ideation Workshop

Disruptive ideation means causing innovation through unconventional approaches. The workshop has two main objectives:

1.      Teach a disruptive approach to ideation, significantly increasing the quantity and quality of generated ideas.

2.      Apply the learned skills to the organization's real-world problem, resulting in a ranked set of disruptive ideas.

The course comprises two sections: Foundation and Skills and Application/Practice.

Foundation Section:

1.      Debunk myths and mysteries surrounding innovation.

2.      Develop essential innovation skills, such as overcoming self-doubt, fostering imagination, and seeing with fresh eyes.

3.      Address innovation anti-bodies, such as ego, risk aversion, and resistance to change.

4.      Introduce the FIRE framework:

a.      Focus: Define the problem statement clearly for relevant idea generation.

b.      Ideation: Use powerful questions to generate a multitude of high-quality ideas.

c.      Ranking: Group and identify top ideas from the pool.

d.      Execution: Refine and expand on selected ideas.

We emphasize the Ideation component.

Skills and Application/Practice Section:

Students apply the elements of the FIRE framework to an accurate problem statement.

Skills taught include:

1.      FOCUS: Clearly defining the problem as a well-defined statement is crucial.

2.      IDEATION: Use questions to generate more and better ideas, building upon individual contributions.

3.      RANKING: Group and select top ideas from the pool.

4.      EXECUTION: Expand on chosen ideas with depth and thought.

We emphasize "Adapt and Adopt," allowing students to apply the learned skills effectively within their organizations.

Lessons from the Disruptive Ideation Workshop

Insights from conducting the workshop include:

1.      The one-day format allows focused time away from daily responsibilities.

2.      Crafting a solid problem statement is critical, so allocate sufficient time.

3.      Limit workshop size to a manageable number of students, ideally no more than 20.

4.      Establish the following steps to sustain momentum post-workshop.

5.      Foster a community among participants to maintain a vibrant learning atmosphere.

On this week’s Killer Innovation Series, we analyze qualities that promote strong leadership and will help any organization become a trailblazer in the innovation game.

What are the unique skill sets needed for innovation leadership?  We all have a list of what good leadership skills are but what are the unique ones you need to be a true innovation leader?  Today on Killer Innovations, I will discuss what I have found to be the skills needed for successful innovation leadership.

Innovation Leadership Skills

These leadership skills apply to all organizations, whether you are a small organization or a large organization.

1.       Integrity

1.       You need to trust the people you are working with.

2.       You need to know they are looking out for what is in the best interests of the team and organization.

2.       Vision and Strategy.

1.       Team members are looking to the leaders to communicate what the vision and strategy are.

2.       You need to look long-range beyond where the team is and roll that back in so they can see what your vision is.

3.       You need to be able to tell the story, make the pitch, and share your dream with others.

4.       Communication is critical to successful innovation leadership,

5.       If you are going to be a leader, you need to be able to interact and build relationships and truly have an interest in other people’s lives.

6.       Know what is going on in your team members’ lives so you can help them eliminate distractions and get their heads in the game.

7.       You have got to persuade people to leave what they are doing now and join your team.

8.       You must be able to convince them that what are doing is something worth their time.

3.       Adaptability and Flexibility.

1.       As a leader you cannot be rigid, you must be adaptable and flexible with your team and organization.

2.       Can you operate as a leader of a team?

3.       You need diversity in your team to be successful.

4.       Coach and develop.

1.       Find young and upcoming people and coach and develop them.

5.       Decision-Making.

1.       You must be comfortable making the final decision.

2.       Realize that sometimes the decision you make is going to fail.

6.       Planning and organizing.

1.       If you are not good at planning and organizing, then hire people to do it for your team.

These are the basic skills you need to be a successful innovation leader.  So, what skills do you need to do differently to truly be an innovation leader?

1.       Innovation leadership involves taking risks.

1.       You must be comfortable that some of the decisions you make are going to fail.

2.       Some of your decisions are going to be flipped.

2.       You need to keep looking for new opportunities and threats.

1.       Look for threats to your organization, industry, or geography.

3.       Innovation is about change.

1.       Stability is the death of innovation.

2.       Foster a culture where change is expected.

4.       Do not rest on the traditional management techniques.

1.       Every situation is different.

2.       You need to invent the way you manage and do leadership.

5.       Be an optimist.

1.       Innovation is about being an optimist.

2.       You need to convince and convey an optimistic view of the future.

6.       Innovators cut through the crap.

1.       Innovation leaders need to cut through the crap and get to the core.

2.       You need to step in and stop the corporate game-playing.

Let’s connect; I am on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.  If we do connect, drop me a note and let me know.  The email address is feedback@philmckinney.com or you can go to Philmckinney.com and drop me a note there.

Thinking Beyond the Obvious

The challenges on the creativity innovation side do not change based on scale.  It is the same whether you have a five-person team or a fifty-person team.  The challenge is operating and innovating at the same level.  A lot of companies get in a rut because they are doing what they have always done.  So, how do you push yourself and people to go beyond the obvious and do the next thing?

1.       Break the rules.

1.       Corporate antibodies will come after new ideas; you need to recognize that these antibodies exist.

2.       Sometimes you are the corporate antibody.

2.       You must think differently.

1.       You must unlearn what you have been taught when it comes to conforming.

2.       Make sure that you challenge yourself to go beyond the obvious answer to questions.

3.       It is all about asking.

1.       How do you ask questions that will make you think about something you have not considered before?

2.       How do you ask those killer questions?

_3.         Better questions get you better answers.

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations Series, we touch on creativity. Below are some ways to get inspired into incorporating creativity into your personal life to benefit your professional success.

Everyone is creative.  Yet some people seem more creative than others.  What do those people have that others might lack?  What's the secret to creativity? This week we talk about finding creative inspiration outside of work.  I'll share my thoughts on what makes people creative. We'll also hear Kym McNicholas interview Tania Katan.  Tania has just come out with a book called Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy into Your Work and Life.

Finding Inspiration

Humans use creativity every day to solve complex issues.  Some people are more creative than others in problem-solving.  How do these people manage to stay ahead of everyone else creatively?  First, these people are inspired. Find something piques your interest and drives you to go above and beyond, experiment, and learn.  You can find creative inspiration even at work. If you are passionate about your work, you are feeding your creativity.

Practicing Creativity

Another common denominator of creative people is that they practice creativity.  People do not just wake up already skilled at something. They have to practice it until they have mastered it.  We can define practice as two things:

• To do repeated exercises for proficiency
• To pursue a profession actively

There is a myth that you can't practice creativity and innovation.  You can practice and become proficient. There are many ways to exercise your creative abilities.  There are exercises for the daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly practice of creative skills.

Talking Creative Inspiration with Tania Katan

Tania Katan shares with Kym McNicholas how people's creativity in their personal life can enhance their work.  Her book, Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy Back into Your Work and Life, examines the impact of bringing personal creative exercise into the workplace. Tania wrote this book because she saw a disconnect between people's creativity and what they did at their jobs during the day.

Tania says that if you are looking for innovation, you must bring your creativity to your job.  We can solve problems with innovation by getting our creativity to work. Throughout the book, there are exercises called "Productive Disruptions."  These are creativity breaks. Stanford's study was called the "Walking Creativity Study." This proved that people who went for walks experiencing creative blocks experienced 60 percent higher creativity afterward.  Disruptions and breaks are scientifically proven to help improve creativity. Many people don't enhance creativity because they don't have the right experience or training.  We must break through that barrier and ask "what if" questions. Stop trying to solve problems the same way and push creativity.

Some of the most significant takeaways from the book are:

• Our job does not have to be uniquely creative for us actually to be creative.
• We need to feel free at the workplace to create a creative revolution inside our bodies, minds, and cubicles.

One of the biggest roadblocks to creativity is the fear of thinking and doing things differently. The best way to get through that obstacle is to face it.

 Looking at our Best of Killer Innovations Series, we examine the dynamic nature of innovation and how to manage changes best so that you and your ventures can succeed.

Today's latest innovation can quickly be replaced with the next best thing tomorrow.  Whether you're a newcomer to innovation or a seasoned innovator, there's something every innovator should know.  How to forecast and survive cycles of innovation.  This week Ray Zinn, longest serving CEO of a publicly traded company in Silicon Valley, shares his insights—Ray's astute ability to forecast what was coming enabled his company to survive the innovation cycles.

Sage Advice: Don't Work for Someone Else

In 1974, Ray's boss conveyed a bit of advice.  Don't work for someone else. This advice set Ray on the entrepreneurial path.  He started his own company. With $300,000 of self-funding, he started doing test services.  It was challenging to start a company that was profitable from day one. Ray and his business partner managed it.  By 1985, their company, Micrel Inc., hired engineers and started designing their products. Eventually, Samsung selected Micrel technology for their first cell phones.  With blue chip clients, numerous inventions, and patents in wireless radio and other areas, Micrel went public in 1994. Micrel was profitable every year through 2001. Although Ray had to rebuild the whole company, it remained profitable.  

Forecasting Innovation Cycles

How do you lead companies through the high rate of innovation change?  Ray was able to accomplish this. Ray learned the cycles of innovation so he could forecast them.  You have to know the cycles to predict them for your company.  How do you do this? Your customers are your best lead.  The key to surviving these cycles is understanding them.  Cycles last at the most five years.  You must anticipate what is going to be the following winning product.

Getting Your Board Right

What were the insights Ray wished he had early on?  Be careful about your Board. He elaborated on his biggest mistake –  not being more selective about his Board of Director participation.  Having a viable, helpful, and contributable Board is critical.  You want members who roll up their sleeves and add value where needed.  You don't need board members to pick you apart and create tension. Ray believes that Boards must focus less on what investors or shareholders want.  They must emphasize what is best for the company and adds sustainable value. Boards should not be too independent. Independence leads to disconnect and a lack of understanding of a company's intricacies and operations.

With his wealth of experience in the heart of the world's startup capital, Ray wanted to give back.  He created the Zinn Starter, a seed investment firm akin to Shark Tank for universities. Almost every university in this country has an entrepreneur program.  The Zinn Starter consists of students taking their business ideas before a Board. If the Board approves the concept, the student can start a company while still a student.  Zinn Starter is limited to fully enrolled university students. It is part of the entrepreneur program for six universities. The program has been running for two years, with over five thousand students participating.

Ray has also written a book called Tough Things First.  Used by many universities as a textbook, it covers his time with his company in Silicon Valley.  You can track Ray at http://toughthingsfirst.com/.  Visit his website to hear weekly podcasts and tips for entrepreneurs.

Diving into our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we address a common hindrance to innovation: a drought of new ideas. To fix this problem, I’ve developed a simple list of ways to get the creative flow of thoughts circulating back into your organization.

When generating ideas, the default answer is to host a brainstorming session.  Are there other ways to create new ideas that are not dependent on traditional brainstorming?  Today on Killer Innovations, I will share the five I use with you.

Mind Mapping and Wishing

Mind mapping is a fairly common term nowadays; many types of software provide templates for mind mapping.  Traditionally they are used to organize your data, but it is also a great way to generate new ideas.

·        Develop your problem statement.

·        Write the problem statement in the center of your idea (whiteboards work great).

·        Expand on this problem statement by surrounding it with terms that better describe your needs.

·        Now add a second layer to each of your needs describing how you might be able to solve these individual challenges.

·        Keep adding to your mind map using the steps above until you have sufficiently broken down your problem into manageable parts.

It is a fantastic ideation technique that encourages creative answers.  Another great way to generate new ideas is by wishing.  Wishing encourages your team to let their imaginations run wild.  Assuming you have a well-researched and understood problem statement, ask each participant to dream up the most unattainable solutions related to the problem statement.  Create a list of a few dozen wishes and go through the wishes by considering and discussing the ideas in detail.  Ask yourself:

·        What makes them so impossible?

·        How can that idea be scaled down?

·        Which features of that wish could we integrate into this other approach?

You might be surprised to discover practical, real-world solutions among the team’s wildest wishes.

Six Thinking Hats

Six Thinking Hats by Dr. Edward de Bono unleashed a new approach to generating ideas by breaking down the ideas into six areas of thought.  It helps participants put themselves into the shoes of another.  The six hats are:

·        Logic- the facts.

·        Optimism- the value and the benefits.

·        Devil’s Advocate- the difficulties and dangers.

·        Emotion- Feelings and intuitions.

·        Creativity- Possibilities and new ideas.

·        Management- Ensuring the observance of the hat rules.

So, how do you use the tool? Have each member put on one of these different “hats” for the discussion. Make sure everyone has their say, and rotate the hats to others for extended sessions. Hence, everyone can see the problem and ideas from various perspectives.

Brain-Writing and Forced Combinations

One challenge for generating ideas is getting everything rattling around in your head out.  In this exercise, each participant takes a piece of paper and writes rough ideas for solving the problem statement.  Each person passes on each piece of paper, reads it silently, and adds their ideas to the page. This process is repeated until everyone has had an opportunity to contribute to each piece of paper. Once participants have retrieved their original paper, they read and organize the ideas.  Then each participant shares the notes and ideas on their piece of paper.  The significant advantage of brain-writing is that it ensures everybody has an opportunity to share their ideas and reinforces the idea of “building on the ideas of others.”

Lastly, the final way to generate ideas is one I have used with my product teams.  The premise is to look at non-logical combinations to create entirely new ideas.  This exercise involves combining ideas that serve different needs or interests to form a new concept.  How does this work?

·        Bring a bag of random items to your ideation.

·        Draw up two lists side-by-side of the items in the bag.

·        Request a team member to choose two or more items and explore ways they can combine them.

·        On the list, draw a line for each combination shared with a brief description of the ideas that resulted.

·        Put the items back in the bag.

·        The following person selects two or more items and repeats the process.

This technique can produce some silly results, but it is ultimately a helpful way of getting your team out of a creative rut.

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations series, we look at one manufacturer's innovative use of resources. This company's story is a testament to how innovation can unexpectedly occur anywhere, with any resource, and at any moment. Innovations' ubiquitous nature is evident in every corner of our rapidly evolving world.

We firmly believe in the limitless potential of innovation, as anyone can ignite it, and it can ignite in any realm imaginable. Silicon Valley and other recognized innovation hubs do not have a lock on innovation or a secret sauce that cannot be modeled or improved upon.  It takes a willingness to put aside time, use your resources, explore the unknown, and expand your creativity (we all have it) beyond where you are today to see the non-obvious.  When you do, you will be like our Kentucky guests, revolutionizing in a non-traditional innovation hub and creating a non-high-tech innovation.

As part of our Innovation Across America tours, we ventured across the country in our new mobile studio to Paducah, Kentucky. During the tour, we actively sought individuals pushing the boundaries and innovating "Beyond the Obvious." In our show this week, we had the opportunity to interview the founders of Fin Gourmet Foods.  Started in 2010, Fin Gourmet is a Kentucky Proud Producer™ of wild-caught Asian Carp products.  So why Asian Carp? It has the highest source of healthy, clean protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, on par with wild-caught salmon.  Nowhere else in the world but the USA are Asian Carp wild-caught, and those from western KY are of the best quality. But more importantly, this innovation story is unique.  Fin's mission and vision are that the Asian Carp provide economic opportunities for communities, fostering job creation and revitalizing the inland fishing industry.

Defining and Tackling a Problem Statement

The team at Fin Gourmet defined the problems and challenges they encountered and engaged in disruptive ideation.  As an integral part of their innovation process, they considered some basic assumptions of innovation to create value, including:

• Turn other people's trash into a product:Fin took the Asian Carp, an invasive species taking over the Mississippi and Ohio river systems, and he innovated a way to turn it into an excellent food source.
• Give opportunities to people overlooked:In addition to locating in a rural part of the country, Fin works with local halfway houses to offer jobs to former prison inmates and others down on their luck.  Training, teaching, and building a culture that values and leverages the abilities of all.
• Breathe life back into an industry overlooked by others: Fin pays a premium price for what many consider "trash" to help local independent fishing families to transition to this new species of fish and the economy it can support.

What is the Non-Obvious Innovation at Fin?

Fin has two patented innovative processing techniques:

1. Debone Asian Carp fillets.
2. Make all-natural surimi (Japanese fish paste) from the Carp without water or chemicals.

With their innovative model, process, and approach, Fin Gourmet is making a significant impact locally and globally with their products and story.  The Fin founders and fishermen like Ronny Hopkins better manage the Asian Carp so that our rivers/lakes/estuaries are better protected while employing people who need second chances from incarceration, drug court, domestic violence, and more.

The ubiquitous nature of innovation is a remarkable phenomenon that defies the limitations of time, place, and resources. It serves as a testament to the infinite wellspring of human creativity and our unwavering commitment to progress. Whether it emerges from the humblest of workshops or arises amidst the chaos of our lives, innovation has the extraordinary power to reshape our world. It reminds us that brilliance can sprout from the most unexpected sources, and no idea should ever be underestimated or dismissed. Let us wholeheartedly embrace the limitless possibilities and foster a culture that not only recognizes but also nurtures the ubiquitous nature of innovation. Together, through our collective efforts, we pave the way for a future that is brighter, more awe-inspiring, and brimming with endless possibilities.

Resuming our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we hone in on six categories of KPIs that will help you successfully predict and keep track of crucial details that will allow you to run your organization smoothly.

This episode addresses questions from listeners on innovation KPIs.  After clocking 12,000 miles in the mobile Innovators Studio, I'm back in Colorado.  On the road, I talked with interesting innovators and analysts. Taking a break from interviews, I'd like to answer your questions on measuring innovation success.

There are hundreds of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure innovation success. What are the right innovation KPIs to use?  What KPIs will give insight into the innovation process?   KPIs should be unique to your organization.  Think through what KPIs will measure and how that can guide innovations and your organization.

KPI Building Blocks

I've broken innovation KPIs into categories, like building blocks.  Build up the blocks to get a complete perspective on your innovation effort.  

Six categories for Innovation KPIs:

Idea process /managing the idea funnel

o   What's done to get ideas, put them in a funnel, review, manage and analyze them?

§  Raw ideas

§  Raw ideas validated

§  Ideas prototyped

§  Age of ideas

Idea commercialization

o   Innovation idea brought to market.

§  Innovations that became a product

§  Innovations that make a profit

§  Are early customers willing to pay a margin premium?

§  Innovations purchased

§   resources in the organization aligning to make the product a reality?

Financial impact 

o   Tough to measure – long lag from the time of investment to product launch in the market

§  Revenue from new innovations

§  Profit from innovations

§  Revenue protected by patents

§  Revenue from patent licensing

Customer impact

o   Customer success compared from old products to new innovation

§  What has the latest product allowed customers to achieve?

§  How many customers have shifted to new ones?

§  Market share trend for innovation – grabbing from competitors?

Organizational impact

o   New products/services have an impact

o   Can pull organization into the new category of focus

§  The ratio of sales from old versus new – sales ramping up for further/declining for old?

§  The ratio of profit from old versus new

§  Investments – Is investment shifting from old to new?

§  Rate of return on innovation investment

§  Has it driven brand awareness?

Pure Innovation KPIs

o   Catch-all

§  Staff trained for innovation

§  Use of formal creativity tool

§  Implementation and use of Idea Management System

§  Structured problem-solving tools

§  Committed resources to innovation

§  Patents/year

Guidance

1.     Pick three to five KPIs from each category that work for your organization.

2.     Ensure you can measure them.

3.     Validate KPIs that drive the correct behavior and achieve the desired outcome.

4.     Test/adjust KPIs as needed.

5.     Share with the community.

We'd love your feedback.  What do you think about the five-minute focus in the last segment of today's show?

Like what you hear?  Leave us a comment or review where you listen to the show.

Check out the show notes on Killerinnovations.com.  We post on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Follow us on your favorite social media site.

Sometimes, life surprises us with moments of reflection. I remember vividly having a captivating conversation with a taxi driver. While stuck in traffic on my way to the airport after hosting a South by Southwest meet-up on neural diversity hiring, he curiously asked about the key to my success. His question inspired me to jot down my 7 rules to live by. Continuing with the Best of Killer Innovations, I share them with you in the hope that they'll assist you in achieving personal and professional triumphs.

My 7 Rules to Live By

Stay connected to the people who matter most.

Keep in touch personally, not just electronically. Nurture deep relationships with loved ones.

Listen more, talk less.

Be genuinely interested in others, actively listen, and ask questions—end conversations by offering help.

Make commitments you're genuinely committed to.

Don't make false promises. If you can't deliver, be honest and find alternative solutions.

Don't get caught up in credit.

Credit will find its rightful owner. Embrace teamwork and acknowledge others' contributions.

Acknowledge and encourage others.

Success is a result of collective effort. Express gratitude and provide words of encouragement.

Handle criticism with compassion.

Pause before responding. Count to ten or wait a day. Choose compassion over rudeness. Seek advice before reacting.

Set priorities based on the "5 Fs."

Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, and Finance. Filter demands based on these priorities.

Now that you have my 7 rules to live by, create your own set to achieve personal and professional success.

Picking up with our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we delve deeper into how to turn a great idea into a tangible product by following a proper execution plan. 

In this episode, we will wrap up the series of shows on the innovation framework known as FIRE. We will discuss the part of the innovation framework known as execution. Execution is composed of making your best ideas into something tangible.

Execution

I have used the FIRE (Focus, Ideation, Ranking, Execution) framework for over 20 years, and thousands of organizations use it. 

·       Focus is defining where your problem area is. 

·       Ideation is the process of creating ideas to address your problem areas. The process consists of individual and team ideation, which, when combined, generates 30% more ideas than when done individually. 

·       Ranking is where you prioritize your ideas. This process is through dot/wow voting and criteria ranking.

·       Execution, the last element of the FIRE framework, is how one turns ideas into innovation—done through two phases: testing and validation and launching the MVP (Minimum viable product). Execution is not easy. 92% of CEOs say innovation is critical to their organization, but only 35% have confidence in executing these ideas.

What to Expect

In my opinion, innovation consists of ideas made real. I constantly repeat one quote: "Ideas without execution are a hobby, and I'm not in the hobby business." At this point, you've ranked your ideas, but need to figure out how to make these ideas a real innovation. Going into this, you won't know all of the answers. Expect a very messy process because there might not be a clear path from point A to point B.

It would help if you were adaptable and ready to learn things. It would be best if you innovated around the idea frequently. Be okay with an unexpected outcome, as the process is an experiment. Innovation projects have to be measured differently than a typical product development project. One of the measurements of success is learning throughout the process. Stay away from innovation antibodies. Innovation causes conflict, prompting these antibodies to come out. These include ego response (stepping on someone's toes), fatigue (people who have tried and failed at it before), no risk response (CFO or legal counsel), and comfort response (we don't need to change).

Steps of Execution

The first step to making an idea real is creating the pitch. The pitch is your way of telling the story around your idea, also known as strategic storytelling. The key is to tell your idea's story so that others see what life will be like when your idea is delivered.

The second step is to create the funnel. There are four funnel gates: market validation, customer validation, limited launch, and global launch. The key here is to convey that not all ideas will go forward. 

·       Market validation is where you ask if the problem exists. One way to do this is through gorilla idea validation. Talk to people you don't know to get brutally honest feedback rather than people you know who might tell you what you want to hear. 

·       Customer validation is where you see if your idea solves the customer's problem.

I use the Michelle test. I would take a product we built at HP, bring it home, and leave it on the counter for my wife. She would take it out of the box and use it, giving it her honest evaluation. Because my wife is not a technology person, I would receive some solid feedback from a different perspective.

·       A limited launch is where you launch in a limited space. I use the buy test to build and advertise a product, putting it into retail stores like a launch. When people try to buy it, you give it to them for free in return for their feedback. 

·       Global launch is where you put your pedal to the metal and push the product out. At this point, you've gone through all of the steps and should have confidence in your product's success.

Summary

This week's show focused on taking all of your ideas and making them real. Many innovators have great ideas but struggle to find funding. There could be an issue with their pitch. Learn and readjust the pitch and understand all the elements that go into it.

When Steve Jobs and Apple worked on the iPhone, the product was ready three years before the launch. They knew they needed to wait for a faster processor and another generation of touch screens. They had the discipline and patience to stay, which paid off in the long run.

I used the lean canvas to help my team stay on track and focused. The innovation lean canvas is in place of a typical plan. It is an overview of the critical areas at a glance, which frequently updates as the product evolves.

Check out the Disruptive Ideation Workshop here to teach your team the FIRE framework.

If you are interested in learning more about execution or want information from previous shows, check out all the free downloadable material I put together here.

Returning to our Best of Killer Innovations series, we kick this week off with a look back at vital innovation skills. This foundation can help beginner and seasoned innovators stay ahead in an evolving world.

What innovation skills are needed to create new ideas and products successfully? Many people often find themselves void of creativity in the innovation world. This stems from a deeper issue. We dive into more detail to discover what innovation skills separate those with limited success from those with continual success. The skill sets that can allow you to be successful no matter your organization type, size, or geographical location all have the same foundational elements.

Self-Confidence in Creativity

The number one skill set I have discussed is self-confidence in your creativity. We were all born highly creative. From an early age, the education system drives creativity out of us. Grade school through college teach children conformity, instilling the belief that acting the same is crucial to relevance. Then, in our professional careers, we are expected to think differently, be more creative, and generate solutions despite sixteen or more years of being drilled in conformity. It's no myth that CEOs recruit creativity. Creativity drives innovation. It's a catalyst for growth in a business. If you are not exercising your creativity and unlocking its potential, you could become irrelevant because of conformity.

Bravery

Another essential skill set is bravery. The opposite of innovation bravery is conformity. You need to go out and apply your creativity. Share your thoughts and ideas. Take some risks. Try something you haven't done before. The fear and feeling of failure a detrimental mind block because it holds us back and kills our bravery. You have to get over the fear of failure to be brave. Step out, get permission, or permit to go, and fail. Go out, experiment, test the limits, break the norm, and be brave.

Seeing with Fresh Eyes

One vital skill set that gets harder to use as you get more experienced and set in your ways is your perspective. Seeing with fresh eyes and having a beginner's mind will guide you to develop breakout products and services. Don't let your area of expertise cloud your vision but come into every new project with an attitude of openness. Every year of experience in your area of expertise can enable you to become more and more closed off to different approaches or new opportunities if you are not careful. By adopting an open-minded approach, you can avoid getting caught up in a limiting cycle of repetitive groupthink.

Ability to Craft & Ask Great Questions

How does one get creative thoughts and ideas flowing? The answer is by asking questions. Questions hold great power. They get people thinking. There are simple 'yes' or 'no' questions, leading questions, and questions you craft to discover. The power of creating and collecting your questions is critical in the innovation world. It will help you develop new ideas and eliminate problems. Coming in as a new leader, I crafted four questions to gain a unique insight. Creating these questions is vital to deriving input from your team, vendors, partners, leaders, and potential beneficiaries of your idea.

Continually developing different ways of asking a question can generate unique discoveries. For instance, if I ask you, "What is half of thirteen?" and you respond, "Six and a half," I would give you an 'A' on a math test, but in innovation, I would give you a 'C.' Why? The reason is that you stopped at the first obvious answer. What if I craft the question slightly differently and ask how many ways you can convey half of thirteen? There are more ways than one, and how creative you can get would surprise you.

To help, I've crafted a card deck that asks questions from various angles to challenge you to think differently. Learning how to reword questions and uniquely ask them will give you a skill that generates new insights. The power of questions is critical in the innovation game. Begin creating, crafting, and collecting your questions today.

Dealing with Innovation Antibodies

One skill we need, but tend to overlook, is the ability to deal with innovation antibodies. When operating in the world of innovation, opposition often occurs. People may feel threatened by your idea for one reason or another. These people act as innovation antibodies, attacking your idea. How do you deal with this issue? No matter where you are in innovation, you will encounter different responses and have to learn to work through them.

Here are the types of responses you will need to work through:

·        Ego Response – The jealousy of your idea comes from an authority position. Share some of the idea/give credit to get around these people

·        Fatigue Response – "I've tried that before." Treat them as an adviser to help your idea

·        No-Risk Response – "That's too risky." Empathize with them and take risks seriously

·        Comfort Response – "We don't need change. We're doing good." Show them that things will not be good forever

Have you dealt with an innovation antibody in your organization? What category would you put them in? Do others call you an innovation antibody? If so, what type are you?

Innovation Attitude

An essential skill set vital to success is an innovation attitude permeating your culture. I use the following easy-to-remember acronym CARE to keep an innovative outlook.

·       C – Candor – freely share your creative thoughts and ideas with others. Be respectful but be honest and encourage openness among yourselves and others. Invite them to act as an innovation antibody, even on your ideas. If you don't share your thoughts and ideas, they don't become genuine innovations—they have zero value.

·       A – Action – Act on ideas that will impact your organization. Take charge to enable progress and lean in. Provide solutions to issues both big and small regardless of if it is your idea. Don't let good ideas become stale simply because it wasn't your idea. Instead, please take action to drive them forward.

·       R – Risk – Understand the uncertainty and risk of trying new ideas. Take calculated risks or act on perceived threats. Get rid of perceived risks—many are not real risks. Learn from experiments and calculated risks. Understand how to manage risks and push forward.

·       E – Empower – Trust yourself and others to make a difference. Feel like you are empowered and have permission. Empower others and encourage leaders to empower—enable permission.

Let's connect; I am on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. If we do connect, drop me a note and let me know. The email address is feedback@philmckinney.com, or you can go to PhilMcKinney.com and drop me a message there. If you are looking for innovation support, go to TheInnovators.Network or want to be challenged to develop the next big idea? Check out our Disruptive Ideation Workshops. Don't forget to join our Innovators Community to enjoy more conversations around innovation.

Resuming our Best of Killer Innovation series, we look at key ingredients to build innovation success for organizations.

Innovation is about translating ideas into products, services, and solutions. Ideas without execution are a hobby.  Is your organization in the business of Innovation? This week's show boils it down to a simple equation. Ideas + Innovation Culture = Innovation Success.  The process starts with ideas and the management of them.  But ideas won't develop and thrive without the right culture.  Core Attributes are about setting the basis for Innovation Culture.  When you set up a good system of gathering ideas and lay a foundation for an innovation culture, innovation success ensues.

Creating Order from the Brainstorm of Ideas

The process starts with ideas coming from many sources.  Then comes the question of how to manage your ideas.  How do you log, track and rank them?  Where are your ideas today in the innovation lifecycle?  What about all the brainstorming sessions over the last few years… could you quickly put your hand on the list of those ideas?  Ideas have value over time.

The Idea Management System, Step By Step

If you believe ideas are the economy's currency, you need to manage ideas as a valued asset for innovation success.  Treat ideas as valuable asset.

What's needed in an idea management system?

Idea capture and tracking

·         It is an easy way to put ideas in the system, track them over time, evaluate them, and link them to other ideas that could grow into something significant.

·         Done by people on the innovation team but also open to other people in the organization who can submit an idea easily – have one place to look for all assets

Idea evaluation – some form of an idea evaluation tool that allows management to assess and look at ideas more closely

·         Does everyone in the organization look at it and vote

·         Use a ranking process like F-Focus, I-Ideation, R-Ranking, E-Execution

·         Crowdsource feedback

The system must allow for Ad Hoc Team Collaboration

·         As people submit an idea, people can search the system to see if someone has a similar idea across the organization – can team up, combine efforts and areas of expertise

·         Social hub of Innovation within an organization

·         Get better ideas – cross-organizational efforts – collaborations that generate exciting ideas

Supports whatever your organization's process is for Innovation

·         The tool needs to match today's and even tomorrow's process

·         Track ideas through the gating process your organization uses

·         Follows phases of Innovation used
A lot of tools out there that force you to follow their process – be careful – you need a tool that follows your process.

Needs to support pausing ideas

·         The difference between a good idea and a great idea is not about the idea.  It's about the timing.

·         Market, customer, organization, and government regulations are not ready for many reasons.

·         The key is you always need the ability to pause the idea – capture it so that you can pause and pull out an idea later when the timing is right

Ability to issue challenges

·         Don't run an idea management system like an electronic suggestion box – ideas will become incremental

·         For breakthrough ideas, issue challenges: carefully worded questions, problems, and areas of interest put out to the general population with some form of incentive for spending time thinking about ideas/approaches that will answer or solve that in the form of ideas

·         Well-constructed challenges (problem statement) generate a wealth of good ideas

·         Gets org thinking – signaling where the org is going, what the direction of org is

My Experience With These Tools

Without a system or tool, you are lost

·         You have to treat them as a valuable asset

Don't restrict access to the tool

·         Open it up to 100 percent of your organization

·         You have to trust your employees

Promote your tool

·         Get people to engage on the tool providing their feedback

·         This becomes the mechanism by which ideas are trained and tracked

·         Promote constantly and consistently

Close the loop with the idea submitters

·         If someone submits an idea, they need to hear back

·         Give them feedback

Think about applying some form of gamification

·         Make it fun

·         Please give them a point or scoring system

Core Attributes

When I took over a new role as CEO, I set out a hundred-day plan looking at the organization and figuring out what made it tick.  I spent a significant amount of time doing one on one interviews with all the key stakeholders.  I asked them four questions:

·         What should we preserve?

·         What should we stop doing?

·         What is it that you most hope I do?

·         What do you expect I do not do?

Ninety-five percent of employees feared that the new CEO would not change anything.  They understood that some things needed to be changed for the company to flourish.  I realized that I had to build the core attributes from scratch. So, how do you do that?  The key is to help everyone understand why core attributes are so important.  What is it the team wants the organization to become?  Core attributes articulate what you stand for.  The ones we came up with are:

·         We need to be passionate

·         We think big and bold

·         We are fast and agile

·         We are a team

·         We unlock individual potential

·         We lead by example

·         We are resourceful

Once you have captured this, you are ready to start the process.  Having the list is the beginning of the process. The senior executives must own this; the senior executives must always control this. We must manage the process to get everyone on board with the innovation culture.  It communicates the process and displays the core attributes.  Instead of telling people these are the core attributes, we published them and invited people to come in as part of group sessions. 

We collected a list of core attributes employees liked and helped brainstorm recommendations for the executive team about how we could live it.  We have included core attributes in our performance management.  Employees are assessed on those core attributes at the end of the year.  The impact on the organization was beyond anything I expected.  It is not a static and never-ending process but develops a practical framework for an innovation culture that drives success.

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations series, we focus on incorporating creativity into all aspects of life. Creativity is a state of mind that can be achieved with practice, enabling you to stand out as an innovator.

Everyone is creative.  Yet some people seem more creative than others.  What do those people have that others might lack?  What's the secret to creativity? This week we talk about finding creative inspiration outside of work.  I'll share my thoughts on what makes people creative. We'll also hear Kym McNicholas interview Tania Katan.  Tania has just come out with a book called Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy into Your Work and Life.  

Finding Inspiration

Humans use creativity every day to solve complex issues.  Some people are more creative than others in problem-solving.  How do these people manage to stay ahead of everyone else creatively?  First, these people are inspired. Find something piques your interest and drives you to go above and beyond, experiment, and learn.  You can find creative inspiration even at work. If you are passionate about your work, you are feeding your creativity.

Practicing Creativity

Another common denominator of creative people is that they practice creativity.  People do not just wake up already skilled at something. They have to practice it until they have mastered it.  Practice can be defined as two things:

·        To do repeated exercises for proficiency

·        To pursue a profession actively

There is a myth that you can't practice creativity and innovation.  You can practice and become proficient. There are many ways to exercise your creative abilities.  There are exercises for the daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly practice of creative skills.  

Talking Creative Inspiration with Tania Katan

Tania Katan shares with Kym McNicholas how people's creativity in their personal life can enhance their work.  Her book, Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy Back into Your Work and Life, examines the impact of bringing personal creative exercise into the workplace. Tania wrote this book because she saw a disconnect between people's creativity and what they did at their jobs during the day.  

Tania says that if you are looking for innovation, you must bring your creativity to your job.  Problems with innovation could be solved if we got our creativity to work. Throughout the book, there are exercises called "Productive Disruptions."  These are creativity breaks. Stanford's study was called the "Walking Creativity Study." This proved that people who went for walks experiencing creative blocks experienced 60 percent higher creativity afterward.  Disruptions and breaks are scientifically proven to help improve creativity. Many people don't enhance creativity because they don't have the right experience or training.  We must break through that barrier and ask "what if" questions. Stop trying to solve problems the same way and try creativity.

Some of the most significant takeaways from the book are:

·        Our job does not have to be uniquely creative for us actually to be creative.

·        We must feel free at the workplace to create a creative revolution inside our bodies, minds, and cubicles.

One of the biggest roadblocks to creativity is the fear of thinking and doing things differently. The best way to get through that obstacle is to face it.  

Picking up our Best of Killer Innovations series, we examine in detail FOBO and how to overcome mental barriers that can hinder innovation.

The fear of a better option (FOBO) can paralyze decision-making. It is also the enemy of innovation.  In this episode, I share four ways to deal with FOBO.

FOBO versus FOMO

What is it that causes that hesitation at decision time? Patrick McGinnis calls it FOBO: the Fear of a Better Option. Patrick describes it as “paralyzed at the prospect of actually committing to something, out of fear that we might choose something that was not the perfect option.” The result is that you get stuck in analysis paralysis and never decide. The sister term to FOBO is FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out. If you miss out, you will not have that one magic piece of data that will give you perfect information. So, our fear of missing out feeds our fear of a better option. The result is saying “yes” to everything. I used to say “yes” to every request to speak or teach, no matter the impact on myself or my family. When you combine FOBO with FOMO, you can be afraid of doing anything. That is FODA, the paralysis that turns into a fear of doing anything. What I had to learn was to say “no.” Breakthrough came when a newspaper article about me forced me to go public with a secret that fed my imposter syndrome.  

I deal with FOMO by creating criteria for myself that help me prioritize the requests for my time and attention.  

FOBO in Innovation

For innovation, deciding to move forward on an idea to commit to resources, such as people and money, is ripe for FOBO. A leader has hesitated to give a team the green light on a project because they are not yet convinced it is the best/perfect idea. No idea is a perfect idea. FOBO could mask a more general fear of failure. But not deciding means zero chance of an innovative idea. The primary objective is to innovate and to do that. It would be best if you tried your ideas. Come to terms with the fact that most of your ideas will fail.  FOBO, fearing a better option, is the enemy of innovation. It is the tool antibodies will use to brush off your ideas.  

FODA (the Fear of Doing Anything)

When you combine FOBO and FOMO, you can find yourself paralyzed, not wanting to commit to anything.

This is FODA, the Fear of Doing Anything. It would be best if you learned to be decisive. Here are four ways to deal with FOBO and not get caught in the trap of FODA:

·         The Ask and Watch method. Patrick McGinnis says to whittle your decision to two options. Assign each item to either the left or right side of your watch. Look down and see where the second hand is at the moment. Taking the final decision when you have two good options out of your control releases you from doubt.

·         Criteria method. Create a clear criterion that works for you. Mine are the Five F’s: Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, and Finances. Score requests on your time against your list of criteria.

·         The Innovation = Ranking method. With innovation, use your funnel and ranking process to create a list of “next best ideas.” These are the ideas based on their ranking score from the FIRE framework. With the ranked lists of your ideas, force a decision that says something like each quarter, and we will fund the idea with the highest score.  

·         The Trust but Verify method. Apply the old Ronald Reagan maxim, “Trust your decision but verify.” If the decision is not delivering the result you expected, then adjust.  

These four ways to deal with FOBO will help you be aware of your FODA and change.  We will never have perfect information and, therefore, will never make the ideal decision.  So, make your decision and move on.  

Returning to our best of Killer Innovations series, we dive into the importance of reading for the innovator and some stimulating books to stir up your creativity.  

Building a library of inspiration in your innovation studio ensures you have a ready source of ideas. This inspiration library can come in the form of a collection of innovative books. I am a visual learner, so reading books is where I often find my inspiration. I will walk you through some essential books and explain why I value them.

My Design Innovation Books

The first book is "Frank Lloyd Wright: A Visual Encyclopedia." I grew up in Chicago, where the author started and became famous. Personally, this book reminds me to create my style. Frank Lloyd Wright separated himself from others. He developed his style and put a different spin on the design of his buildings.

The next book is called "A Pattern Language" by a professor at UC Berkeley, Christopher Alexander. Used by the original Sims game developers, the author breaks down patterns found by building houses, cities, and other buildings. While you can't apply what is in this book and apply it directly to a product or service, the book teaches an important idea. You can generate a certain feeling or experience through your patterns and designs.

"Designing Interactions" by Bill Moggridge is the third innovation book in my library of inspiration. The author focuses on designing experiences and offers important insights into the origins of Google and others.

The fourth book on my list touches on what to do with design, where problems can occur, and how to avoid them. It is "The Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell.

My Creative Innovation Books

The fifth book is "Thinker Toys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques" by Michael Michalko. In my opinion, this is a book that every innovator should have. The book brings together tools, approaches, ways to brainstorm, uses of SCAMPER, etc., that are very useful for innovators. Pretty much anything that Michael puts out, I buy.

Another book is "Six Thinking Hats" by Dr. Edward de Bono." His TV show on PBS introduced me to the innovation and creativity space when I was a kid. Over six or seven shows, Dr. de Bono, taught viewers about unleashing their creativity, which sparked something inside me. The book is a great reminder to change your perspective and keep a fresh mind and is a great piece to have in your library of inspiration.

Fun Books I Keep

Now I will share with you some fun books I keep that make me laugh. The first is "The World's Worst Inventions: The Craziest Gadgets and Machines Ever Made" by Jack Watkins. This book discusses some inventions that have been deemed stupid by many. Ironically, some of these inventions have gone on to be successful after this book was published.

The next book is "Fail Harder: Ridiculous Illustrations of Epic Fails" by Failblog.org Community. This book humorously discusses human failings and reminds us of our human nature.

Resuming our best of Killer Innovation series, we take a deeper look at the contrasting characteristics of coaching and mentoring.

The topic this week is one that I have touched on over the years in various ways. People reach out to me all the time, asking about this.  Coaching, as well as mentoring, often get placed in the same category. In reality, they are different. We will discuss the differences between innovation coaching and mentoring and run through some application scenarios.

Innovation Coaching

Many people often find themselves confused when it comes to coaching and mentoring. They don’t understand that innovation coaching and innovation mentoring are different. Coaching is the most common activity when it comes to innovation.

In general, coaching and mentoring are two of the top five most popular jobs out there. Innovation coaching is kind of like a sports coach. In baseball, a pitching coach trains pitchers to improve their craft. Pitching coaching is just like innovation coaching, as it seeks to help one improve in a specific area based on an assessment. It tends to be limited in duration. Also, it only works best with measurable and tangible improvement opportunities.

A good innovation coach will offer clear direction for improvement based on assessing one’s needs. Coaching can be on the individual level, team level, or for an entire organization. An innovation coach should be able to evaluate and tell you what area you need to improve. They should plan to improve and be more successful in a specific area.

Innovation Mentoring

Mentoring is a less specific and tangible area that looks at the big picture, such as your career. An innovation mentor is a trusted advisor that crosses personal and professional lines and might be with you for many years. They help craft broader goals and the skills and experiences to achieve them. When looking for an innovation mentor, choose someone you can learn from.

 You want one that has achieved innovation success in their career.

Usually focused on the individual, I have also done long-term mentoring for innovation teams. Mentoring sessions are less formal than coaching sessions and are on an as-needed basis. Fees for mentoring most likely come from the individual. A successful mentoring role should last many years and stay constant, no matter if your organization changes.

No fees may be required in rare cases if you become close to the mentor. Don’t expect mentoring to be free just because some mentors might typically do it out of the kindness of the heart. Remember, mentoring relationships require time and transparency to be successful. A mentor can’t do their job if you are not honest with them, and vice versa.

Coaching vs. Mentoring

One of the best ways to show the differences between an innovation coach and a mentor is to run through some scenarios.

First scenario: Your team is struggling to create a pitch for an idea to secure funding from your organization. You must determine the best way to structure your pitch to secure funding. Is innovation coaching or mentoring the best way to aid you?  You could hire an innovation coach in this situation because it is a specific issue you are trying to resolve. You want to find a coach with an excellent track record of helping teams craft pitches. Pay the coach for their work rather than saying you’ll pay them upon success.

Second scenario: Your CEO has asked you to develop innovation leaders within your existing staff. Would this be innovation coaching or mentoring? With a longer-term goal that is not tangible, so in this case, it would be innovation mentoring in a team setting.

Third scenario: Your team is running up against internal and external innovation antibodies (naysayers), and you need help crafting a strategy to win the organization’s support. You need help with a specific issue within your organization, so this is an innovation coaching opportunity. You need a strategy coach to help deal with the antibodies and win your organization’s support.

Fourth scenario: You have decided to improve your innovation abilities and skills to be more successful. This scenario is a textbook case of innovation mentoring. Here you need help establishing your long-range career to succeed in innovation.

Summary

Today, we talked about the differences between innovation coaching and innovation mentoring. As we discussed, there is a difference between coaching and mentoring. Coaching is about solving communication skills, deliverables, executive presence, etc. Mentoring comes with long-term career advice.

My first mentor was my boss at Deltek, Bob Davis. Bob hired me and put me into the first management role of my career. He knew I could be a great software engineer, but as my mentor, he told me I had broader skills than that. I had to put in much extra work to develop myself under Bob’s mentorship. He put me on a career rotation, placing me in finance, marketing, advertising, sales, and IT, which helped me grow. Bob helped me think through my long-term goals and what opportunities I should seek.

Today, I do innovation coaching and mentoring and have done small companies up to Fortune 10. I’ve coached and mentored CEOs, CTOs, and CIOs, some lasting up to seven years.

Check out the Disruptive Ideation Workshop, a long-term investment for your or your team’s success.

Continuing our best of Killer Innovations series, we explore the hidden benefits of successful failures.

For innovation leaders, it is vital to learn how to turn failures into successes. Innovation is all about seeing opportunities others don't see and seizing them. Successful failures lead to successful innovations.

The Importance of Failure

The experimentation phase is within the innovation process often full of failures. These failures are not always negative. When things are unplanned, failures allow us to see what needs change. Successful innovations require risk and a capacity for productive failures, which reveal something new about the problem you are trying to solve. To experience productive failure, you have to fail successfully. Three characteristics help you figure out if your failures are successful.

Three Characteristics of Successful Failures

1. Effort: Firm commitment is a must for innovators, even when others give up hope. Ask yourself, "Did you give your project your 100% best effort?"
2. Perspective: Reflect on what happened during each failure, learn from it, and apply what you learned to future innovations. Ask yourself, "what does the experience teach you about what works and what doesn't?"
3. Inspiration: Experiment failure might lead to lessons about the nature of the problem, inspiring better solutions. They can also teach us something about how we think. Through failures, you can learn how to solve problems better. Ask, "Does this new understanding inspire a new understanding that wasn't there before?"

We kick off a new series where we will be looking at the best of past Killer Innovation shows. This episode is about creative qualities.

Creative people often have a sense of limitless creative freedom and experimentation. Creative genius is a natural part of who creatives are. If you are not naturally creative, you can learn and develop your creativity by applying creative qualities.

12 Qualities of a Creative Person

1. Curious: Creative people are always asking questions/looking for new ideas. They're not content with the status quo.
2. Creative Confidence: Creative confidence is when you know what you are about to do/say/or create is original. Creative, confident people are not afraid to fail because they know it's part of the process.
3. Thick Skin: Creative people must have thick skin, take criticism, reject rejection, stay persistent, and be unafraid of failure.
4. Independent Rebellious Streak: Creatives can't be afraid to blaze their trail and stand up for their ideas. They must find the right balance between their independent, rebellious streak and supporting the team's mission.
5. Flexibility: Creative people need to be flexible. If not, they might overlook new ideas, or you might be unable to adapt to changes a new idea would impose.
6. Playful:Playing with ideas can help break through mental blocks by going outside the box to create new solutions or inventive ways of looking at old ones.
7. Thorough: Creative people are more comprehensive than most because they never stop at the first idea. They always look around at what else they can do.
8. Ambitious: Creatives are ambitiously striving to push the boundaries of what is possible. They crave feedback from others to improve and desire to create something new and unique.
9. Energetic: Creative people constantly move, inspiring others with their creativity and energy.
10. Naïve:Creative people are often naïve about their limitations but can be more creative than others because of this naivete. It's important to balance creativity and practicality.
11. Dreamer:Creative people are sometimes called "dreamers" because they imagine new possibilities.
12. Persistence: Creatives persist in their efforts over time despite any obstacles. Creative solutions result from patience and tenacity.

Are you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? Visionary leaders possess unique characteristics that set them apart from other leaders. They have the confidence to make tough decisions and the creativity to develop innovative solutions. It is their willingness to embrace risks that truly sets visionary leaders apart.

Qualities of Visionary Leaders

Their ambition, creativity, and courage set visionary leaders apart from other leaders. They are naturally inquisitive, asking questions and looking for innovative solutions. Their entrepreneurial spirit drives them to take risks and embrace change.

Let's take a deeper look at these qualities.

Their courage is key, as they must make decisions even when uncertainty or risk is involved. Visionary leaders are not afraid to take risks, knowing that without risk, there is little chance of success. As such, they accept responsibility for their decisions and embrace failure as a learning experience.

They believe that setting one's mind to something can accomplish anything, no matter how difficult it may seem. Visionary leaders push themselves further than anyone else to reach new heights, creating opportunities for others.

Besides being ambitious and having an eye for potential opportunities, visionary leaders possess strong communication skills and empathy toward those around them. They understand everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, making them open-minded about strategies and solutions put forth by team members, which helps build trust between all involved.

Lastly, visionary leaders know when it's time to move on from a specific project or task to progress further, which shows great awareness of internal and external circumstances.

Embracing Risk

Visionary leaders exhibit their willingness to take risks. They understand that to achieve success and reach new heights, one must be willing to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

Risk-taking behavior for visionary leaders can manifest in a variety of ways. For example, they may take calculated risks to capitalize on opportunities leading to more significant rewards. They may also be willing to try innovative solutions or methods that no one else has tried before, as this kind of experimentation has the potential for breakthroughs.

These risk-takers often go against popular opinion or convention to pursue their ideas and dreams. Visionary leaders recognize that sometimes taking the path less traveled is necessary, and they have the courage and conviction to act ‌even when faced with criticism or doubt from others.

Visionary leaders understand that failure is an essential part of the learning process. They don't allow fear of failure or uncertainty to deter them from trying something new - instead, they embrace it as a source of knowledge and growth. They learn from each situation and use it as a stepping stone toward future success.

The Benefits of Risk

Taking risks as a leader is an essential part of developing into a successful visionary leader. To be deemed successful, one must think ahead and anticipate the possible consequences of taking certain risks. For example, if you risk investing in emerging technology that could become popular, you would gain from being ahead of the curve and having the opportunity to capitalize on its success before anyone else.

Learning to identify potential opportunities for growth and success requires understanding risk-taking principles. This involves learning how to manage and minimize risks when necessary. Knowing when it is wise to take a risk and when it is better not to can be critical for staying competitive in the marketplace. Taking unnecessary risks can lead to severe setbacks or failures, so it's essential to understand what could go wrong with any decision before making it.

Leaders who can identify potential risks and opportunities, while still willing to take necessary ones, will come out ahead in the long run. Effective risk management helps leaders make informed decisions that optimize their time and resources and identify opportunities with high potential returns versus those with low potential returns. This allows them to focus on more productive endeavors than simply following trends or relying on guesswork alone.

While some may naturally thrive on taking significant risks without considering the consequences, this is rarely effective in the long term. Leaders must always use their knowledge of risk-taking principles and their understanding of their current situation to make informed decisions that will benefit them both now and in the future. By learning how to manage and assess potential risks associated with any decision, leaders can help ensure that they stay competitively viable while being able to capitalize on potential opportunities quickly before anyone else has the chance to!

How To Take Risks

To start taking risks and reap the rewards, one must first understand how to identify potential opportunities for growth and success while managing and minimizing risk when necessary. With this understanding of both sides of risk-taking, leaders can make informed decisions that will allow them to seize opportunities while mitigating competitive threats.

Calculate Risk

When embracing risk as a leader, the most important thing is to be mindful and ensure that any risks taken are calculated. This means not taking unnecessary risks where the potential upside does not outweigh the downside. To take responsible risks as a leader, taking an inventory of yourself and your organization is crucial. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to determine which risks are worth considering and which to avoid. What are the potential rewards and risks associated with this decision?

-        What is the most likely outcome of taking this risk?

-        Are there any alternative options that might be less risky?

-        How can we protect ourselves against potential losses if things don't go as planned?

-        Is my organization prepared to handle a negative outcome from taking this risk?

-        How do I measure the success or failure of this risk taken?

Decision-Making Process Including Risk

Next, become aware of your decision-making process and how risk factors into it. Figure out what type of knowledge or information you need to make informed decisions about when it is appropriate to take certain risks. Consider investing in data analysis tools or hiring experts who can help you make better-informed decisions regarding risk-taking. Additionally, adopt a learning culture by encouraging others to share their successes and failures when discussing potential opportunities or threats.

-        How can we analyze data to make a more informed decision regarding risk?

-        What tools can help us assess the potential risks of specific actions?

-        Are there any experts we could consult better to understand the implications of our decisions on risk?

-        What have been other successful and unsuccessful experiences regarding managing risk in similar cases?

-        How can we create an environment encourages open communication among stakeholders to make more informed decisions?

Assessing Risk Success and Failure

In addition to understanding when it is wise to take certain risks, leaders should also create processes for assessing each risk's potential success and failure before committing any resources to pursue them. Prioritize thoroughly evaluating new ideas rather than blindly investing resources into unproven concepts that could potentially fail with disastrous results if you do not take proper measures beforehand.

-        What are the potential issues that could arise from this risk?

-        What resources will be needed to make sure this risk is successful?

-        How likely is it that this risk will generate a positive return on our investment?

-        Do we have enough resources and personnel to successfully execute the plan for taking on this risk?

-        What are some alternative strategies or solutions if things don't go as planned?

Have Contingency Plans

Leaders should also ensure they have contingency plans for different scenarios resulting from taking on a given risk. This will help reduce uncertainty while allowing them to pursue more daring endeavors without fear of total failure if something inevitably goes wrong during implementation.

-        What are the possible risks associated with this decision?

-        How can we mitigate each of these risks?

-        What impact will the execution of the mitigation plan have?

-        Are there any potential long-term consequences of taking this risk?

-        Have all stakeholders been consulted about the potential impacts of taking this risk and the mitigation plans?

-        Who would manage and mitigate adverse effects if something went wrong?

Avoid Analysis Paralysis

Ultimately, visionary leaders take risks and are comfortable with some uncertainty. They take on calculated risks based on thorough research and analysis. Still, they don't let their team fall into "analysis paralysis," where they never actually act on anything due to fear of failure. As a leader, it is crucial to make timely decisions that will accelerate progress for the organization.

-        How can leaders ensure their decision-making process leads to action instead of stagnation?

-        What is knowable, and what is unknown about this risk?

-        Are we prepared for unexpected outcomes of taking on this risk?

-        Are there any external factors that may affect our decision to take this risk?

-        How can this decision provide a lasting benefit to our organization, customers, and team members?

Example of a Visionary Leader

One example of a visionary leader who took outsized risks is Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors. Musk has disrupted the aerospace and automotive industries with his bold strategies for ushering in a new era of innovation.

In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX intending to reduce space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. No other private company had ever succeeded in reaching orbit, making this an incredibly risky endeavor. Despite this, he invested $100 million of his own money into the venture and tirelessly worked to develop reliable, reusable rocket technology that could revolutionize space exploration. After several failed attempts to reach orbit, SpaceX eventually succeeded in 2008 when its Falcon 1 rocket became the first privately funded liquid-fueled vehicle to do so.

Since then, SpaceX has achieved multiple firsts. These include sending cargo vehicles to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). They have also launched the world's most powerful operational rocket (Falcon Heavy). Additionally, SpaceX became the first commercial entity to fly astronauts to the ISS with its Crew Dragon spacecraft. Finally, they produced highly reusable technology, such as its Starship vehicle, which could send people to Mars in the coming years.

Through his achievements at SpaceX, Elon Musk stands out as a visionary leader through taking outsized risks that have pushed humanity forward.

Conclusion

Today's ambitious leaders face a challenge - take innovation risk despite uncertainty and doubt, or play it safe? It may seem like uncharted terrain at times, but taking risks has the potential for game-changing success. However, navigating risks requires careful planning to ensure informed decisions. It's vital to assess a situation by looking at the entire picture and considering all factors, from financial costs to potential outcomes.

A successful risk-taker must be willing to take calculated risks, challenge assumptions, and understand that failure is part of any innovation journey. Ultimately, taking innovation risks can lead to rewards far more incredible than playing it safe.

Breaking down barriers to innovation is vital for fostering creativity and advancing progress. Innovative thinking is needed to develop new ideas, products, and services that can help improve our world. As such, it is essential to understand why breaking down barriers to innovation is important and how to do so.

What is a Barrier To Innovation?

A barrier is anything that stands in the way of achieving an innovative goal or idea. These barriers can come in many forms, such as physical objects, regulations, policies, cultural norms, lack of resources, and even beliefs.

Some barriers are real, some are perceptions, and some are self-imposed. Understanding the difference between a real barrier and a perceived one is essential, as this will help us determine how best to tackle it.

How To Overcome Barriers To Innovation?

Breaking down innovation barriers is crucial in fostering creativity and progress. By recognizing the different types of barriers and developing strategies for overcoming them, organizations can create an environment where innovative thinking is encouraged and celebrated. Ultimately, breaking down these barriers will open up opportunities for growth and success.

Types of Barriers

Breaking down barriers to innovate is essential for turning creative ideas into reality. Physical objects, regulations, and policies are the most common barriers hindering the process.

For example, a lack of resources or equipment could limit production capabilities, thus making it difficult to bring an innovative product or service to the market.

Similarly, specific regulations and policies may restrict certain areas of innovation due to safety concerns or industry standards. 

Cultural norms and beliefs can also be significant barriers to innovation. Some cultures may resist change more than others, indicating that they may perceive revolutionary ideas as too risky or inappropriate in those contexts. Furthermore, beliefs such as fear of failure can lead people away from taking risks and trying out new concepts.

The lack of time and motivation can also be a considerable barrier to innovating. Ideas often require extensive research and development before they come to fruition, which can take days or even months, depending on complexity. Ideas may languish without the necessary motivation for this process instead of being taken further.

Finally, financial constraints often stand in the way of executing innovative ideas. Developing complex products requires significant capital investments that entrepreneurs may not access without external partners or funding sources like investors or grants. This means that even if an individual has an innovative idea, they may not have the means to implement it without additional help.

Many barriers can negatively impact innovation efforts if not appropriately addressed. Finding ways around these issues is crucial for turning creative ideas into tangible results - whether products or services - so individuals and businesses must try to break down those barriers when possible to foster progress and advancement within their respective fields.

Overcoming Barriers to Innovate

To overcome barriers, you must first identify them and develop strategies for removing them. This can involve developing processes or tools that make it easier to work around obstacles, creating an environment where creative solutions are embraced, and investing in resources that can help reduce the time spent tackling these issues.

Let's examine the barriers grouped into real, perceived, or self-imposed.

Real Barriers To Innovation

Real barriers to innovation are those that exist in the physical world. These can include a lack of resources or equipment, regulations and policies that restrict certain areas of innovation due to safety concerns or industry standards, and financial constraints.

For example, a lack of resources or equipment could limit production capabilities, thus making it difficult to bring an innovative product or service to the market. Similarly, specific regulations and policies may restrict certain areas of innovation due to safety concerns or industry standards. 

Across the world, cultures differ - with that difference comes a range of attitudes to change. Some may embrace it wholeheartedly, while others prefer slower transitions to preserve existing practices. So when revolutionary ideas come into play, these societies face a vital dilemma: take risks or stay safe? We should all be aware of it, as one size rarely fits all! Furthermore, financial constraints can often stand in the way of executing innovative ideas.

One of the best ways to overcome real barriers to innovation is through process improvement. This can involve implementing new technologies or procedures that streamline operations and creating systems that make it easier for teams to work around obstacles. For example, automation and robotics can replace manual labor, reducing the time needed to complete tasks. Investing in resources and technologies can also give teams the tools required for their innovative endeavors.

Companies commonly use a stage-gate funding model to address financial constraints, where they fund ideas at each stage of development. It can help ensure that the organization uses resources only when it has a high degree of certainty that the idea or product will be successful.

Perceived Barriers to Innovation

Perceptions-based barriers refer to how people view a situation which can influence how they tackle it. These most commonly come from long-held beliefs, assumptions, and norms. For example, many people think that innovation is only for technology-based companies when it's essential for any business looking to stay competitive and grow its customer base. 

Another common barrier is leaders acting as innovation antibodies. People in an organization must be open-minded about the potential of a new idea or concept; if everyone has a set way of looking at something, there may be little room for creative thinking.

To overcome perceived barriers to innovation, one must challenge the traditional ways of doing things. This means questioning the status quo and challenging long-held "rules" or assumptions. Allowing the team to go outside the box and consider alternative solutions is an excellent way to open up creative thinking. An organization can foster an innovative mindset by creating an environment where failure is not seen as a negative but as an opportunity to learn and improve.

Self-imposed Barriers to Innovation

Finally, self-imposed barriers are those explicitly related to individual attitudes toward innovating. Their apprehension may hinder people unwilling to take risks when trying new creative solutions. Some individuals may suffer from imposter syndrome, where they believe they are not qualified enough for the task at hand, which can prevent them from taking action even if they have an idea worth pursuing. Understanding one's mental roadblocks are crucial to breaking through these self-imposed barriers so that truly innovative solution can be found and developed with success.

Beliefs such as fear of failure can lead people away from taking risks and trying out new concepts. Individuals may not continue working on their idea if they lack incentives or motivation, which can ultimately hinder progress despite the shortage of time. To break down these barriers effectively, individuals must address these psychological factors.

To overcome perceived barriers to innovation, people must tackle their fear of failure and find the motivation to keep working on their ideas. Organizations can support their employees by providing resources and guidance to ensure each idea is given a fair chance to succeed. However, some of this responsibility also lies on the individual. Additionally, providing incentives such as rewards or recognition can help motivate individuals and create a culture of innovation within the organization. This will make it easier for people to take risks and give them reasons to keep pushing through failure and experimentation until they achieve success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, barriers to innovation can prevent individuals and organizations from reaching their potential. It is essential to acknowledge the existence of these barriers and create strategies to overcome them.

Breaking down barriers to innovation can lead to significant potential benefits. Firstly, if a business can innovate effectively, it can set itself apart from the competition, build its brand and create a solid customer base. This could lead to increased revenue, market share, and overall success of the organization. In addition, innovation can lead to new products and services that benefit society. 

Lastly, fostering an innovative culture within organizations can help create a more positive work environment for employees, allowing them to feel empowered and valued. Ultimately, breaking down barriers to innovation is essential to business success and social progress. 

Identifying where the barriers lie and finding effective strategies to break them down is vital to unlocking a world of potential.

Creativity is a powerful tool, and many underestimate our creative potential.

Creative potential is your ability to generate new ideas and connect seemingly unrelated concepts to create something unique or solve problems innovatively. It goes beyond simply having an open mind; it is about actively forming connections that lead to discoveries, inventions, and insights.

Many people are unaware of their creative potential and overlook its importance when attempting to reach their personal and professional goals. Tapping into your full creative power requires more than just a few random ideas - you must learn how to channel your inner creativity into meaningful projects.

By learning to recognize existing patterns in your environment, develop creative strategies for problem-solving, and think outside the box, you can unlock your creative potential and achieve tremendous success in all areas of life.

What is Creative Thinking?

As we just discussed, creative potential generates new ideas and connects seemingly unrelated concepts. Creative thinking is the process of using this potential to gain insight into how we can solve problems in innovative ways.

Several elements comprise the fundamentals of creative thinking – divergent thinking, convergent thinking, synthesis, and analysis.

Divergent thinking is separating complex problems into smaller pieces and producing multiple solutions. Convergent thinking is the opposite – collecting information from various sources, analyzing them, and combining them to form one solution. Synthesis requires creative thinkers to combine different elements in an organized manner to create something new. Analysis requires creative thinkers to evaluate ideas objectively by considering their strengths and weaknesses so that only the best solution is implemented.

Overall, it takes practice and experimentation for someone to develop successful creative skills - creativity isn't just about having an out-of-the-box idea. Learning to think creatively can help individuals create new solutions for everyday challenges or seek previously uncharted opportunities for growth and development. It provides a framework for approaching complex tasks in novel ways using logic combined with imagination and curiosity to gain unexpected insights through seemingly simple problems.

Example of Unlocking Creative Potential

One example of creatives leveraging their creative potential for unexpected success is the story of Shonda Rhimes, the creator and showrunner of popular television series such as Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. Rhimes has achieved unprecedented success in the entertainment industry by consistently pushing boundaries and taking risks with her writing. She has been recognized for her innovative approach to storytelling, using complex plot lines and dynamic characters that draw viewers in like never before.

Rhimes was born in Chicago, Illinois, where she began writing stories at a young age. She eventually went on to study screenwriting at Dartmouth College, but after graduation, she found it difficult to find work in Hollywood, but she kept at it.

In 2005, Rhimes' hard work paid off when ABC greenlit her first show—Grey's Anatomy—which became an instant hit. The show blended medical drama with romance and created a loyal fan base that continues today - it has become one of the longest-running medical dramas in history. From there, Rhimes created other hugely successful shows, including Private Practice and Scandal, which earned critical acclaim for their unique storylines.

Rhimes credits much of her success to tapping into her creative potential by staying true to herself as a writer - something that pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable television content at the time - while also remaining open-minded enough to take risks with story ideas and character arcs. Her creative vision has earned her numerous awards throughout the years - proving that through creativity, anything is possible!

Explore Your Creative Potential

Exploring potential requires exercising your creativity by brainstorming, visualizing ideas, and experimenting with different approaches. It also involves challenging yourself to think critically and question fundamental assumptions. Additionally, it helps to take breaks from the task at hand to allow your mind to wander freely so that new connections can be made between seemingly unrelated topics or problems. Finally, it is essential to document any insights you have while working on creative tasks; this will help you track progress over time and provide valuable reference points for what inspires your creative spark.

One exercise you can add to your daily routine that will exercise your creative muscle is to set aside time in your day for free writing, where you let your thoughts flow without worrying about structure or grammar. This free writing allows you to explore your subconscious, see what ideas flow, and develop new solutions to problems.

You can also try taking a break from your routine and trying something new, like writing, cooking, or painting. This helps foster creativity by having you explore different mediums to express yourself.

Spending time away from the monotony of everyday life gives you room for creative thought and exploration. Finally, take time each day to reflect on what inspires you and log these thoughts.

Build Your Support Network

Building a supportive network can be a critical factor in the success of unlocking your creative potential. The support of others who share your vision and enthusiasm can help provide you with additional resources and motivation. Here are some tips that may help you build such a network:

1. Start local: Look to your immediate circle of family, friends, co-workers, or members of your local community who may have similar interests or values to yours. You can also reach out to professionals or organizations related to the topic of your project — they may offer valuable advice and referrals or open up opportunities for collaboration.

2. Network online: Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram are great places to find people with similar interests. It's also important to join relevant discussion forums, industry websites, blogs, and other digital resources related to whatever you're working on so you can stay informed about developments in the field and get feedback from others familiar with the subject matter.

3. Participate in events: Trade shows, conferences, networking events, and seminars are excellent ways to meet potential connections—not just from within your profession, but from outside it too! Attending these events can allow you to connect with professionals in person and through follow-up conversations afterward.

By creating an extensive network within which you can exchange ideas freely, brainstorm collectively, and gain new perspectives on issues that arise during any project development process—you will formulate strategies far more effectively than if working alone—ultimately leading to better outcomes for all involved!

Discovering Areas for Creative Potential

To discover areas for growth and development in creativity, it is essential to recognize the need for personal assessment. Self-reflection can be a powerful tool in uncovering areas of strength and weakness that can help improve your creative potential.

Look at your mindset when approaching a creative challenge or task. Ask yourself questions such as:

·        Am I embracing the opportunity to explore new ways of problem-solving?

·        Am I open to making mistakes and learning from them?

·        Do I find motivation from challenging myself to think differently?

This self-evaluation will help identify limitations or blind spots that may be holding you back from reaching your full creative potential.

Seek feedback from people around you who may have insight into your strengths and weaknesses regarding creativity. This could include mentors, peers, acquaintances, family members, etc., who know what kind of work you do and understand the creative challenges you regularly face. Their perspective on how well you manage these tasks and approach different projects can provide valuable input into areas where you could improve further.

Online resources are available that offer tips on how to leverage your creative potential. These can range from books about creativity techniques, podcasts about design thinking strategies, articles about innovation best practices, and specific tools like mind-mapping software used for visualizing ideas — all of which can help spur new approaches towards tackling problems more innovatively.

Staying abreast of new developments in your field or industry is also essential if you want to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to being creative and finding solutions no one has thought up before. Whether it's reading up on current trends or attending industry events like exhibitions and talks, knowing what's happening will allow you to spot opportunities or inspire fresh insights that help propel your work forward.

Project Diversity Increases Creative Potential

One of the best ways to increase creative potential is to work on diverse projects. Working on different projects can open up new opportunities and provide fresh ideas and inspiration. Here are some tips that can help enhance creativity when tackling various tasks:

Experiment with unfamiliar methods and techniques. Trying something new or outside what's already comfortable can lead to innovative solutions and unexpected results. This could involve experimenting with different software and tools and exploring various creative disciplines such as photography, video editing, animation, etc., if they're outside your usual expertise.

Set challenging goals for yourself to stay motivated when facing complex problems. A clear plan can motivate you to push through roadblocks and strengthen problem-solving skills.

Collaborate with other creatives for feedback and advice. By discussing ideas with colleagues or mentors who are experienced in similar fields or have tackled similar challenges, you'll gain insight into how they solved their problems and benefit from their advice on how you could tackle yours.

Look for sources of inspiration through books, movies, music, art exhibitions, or even conversations with friends—all these activities can lead to new possibilities that have not been considered before. Reading industry news will inform you of the latest trends and ensure you don't fall behind while looking for creative solutions to your problems.

Take on complex projects requiring you to step out of your comfort zone and think beyond what's expected. Doing this regularly over time will build muscle memory (intuition), enabling more efficient problem-solving in the future when faced with challenging tasks.

Conclusion

One last piece of advice I would give is … practice!

Like any other skill, unlocking your creative potential requires consistent effort and practice to achieve sustained improvement. It is important to remember that creativity involves more than just generating new ideas—it also includes taking an idea from concept to reality by organizing tasks, setting goals, and adapting quickly as needed when dealing with unexpected obstacles along the way.

An idea without execution is a hobby. And innovators are not in the hobby business.

With dedication and focus, anyone can unleash their creative potential. By following these tips consistently over time, you will see an improvement in your level of creativity!

Mindful innovation is a way to approach problem-solving from a different perspective. Instead of just looking for quick ideas or relying on existing approaches, mindful innovation calls us to slow down and take the time to deeply understand the problem before attempting to solve it. It also encourages us to be open-minded and seek new perspectives and insights while considering our ideas' impact.

Mindful innovation is a powerful tool for creating positive change in the world.

Benefits of Mindful Innovation

We can create more sustainable and successful solutions by taking a mindful approach to innovation. We can consider the effects our solutions will have on society in the long term and come up with creative ways to address these issues. Additionally, this type of innovation allows us to work collaboratively and draw on the combined expertise of multiple disciplines. Finally, mindful innovation encourages us to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and our motivations, which can be invaluable to innovating.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is being present with an open, accepting attitude and without judgment. It involves being aware of one's thoughts and feelings from a place of non-judgmental observation. Mindful awareness allows us to be more conscious of our internal experience and external environment. Through mindful awareness, we can observe our thought processes and be attentive to the emotions that arise, allowing us to respond more mindfully to our challenges.

Mindfulness helps us become attuned to how we feel in the present moment and how our current thoughts may influence those feelings. Focusing on the present moment instead of worrying about the past or future can cultivate an inner sense of peace and contentment. Mindful living encourages us to take a step back from stressful situations to observe them objectively rather than getting caught up in them emotionally or cognitively. This gives us space to make choices that come from clarity rather than fear or anger.

Mindfulness doesn't just help slow down racing thoughts; it also helps strengthen attention span by re-training your brain's focus abilities over time through regular practice, which has been found helpful for combating stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, mindfulness practice has been linked to improved immune system functioning and physical health, such as lower blood pressure and better sleep quality.

Regular practice cultivates mindfulness, a powerful tool for improving mental and emotional well-being. By being mindful of our thoughts and feelings in the present moment, we can become more aware of how our thoughts and actions affect our well-being and make decisions that come from a place of clarity and compassion.

How Does Mindfulness Relate to Innovation?

Mindfulness and innovation are closely related concepts. Mindfulness encourages us to be present at the moment and open to new perspectives, which makes it a valuable tool for innovators who need to look at problems from different angles and come up with creative solutions. Mindful innovation also allows us to take the time to understand a problem before attempting to solve it, which can help us create more sustainable and successful solutions.

Mindfulness encourages us to observe our thoughts and feelings rather than get caught up in them. This helps us think objectively about a problem instead of being influenced by our emotions or biases. We can develop more creative solutions by taking a step back from the situation and slowing down.

Mindfulness also allows us to focus on the present moment and not be overwhelmed by the future or bogged down in the past. This helps us remain focused on our current tasks, allowing us to brainstorm more effectively and work more efficiently. Additionally, mindful innovation encourages us to consider the effects our solutions will have on society in the long term, giving us greater insight into potential consequences that may arise from our decisions.

Benefits of Mindful Innovation

Mindful innovation can bring a variety of benefits to the table.

Enhancing Creativity & Problem-Solving Abilities:

Mindful innovation sharpens the ability to think outside the box, enabling a more creative and innovative approach to problem-solving. This can lead to solutions that are both effective and efficient.

Improving Decision-Making:

Mindful innovation encourages an individual or team to slow down and evaluate all possible options before making any decisions. This decision-making method equips individuals to make sound decisions that result in successful outcomes.

Enhancing Self-Awareness & Focus:

Mindful innovation encourages individuals and teams to be more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to understand better how they interact with their creativity. This helps them stay focused on their tasks while also allowing them to avoid distractions.

Reducing Stress & Anxiety:

Mindful innovation has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. By taking a mindful approach, individuals can learn to manage their emotions more effectively, leading to greater mental clarity and creative productivity.

Increasing Openness & Acceptance:

Mindful innovation encourages an open and accepting attitude toward new ideas or practices. This enables individuals to be more willing to accept change, which can often lead to faster results in the workplace.

Amplifying Leadership Skills & Responsibility:

Mindful innovation also enhances leadership skills and responsibility. By taking a mindful approach, leaders can better understand their team's dynamics and provide direction that is best suited to achieve success.

Mindful Innovation and Society

Mindful innovation has numerous benefits when it comes to addressing both positive and negative innovation impacts on society. Not only does it help maximize success through creative thinking and exploration, and it also helps minimize risks associated with implementing innovative solutions by being aware of potential pitfalls beforehand and taking steps accordingly. Thus by embracing its power of creativity and exploration, teams can be sure they're doing everything they can not only achieve their goals but also create positive change within society at large.

Mindful innovation encourages organizations to think beyond themselves; instead of simply focusing on short-term profits, companies should also consider how their products and services can improve people's lives and have a positive effect on society in the long run.

This helps create a more socially responsible approach to decision-making and innovation, ensuring that any changes are beneficial for the organization and the wider society.

Mindful innovation emphasizes values-based thinking within teams, ensuring that innovative concepts or solutions align with the company's core values and beliefs. This ensures creativity and integrity when it comes to making the idea real.

When an organization fully embraces mindful innovation, it bridges the gap between technological advancement and humanitarian needs by encouraging organizations to take a more holistic view of innovation which takes into account all stakeholders involved – including consumers, employees, partners, and investors – rather than simply focusing solely on profits or market share. By doing so, companies can ensure they are introducing solutions that will benefit the organization and society.

As such, organizations should embrace their power of creativity and integration to ensure they are developing solutions that can benefit everyone involved.  Mindful innovation is the key to a brighter future for all.

Practicing Mindful Innovation

Practicing mindful innovation is essential for today's rapidly changing business environment.

Cultivating A Growth Mindset:

The first step in practicing mindful innovation is cultivating a growth mindset. This involves the willingness and ability to adapt and accept new ideas, perspectives, and methods. It also consists of openness to explore solutions that can lead to better outcomes.

Standing Out:

Taking a mindful approach to problem-solving allows individuals and teams to stand out from the competition by presenting creative solutions that are both effective and efficient. By doing so, they can set themselves apart from their peers and demonstrate their leadership capabilities.

Encouraging Innovation & Creativity:

Mindful innovation encourages taking the time for exploration and experimentation to foster creativity and generate innovative ideas. This can result in more successful strategies for success and help drive.

Regularly Reflecting And Adapting:

Taking a mindful approach also involves regularly reflecting on past successes and failures to learn from them. This encourages individuals and teams to adapt their strategies for success as the environment changes to remain competitive.

Identifying Opportunities For Change:

Finally, mindful innovation can also be used to identify opportunities for change. By taking a mindful approach, individuals and teams can gain insight into how the innovation environment is shifting and capitalize on any new trends or developments that may present themselves. This helps to ensure that strategies remain relevant and successful in the long term.

The Path to Mindful Innovation

In mindful innovation, individuals tend to the garden of ideas like a gardener, with thoughtful planning and regular maintenance to keep it thriving. Similarly, mindful innovation requires individuals and teams to take a proactive approach to problem-solving and leadership by exploring solutions best suited to their specific circumstances. This allows them to stay ahead of the competition by presenting creative solutions that are both effective and efficient while also staying abreast of new trends or developments that may present themselves along the way.

In conclusion, mindful innovation is an invaluable tool that provides individuals with the tools necessary for maximizing success in today's fast-paced business environment. By embracing its power of creativity and exploration, teams can set themselves apart from their peers while also learning from successes and failures to stay competitive in the long run. Those who fully commit to mindful innovation and fill their path with opportunities will reap its many rewards come harvest time.

In today’s world, innovation is a fundamental component of successful business strategies. It allows organizations to stay ahead of the competition, develop new products and services, and create value for customers. However, scaling up innovative ideas can be challenging because of the complexity of the process and its associated risks.

Taking an idea or concept and expanding upon it to make a greater impact requires focus and effective scaling strategies.

Why Is Scaling Important?

In today's world, it is not enough to have a great idea or concept. To make it successful, organizations must scale their ideas as they enter the market. This could be — reaching a larger audience or market, increasing operational efficiency, generating more revenue, or enhancing customer experience.

Without scaling, the innovative idea will become a niche and lack the impact needed to be considered a success. This lack of scaling will open the door to your competition to step in with their idea and quickly dominate the market.

Common Barriers to Scaling Innovation

One of the major barriers that can stop organizations from scaling up their innovations is a lack of resources. For instance, many companies may not have the capital to invest in new technologies or hire additional personnel for research and development.

Organizations may lack access to talent or have difficulty finding qualified workers with the skills necessary to implement innovative ideas.

Organizations may face structural issues that inhibit innovation, such as bureaucracy, rigid hierarchies, and bureaucratic decision-making processes. These organizational structures often impede creativity and responsiveness, making it difficult for companies to scale new products and services.

Many organizations are unable to respond rapidly enough to changing customer needs or industry trends, and it may leave them behind in terms of competitiveness.

Another barrier to scaling up innovations is cultural resistance. Organizations must create an environment where employees feel comfortable taking risks and innovating without fear of failure or repercussions. This includes fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency so that all stakeholders know the potential benefits and risks involved in scaling up an idea. Without this type of supportive atmosphere, innovative ideas will likely never be given the chance they deserve to reach their full potential.

Examples of Successful Scaling

One example of an industry that has successfully scaled up its innovations is the technology sector. Companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google have created products and services that have revolutionized how people interact with technology. These companies are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation and developing new products and services to stay ahead of the competition. Through their investments in research and development (R&D) they can develop products and services that meet customer needs faster than their rivals.

The entertainment industry is another example of a business sector that has embraced innovative strategies to remain competitive in today's market. Streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video constantly innovate to provide customers with improved experiences and better value for money. These companies rely heavily on cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), to strategically analyze customer data to create tailored content recommendations for each user.

In the automotive industry, manufacturers like Tesla are pioneering a new era of sustainable transportation by embracing innovative ideas for electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla has invested billions into R&D over the past decade to continuously improve its EVs’ performance, safety features, range capabilities, charging infrastructure, and overall driving experience. This company has also been very aggressive with its expansion plans around the world while introducing new features like Autopilot self-driving options into its cars.

Healthcare organizations like Epic Systems have invested significantly into scaling up their innovations to improve patient care outcomes while reducing costs. Epic Systems has developed advanced software solutions to streamline medical records management, track patient health status more accurately, enhance communication between clinicians and patients, automate administrative tasks related to healthcare organizations' operations, etc. All these technological advancements were made possible through Epic System’s large investments in R&D, which enabled them to make huge strides in improving patient care outcomes while keeping operating costs under control.

Strategies for Successful Scaling

Organizations can use several strategies to scale up their innovative ideas successfully.

Developing partnerships with other companies is one such strategy that can help organizations grow and reach greater heights. By collaborating with other companies, organizations can leverage each other’s expertise and resources to develop creative solutions and bring them to market faster. For example, Apple partnered with IBM in 2014 to create enterprise mobility solutions, which allowed businesses to access corporate data on mobile devices securely. This partnership enabled both companies to benefit from each other’s strengths while ensuring the success of their joint projects.

Another strategy organizations can use when scaling up their innovative ideas is open innovation. Open innovation involves leveraging external sources of ideas, such as customers and research institutions, to innovate quickly and cost-effectively. Organizations that implement open innovation have increased chances of success because they can tap into a larger pool of creativity than if they had tried to innovate solely in-house.

Organizations can also use experimentation as part of their scaling strategy by testing novel concepts with prototypes or running pilot programs for new products or services. Experiments allow organizations to examine the viability of an idea before investing heavily in it, which might save them time and resources if the experiment reveals flaws in their approach.

Finally, organizations need to ensure that they have proper processes and systems in place when scaling up innovative ideas so that they don’t experience any hiccups along the way. This includes embedding strong project management practices across teams, setting clear expectations around timelines and deliverables, developing robust communication protocols between stakeholders within and outside the organization, etc. These processes will help organizations maintain control over projects while mitigating potential risks associated with scaling up innovations.

Using Emerging Technologies to Scale Innovation

In recent years, emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have revolutionized how businesses operate and scale their innovations. AI-powered solutions can automate processes and tasks to increase efficiency and reduce costs. In addition, AI can also be used to generate insights from data that can inform decisions related to product development, marketing campaigns, customer service improvement, etc.

However, organizations must ensure that they have the right infrastructure before attempting to leverage these cutting-edge technologies so that they don’t experience any hiccups. This includes having a strong IT team to maintain and manage the systems, adequate data security measures, and robust processes for handling customer data that comply with relevant regulations.

By investing in the right infrastructure and using emerging technologies, organizations can gain a competitive edge when scaling up innovations. This will enable them to stay ahead of the competition while providing better products and services to their customers.

What Happens Once You Start Scaling?

When scaling up innovations, organizations may face several challenges, especially introducing new and potentially disruptive technologies into their products and services.

A key challenge for organizations looking to scale up innovations is the lack of an established framework for developing, testing, and launching successful products. Without a well-defined process for innovation, there is a risk of wasting resources on initiatives that do not achieve desired outcomes or meet customer needs. Organizations must ensure they have the right processes to guide their decision-making and manage projects from conception to execution.

Organizations must also be prepared to manage customer expectations. As innovations are implemented, customers may expect features or functionality that could require substantial investments in time and money. In these cases, organizations must explain why certain decisions were made and what benefits customers can expect from the new product or service.

Moreover, organizations must be agile when responding to changing market demands or customer preferences. Customer needs are constantly changing because of factors such as lifestyle changes or economic conditions, so companies must continually adjust their offerings accordingly while maintaining high levels of quality control. Companies should also monitor reviews and feedback from customers as this can provide invaluable insights on how best to improve products or services over time.

Finally, organizations must develop strategies for ensuring long-term success when scaling up innovations. This includes creating robust systems for tracking progress and performance over time so that any issues can be identified early and addressed quickly before they become major problems. This investment in advanced analytics solutions can help generate actionable insights regarding user behavior patterns, which can inform marketing efforts and product development strategies.

Overall, scaling up innovations requires careful planning and implementation if it is going to succeed in today’s competitive environment.

Example of Successful Scale-Up: Amazon

When reviewing successful scale-ups, one case that stands out is that of Amazon. Amazon began as an online bookstore in 1994 and has since grown to become one of the largest companies in the world, with a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion.

Amazon has been able to scale up its innovations through several strategies successfully. First, they have invested heavily in their IT infrastructure and data security measures to ensure that their systems are running smoothly and securely at all times. They also developed robust processes for managing customer data, including encryption algorithms and two-factor authentication, which help protect user privacy while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

Second, Amazon has been agile when responding to changing market demands or customer preferences. Through its advanced analytics solutions, the company can identify trends in customer behavior patterns, which can inform product development strategies and marketing efforts.

Third, Amazon has invested heavily in research and development (R&D) initiatives which have helped them stay ahead of the competition by creating innovative products such as Alexa or AWS. By staying ahead of technological advances, Amazon can maintain its competitive advantage while providing customers with cutting-edge products and services.

Finally, Amazon has used strategic acquisitions ("innovation by acquisition") to gain access to new markets or technologies, which have enabled them to expand their reach worldwide while still staying true to their core mission: “to be Earth’s most customer-centric company.” This includes the acquisition of Whole Foods Market chain stores throughout North America as well as investments in healthcare technology firms such as PillPack Pharmacy Services, which could help revolutionize the way medication is delivered and processed on a global scale.

Through these strategies and tactics, Amazon has been able to successfully scale up its innovations over time while staying ahead of the competition by leveraging new technologies such as AI or cloud computing services for maximum benefit. As a result, they have become one of the world’s leading e-commerce businesses.

Conclusion

Innovation scaling is a complex and multifaceted process. It requires strategic planning, vision, and commitment from businesses to ensure success. Businesses need to assess the risks associated with scaling an innovation before taking any major steps. They must also consider their current business environment, resources, capabilities, and customer base to determine which strategies are best suited for achieving the desired results.

By understanding how various aspects of innovation scaling tie together, businesses can ensure that they are future-proofing themselves and setting themselves up for long-term success. Ultimately, if approached strategically, innovation scaling can help propel organizations forward while providing them with a competitive edge in their respective markets.

Introduction to Intuitive Thinking

Intuitive thinking sometimes referred to as 'thinking on autopilot,' is based on prior experience and mental shortcuts. It involves using heuristics and pattern recognition to make decisions quickly and efficiently. Intuitive thinking is essential because it allows us to make decisions without pausing for conscious analysis or deliberation. This helps us react swiftly when we don't have enough information or time – which is common in innovation.

One can argue that intuitive thinking is essential to everyday life. It allows us to save energy and make decisions more quickly than if we were attempting to analyze every single detail of a situation. It also allows us to see/intuit things that are not obvious such as solutions to problems others do not see.

Furthermore, intuition often helps us make better decisions than conscious thought processes alone. Studies show that we can trust our instincts in specific scenarios, such as predicting the outcome of sporting events or guessing the answer to a problem before checking the answer key.

Intuitive thinking has drawbacks, however, as it relies upon past experiences, which may not always lead us in the right direction. Personal biases and assumptions may influence and cloud our judgment. As such, we must take time out from relying on intuition periodically and instead use conscious thought processes more deliberately when making decisions.

Example of Intuitive Thinking

An example of a person using intuitive thinking to innovate can be seen in the story of Henry Ford and his development of the Model T automobile. Ford had a vision of making an affordable car that could be used by families, and he knew that he needed an innovative solution.

He began experimenting with different designs and materials until he eventually settled on mass-producing vehicles. However, it was not just the technical specifications that made this decision successful; Ford also relied on his intuition to ensure that what he was trying to achieve would be successful. He believed that people were looking for something new, reliable, and affordable, and he took a chance to create his product line – one that would revolutionize transportation as we know it today.

Ford trusted his gut instinct and went against industrial trends at the time, believing in himself and his vision despite the risks involved. His intuition guided him toward making the right decisions, such as choosing assembly lines over hand-building cars or inventing new tools like wheel molds instead of relying solely on manual labor. Ultimately, these decisions ushered in a new era for car manufacturing – one where efficient production could result in cost savings for consumers without sacrificing quality or reliability.

By trusting his intuition, Henry Ford created an innovative solution to a problem that had existed for years: how to make transportation more accessible and affordable without compromising quality or reliability. It was only after years of trial-and-error experimentation coupled with intuitive thinking that Ford succeeded with his Model T automobile design – leading to one of the greatest inventions of all time.

History of Intuition

Intuitive thinking has been a part of human decision-making for centuries. It is the ability to make decisions based on instinct, insight, or gut feeling rather than relying solely on conscious thought processes, facts, and figures. While intuitive thinking has long been viewed as an innate trait that some people possess while others do not, recent research suggests otherwise; anyone can cultivate intuition through practice and experience.

The concept of intuitive thinking dates back to ancient Greece when philosophers such as Plato argued that all knowledge was already present within the soul and could be accessed if one were willing to trust their instincts. This idea spread throughout Europe during the Renaissance and gained popularity among scientists who saw its potential applications in fields like medicine.

In more modern times, intuitive thinking has become increasingly accepted by academics and business leaders alike due to its efficiency in helping us make quick decisions without being overwhelmed by too much information or analysis paralysis. As a result, many organizations have begun utilizing data visualization tools that allow them to analyze large datasets better while allowing room for intuitive thought processes when necessary.

Our brain programming allows for rational thought and intuitive insight, essential in decision-making processes like identifying growth opportunities or creating something new from scratch. While rational thought enables us to analyze data objectively, intuitive thinking gives us access to subconscious information, which may provide more creative answers than traditional methods alone.

Ultimately, this shows that with proper training and practice, anyone can develop their own unique decision-making style, which includes both conscious analytical and intuitive thinking.  Combining the two makes it possible to make better decisions more quickly and efficiently than ever before.

Types of Intuition

Developing Your Intuition

Developing intuition is essential in improving decision-making, problem-solving, and overall well-being. We can take several steps to nurture our intuitive skills, such as calming the mind, focusing on one goal at a time, trusting our gut feeling, and seeking expert advice.

Calming the mind is critical to developing intuition. We must clear away distractions and noise to listen more closely to our inner voice. Meditation and mindfulness exercises are great ways of achieving this, as they help us become aware of our thoughts and feelings without judgment or attachment. Taking time each day for introspection will help us gain greater insight into ourselves and our environment.

Focusing on one goal at a time also helps in harnessing intuition. When faced with tough decisions or looming tasks, it helps to narrow down our options and prioritize what needs to be done first. Making lists or breaking down complex tasks into smaller achievable goals helps us keep track of progress and focus on the task at hand.

Trusting your gut instinct can also be beneficial when trying to make sense of information or finding creative solutions to problems quickly. Intuition typically works faster than conscious thought, so learning when and how to trust our gut feelings can help us make decisions more efficiently and accurately.

Seeking advice from experts is another excellent way of boosting our intuitive powers. When faced with complex problems that require specialized knowledge or experience, talking to someone who has been through similar situations can give us valuable guidance about what might work best for us in any given case. They may also be able to provide insight into how others have approached similar dilemmas in the past, which could provide valuable lessons for us going forward.

Developing intuition takes practice, but it can be conducive when making difficult decisions or solving complex problems quickly and accurately. Achieving a state of calmness, clarity, focus, and trust in oneself is vital to honing this skill set over time.

When Should You Follow Your Intuition?

Using intuition to make decisions versus more structured approaches has benefits and drawbacks. Intuition can be used in decisions when the situation is complex, abstract, or uncertain, when the decision-maker needs a "sixth sense" to interpret specific cues, or when speed is of the essence. Intuitive decision-making allows us to draw on our experience and knowledge, subconsciously process data, and act quickly in response to changing conditions.

However, there are also situations where more structured approaches are more beneficial. If a decision involves complex information that needs to be understood in detail, a methodical approach will likely result in a better outcome than relying on intuition alone.

For example, if you need to choose between two investments with complicated financial models attached, it would be wiser to take your time and analyze the underlying data rather than rely on instinctive feelings about which option is best. Structured approaches are also helpful when dealing with highly predictable tasks such as budgeting or task management—following a set plan makes it easier to stay on track.

Although intuition can help us make snap decisions in difficult situations, it pays off to reflect before committing ourselves. It's important to remember that intuition is not infallible. Sometimes we lack enough information or experience with the problem at hand for our intuitions to be accurate.

Conclusion

Intuition allows us to use our experience, knowledge, and gut feelings to make snap judgments in difficult situations. The more experiences you have, the better your intuition will likely be, and vice versa. It also helps to learn from those with more experience than yourself by either working with them or having them mentor you.

However, intuitive thinking should always be supplemented with an objective analysis of facts and evidence before deciding. A balance between these two styles allows us to maximize our chances of success by combining instinctive reactions with rational thought processes.

Ultimately, the key to successfully using intuitive thinking is to remain aware of our biases and limitations. By taking a mindful approach to decision-making – considering multiple perspectives, sources of feedback, and potential risks – we can ensure that our decisions are based on sound evidence rather than relying solely on our intuition. Doing so can help us avoid misguided decisions and maximize the potential for successful innovation.

Tom D'Eri, Co-Founder and COO of Rising Tide Car Wash, joins us to discuss the gap neurodivergent individuals face while entering the workforce and how to bridge that gap by changing hiring methods and implementing strategic operations that are inclusive to those with different skill sets.

Prospective job seekers with autism face a massive disparity in the job market. Unemployment rates of this group of individuals are between 60-80 percent. Taking that percentage of people out of the workforce when only 16 percent of autistic people face a significant intellectual disability is holding many businesses back and harming the economy. Tom D'Eri started Rising Tide Car Wash to help his brother with autism find employment rather than be a statistic in a rigid workforce not designed for those facing mental disabilities.

So many neurodivergent individuals are capable and have much to offer employers. A change in how businesses look at people and how teams function must take place for the future of the workforce to become more inclusive, diverse, and ultimately successful.

Barriers

One significant barrier neurodivergent people face is the traditional hiring process. Most businesses are not designed to accurately assess the capabilities of individuals with autism during the hiring process. They don't see past external dissimilarities and can often overlook great talent simply by not realizing that the thought process of a neurodivergent person, though different, is not a handicap but can be an asset to a business. Employers need to reassess their methods to support neurodiversity better. Ensuring these individuals have the tools to be successful in the workplace will further ensure the business's success.

Benefits of Creating a Diverse Team

To better support a nontraditional workforce, Tom believes you do not have to do anything structurally different; you need to do things better. Better communication, clear feedback, and managers who care enough about your employees to make a safe and trusting environment will help a nontraditional workplace thrive. Tom mentions how people with autism are extreme users of organizational systems, which is extremely beneficial to a team because it creates better management skills and processes and provides more communication clarity.

Those who are neurodivergent think differently. People with different thinking styles can help drive a good innovation strategy by bringing a different perspective. Tom believes having diversity of thought on your team is one of the most impactful ways diversity can influence an organization. Not being afraid to try unconventional approaches to problem-solving will push teams in new directions and promote learning and innovation.

Tom's groundbreaking book, The Power of Potential, focuses on how the unemployment of neurodivergent people is an issue that can be solved. There is a need for talent, and there are people who supply that talent in the neurodivergent community. By expanding past traditional systems that aren't built for the neurodivergent community and creating more inclusive and innovative business operations, businesses can unlock vast untapped potential and benefit the lives of those involved.

About our Guest: Tom D'Eri

Tom D'Eri is the Co-Founder and COO of Rising Tide Car Wash, an organization that employs over 90 individuals with autism in a successful car wash business. His entrepreneurial success has led him to be listed on Forbes's 30 under 30 list, and most recently,  he has authored a book, The Power of Potential, on the benefits of a nontraditional workforce.

Check out Tom D'Eri's Linkedin here and learn more about him and his work on his website here. For further information on his book, click here.

Jim Kalbach, Head of Customer Experience at Mural, joins us to discuss innovation efforts in the world of visual collaboration.

Remote work was at nearly one hundred percent during the pandemic, creating a need for effective digital whiteboards. Not only did people need a working space, but also a space for visual collaboration to take place. Since the pandemic, new modes outside of remote work have arisen, such as in-person, asynchronous, synchronous, and hybrid. The challenge has been finding a happy medium these different modes can meet in. Jim Kalbach believes shifting the focus from getting teams remote to ensuring teams can work fluidly throughout these different modes will ensure that teams can collaborate to come up with innovative ideas.

Experimentation and Understanding

Having an experimental mindset is key while concepts are developing. It can be a challenge while experimenting with new techniques and tools, but a willingness to experiment and try different things, along with having patience when concepts don’t work out, is crucial in improving visual collaboration.

As modes for digital whiteboards change, Jim says the key to understanding the new way how things work is having the proper mindset. You have to come in with the mindset that things start and end digitally. Understanding a digitally defined workplace is important because even if you are in person, other parts of your team could be remote. Therefore, it is vital to understand the platforms other team members are using so that things run smoothly.

Intentional Collaboration

Making team collaboration intentional is vital in ensuring your team is productive, creative, and innovative. Coming at situations with collaborative intelligence will ensure your teams have all they need to thrive. Having a methodology that your team follows, facilitating a culture of transparent communication, and understanding that there is room for learning will help teams effectively collaborate while using digital whiteboards.

About the Author: Jim Kalbach

Jim Kalbach is the Chief Evangelist at Mural, a collaborative intelligence company that offers a shared workspace for training on the LUMA System, the practical way to collaborate that anyone can learn and apply. Jim is an expert in the areas of experience design, visual methods, strategy, and remote facilitation. He is a world-renowned speaker, and author of the following books: the JTBD Playbook, Mapping Experiences and Designing Web Navigation.

There's no question that business model innovation is a hot topic in today's business world. After all, who wouldn't want to be the next Uber or Airbnb? But what does it take to create a new and successful business model?

It turns out that business model innovation is not just about having a great idea but about execution and timing. It's also about being willing to take risks and experiment. And, of course, it helps if you have a bit of luck.

So, what does it take to create a new and successful business model? Let's take a closer look.

What is a Business Model?

First, let's define what we mean by a business model. A business model is a way a company creates value for itself and its customers. It includes the company's value proposition (the unique selling point that differentiates it from competitors), the channels through which it reaches customers, the relationships it builds with them, the revenue streams it generates, and the costs it incurs.

In other words, a business model is a company's framework to generate revenue and profits.

To be successful, a business model must be viable, scalable, and sustainable. A viable business model can generate enough revenue to cover its costs and make a profit. A scalable business model can grow to meet demand. And a sustainable business model can be sustained over the long term.

Why Do Business Models Need Innovation?

There are several reasons businesses need to innovate their models.

First, the market is constantly changing, so companies must evolve.

Second, technology is constantly changing and evolving, which means that the way businesses operate also needs to change.

And third, customers are constantly changing and evolving, so companies need to find new and innovative ways to meet their needs.

One will become irrelevant if a company doesn't innovate its business model. Its products and services will no longer be in demand, and it can no longer generate profits. So, it's essential for businesses to continuously experiment with new models to stay ahead of the competition.

How to Innovate a Business Model

So how can a company go about innovating its business model? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as every company and industry is different. However, there are some general steps that companies can take to get started:

1. Define your value proposition.

What makes your company unique? What do you offer that nobody else does? Figure out your unique selling point and focus on developing products and services that capitalize on that advantage.

2. Identify your channels of distribution.

How do you reach your customers? Are there any new or innovative ways you can reach them? Can you use digital channels to reach a wider audience?

3. Build relationships with customers.

How can you create loyalty among your customers? Can you create a community around your product or service? Can you find ways to delight your customers?

4. Generate revenue streams.

What are the different ways you can make money from your products or services? Can you find new ways to monetize them?

5. Cut costs.

How can you reduce the costs of running your business? Can you find ways to automate or streamline processes? Can you outsource tasks or functions that are not core to your business?

How Do You Test The New Business Model?

Once a company has developed a new business model, it's crucial to test it to see if it's viable, scalable, and sustainable. There are several ways to do this:

1. Pilot the new model in a small market.

Testing a new business model in a small market can help you determine if it's viable and scalable. This will help you determine if the new business model is feasible and if it has the potential to be scaled up.

2. Experiment with different pricing models.

One way to test a new business model is to experiment with different pricing models. This will help you determine which pricing structures generate the most revenue. You can also try different promotional strategies to determine the most effective ones. And you can experiment with different combinations of pricing and delivery methods (e.g., free shipping) to see which ones are most popular with customers.

3. Use beta testers.

Beta testers can be invaluable resources in testing a new business model. They can provide feedback on how well the new model works and offer suggestions for improvement.

To find beta testers, you can put out a call for volunteers on social media or your company website. You can also reach out to customers who have previously expressed an interest in your product or service.

Make sure to ask beta testers to provide feedback on various aspects, such as the overall feasibility of the model, the customer experience, and the impact on revenue. And be prepared to make changes based on their feedback.

4. Get feedback from stakeholders.

When testing a new business model, getting stakeholders' feedback is essential. This includes employees, outside partners, and other key stakeholders.

Employees can offer valuable insights into how well the new model works and how it can be improved. They may also suggest how the new model can be adapted to meet the company's needs better.

Outside partners can provide feedback on how the new model affects their business and whether they see the potential for collaboration. They may also have ideas for marketing the new product or service.

Other stakeholders may have insights into how well the new model works and what changes (if any) need to be made. Gathering feedback from all these stakeholders will help you ensure that the new business model is successful.

5. Monitor results closely.

When testing a new business model, it's important to track key metrics, such as sales, profits, customer satisfaction, and engagement. This will help you determine if the new model is successful, needs to be adapted, or should be scrapped altogether.

Barriers to Innovating the Business Model

When it comes to innovating a business model, organizations face several common barriers. These include:

1. Lack of resources.

Developing a new business model can be costly and time-consuming, and companies may not have the financial, human, or technological resources to invest in creating a new model.

This can be a significant obstacle for companies that want to stay competitive and keep up with the latest trends in their industry. Without the necessary resources, it can be challenging to come up with a new business model that's viable and scalable.

2. Resistance to change.

An organization's resistance to change can be a significant barrier to business model innovation. This is because the new model may be very different from the old one and may not fit with the company's existing structure or culture.

If there is resistance to change from within the company, it can lead to conflict and delays in implementing the new model. It can also hamper the company's ability to take full advantage of the new business model's potential.

Organizations must embrace change to innovate their business model successfully. This includes being open to new ideas and willing to make changes.

3. Fear of failure.

Many companies are reluctant to experiment with new models because they fear failing. They see it as a risk and are unwilling to take that risk. This fear can keep companies from exploring new opportunities and reaching their full potential.

There are a few ways to overcome this fear.

First, companies must understand that failure is a natural part of innovation.

Second, they need to create a culture of experimentation where it's okay to fail.

 And third, they need to have a clear plan for how they will learn from their failures.

4. Lack of creativity/innovation.

Some companies may not have the creativity or innovation skills to develop a new business model. This can make it difficult for them to create innovative solutions that will help them stay competitive in today's market. Without creativity and innovation, companies may be limited in developing new and innovative ideas.

If a company lacks creativity and innovation, it may need to invest in training or hiring new employees who have these skills. It's also crucial for companies to create an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. This includes open communication, inspiring new ideas, and allowing employees to experiment. One option is to consider securing the services of an Innovation Agency that can bring innovation skills and expertise to your efforts.

5. Complexity/overwhelming choice.

Complexity and overwhelming choice can be a barrier to innovating the business model because it can be difficult for companies to stand out from the competition. To successfully innovate their business model, companies need to create a unique offering that is different from what their competitors offer. However, with so many choices available to consumers, it can be difficult for companies to stand out and attract customers with their new business model.

Another challenge that companies face is that the market is constantly changing. What may be popular today may not be popular tomorrow. So, to keep up with the latest trends and stay competitive, companies must continually innovate their business model. This can be daunting, especially if the company lacks creativity or innovation skills.

Examples of Business Model Innovation

There are a few ways to innovate your business model. You can either pivot your existing model or create a new model altogether. Pivoting your model means changing your current model to make it more effective. On the other hand, a new model is an entirely new way of doing business and may not have anything in common with your current model.

Several factors contribute to the success or failure of innovating your business model. Below are a few examples of successful and unsuccessful business model innovations.

Successful Business Model Innovation

1. Apple

Apple is a prime example of a company that has successfully innovated its business model. They've been so successful that they've created an entire industry around themselves. One reason for their success is that they've always been willing to experiment and take risks. For example, when they first introduced the iPhone, many skeptics didn't think it would be successful. However, Apple overcame these challenges and became one of the world's most popular smartphones.

2. Amazon

Another successful company that has innovated its business model is Amazon. They were one of the first companies to introduce online retailing and change how consumers buy products. They've also successfully diversified their business into other areas, such as cloud computing and streaming media. Amazon has stayed competitive by continually innovating its business model and exploring new opportunities.

3. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is another company that has successfully innovated its business model. When they first started, they faced many challenges, such as high operating costs and competition from other airlines. However, they overcame these challenges by introducing low-cost fares and becoming the first "no-frills" airline. This allowed them to compete with the more prominent airlines and eventually became one of the largest airlines in the United States.

Unsuccessful Business Model Innovation

1. Blockbuster

Blockbuster is a perfect example of a company that failed to innovate its business model when it needed to most. Many don't know that Blockbuster was one of the first video streaming services. It launched in January 2002, but with limited consumer broadband, the market for this business model innovation was way too small to be sustainable, and they gave up on the service soon after its launch. When Netflix introduced online streaming, Blockbuster didn't react quickly enough, given its earlier attempt, and ended up going out of business altogether.

2. BlackBerry

Another company that failed to innovate its business model is BlackBerry. When they first introduced the BlackBerry smartphone, it was a revolutionary product that changed how people communicate. However, they failed to keep up with the competition and eventually lost market share to companies like Apple and Samsung. BlackBerry could not adjust its business model quickly enough to keep up with the changing market, so it went out of business.

3. Toys "R" Us

Toys "R" Us is another example of a company that failed to innovate its business model. They were the go-to store for toys and children's products when they first started. However, they could not keep up with the times and eventually lost market share to online retailers like Amazon. Toys "R" Us could not adapt its business model to the changing market, resulting in bankruptcy.

Surviving and Thriving

Business model innovation is a critical component of success for any organization. However, it's not always easy to achieve success. A company must be willing to experiment and take risks to succeed. They must also be able to adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

While most organizations think they have the innovation skills and resources in the heat of competitive battle, some organizations cannot maintain the pace of change required to survive and succeed. This is often because they lack the agility to pivot their business model in response to market changes quickly. As a result, these companies find themselves at a significant disadvantage and eventually go out of business.

To avoid this fate, companies must continually invest in innovation and ensure they have the necessary resources and capabilities to succeed. Companies can survive and thrive in today's competitive marketplace by constantly pushing themselves to be better.

Sandra Howe, an award-winning technology expert, joins us to discuss the effectiveness of pairing good timing with collaboration.

The need for innovators willing to work with each other rather than against is progressing. Thanks to the swiftly changing technology market. The necessity for broadband internet is ever-increasing, especially in recent years, due to people’s increased need for it during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the elasticity of the industry, Sandra stresses the importance of having a hub of innovators to discuss key aspects of leadership, standards, and new technologies.

Experimentation and Adaptability

The difference between a good idea and a great idea is rarely the idea but rather the timing. Companies often choose the wrong time to release new products or services. Poor timing can be detrimental to a good idea. Paired with having the right timing is engaging in effective collaboration. Having a good team or partnership to discuss and adequately vet an idea or product through trials and experimentation is vital. Using these trials to learn what adjustments need to be made or how consumers react is critical for success.

Sandy says that the best way to prepare for the unexpected is to perform trials, listen to consumers, and make the necessary adjustments based on the findings. Being persistent and taking the time to listen goes a long way.

Being able to adapt quickly is critical in the changing market. With the constantly changing market, it is incredibly challenging for companies to stay ahead of the curve. Sandra advises innovators to keep things simple, listen to consumers, and be willing to adjust to their demands.

About our Guest: Sandra Howe

Sandra Howe currently serves as an Independent Director on the Minim board of directors, as well as the Chair of The WICT Network Global Board, the board of directors for NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, and the board of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) Foundation as an advisor on the investment committee. Sandra is also a former Technetix EVP. Sandy graduated from Pennsylvania State University and has received numerous industry awards: Cable TV Pioneers, Multichannel News’ Wonder Woman, CableFAX’s Top Women in Technology, The WICT Network Carolinas Carol A. Hevey Leadership Award, and NAMIC Carolinas EPIC in Technology.

Benchmarking is the comparing of your organization to others to measure your performance and possibly identify areas for improvement. It has been common practice since the early 1900s. Frederick Taylor, an American mechanical engineer, is credited with coining the term “benchmarking” in his book, The Principles of Scientific Management. Benchmarking enables continuous learning and improvement by identifying those that are having an impact and change and following them. These learnings and improvements can nurture the innovation success of your organization. Benchmarking helps you understand how you compare to others in your industry, making it easier to identify the best practices. For example, benchmarking enables you to identify the companies that use the best technology, the fastest production time, or the lowest costs. Whatever the measurement of success you define in your benchmarking activities, a benchmarking study can help an organization's managers make strategic decisions. It may also provide some insights into where to allocate your corporate resources. A common part of the data that gets collected in benchmarking is headcount. All kinds of weird metrics come out of this, such as dollars per revenue. While this is all good, there are also some challenges that we're going to discuss.

In general, benchmarking could prove useful in business units where benchmarking data reveals which competitors are performing better than others. However, before benchmarking, you must first conduct research to know who to benchmark against. You want to benchmark peers that are similar to you. You don't want something unrelated, such as comparing a software company to a steel manufacturer. You want something similar. Similar peers could be in the same industry, have similar sizes, or they could be selling and servicing in a consistent geographic area. It can be tempting to say we want to be more like Silicon Valley. If a restaurant in Milwaukee benchmarked itself against the leading companies in Silicon Valley such as Apple, Google, or HP, that comparison would be meaningless.

Benchmarking Failures

Benchmarking has been around for quite some time, and it has some strong benefits, but there are bad that can come from benchmarking as well. The key here is that benchmarking can have negative consequences if done wrong. For example, if you benchmark against peers who are poorly chosen, it is not going to work. This can lead to bad decision-making and can destroy organizations. Therefore, it is important to handpick your benchmark peers to get accurate insights. For example, in the late 90s and early 2000s, MCI WorldCom, a major telecom company in the United States, was reporting results far better than any of its peers. AT&T and others attempted to benchmark themselves to find out how MCI could have a such standout performance. This resulted in the industry changing its strategies and its investment models to chase the MCI WorldCom results. While their competitors tried to play catch up, MCI WorldCom continued to report surprising results. That is until authorities revealed that MCI WorldCom was practicing fraudulent accounting practices. They overshowed the revenue streams, and they misallocated expenses to make their results look good.

People had made decisions based on a benchmark against somebody who looked like they were performing outstandingly. To compete with how MCI was performing, they changed how they operated. MCI WorldCom eventually went bankrupt, but AT&T survived unscathed. They had size, scale, and all the capabilities. However, others in the industry got trapped in the benchmark. They made bad decisions, just like a company that I was at called Teligent. I was one of the original five founders of Teligent, and we got wrapped up in it. We were a competitive local exchange carrier, or what was called a CLEC at the time. We looked at MCI’s results and wondered how they were able to deliver those kinds of results. We made decisions to try to drive a performance level the same as MCI WorldCom. Eventually, Teligent ended up in bankruptcy, but I was long gone at this point. Because Wall Street was pounding on every telecom company in the industry to reach those same-level results, fast-paced innovation was essential. People made bad decisions because of a bad benchmark, and that bad benchmark was a result of fraud.

The Benchmark Trap

As a leader, whatever your role may be, odds are one of the big four consulting firms have either approached you, your CEO, or your board of directors to do an innovation benchmark on your organization. If not, count yourself lucky. If you have done an innovation benchmark, you know the nightmare this can cause for your organization. These engagements are all about comparing how an organization's innovations compare to each other’s innovation processes, approach, culture, etc. But why has this become such a hot consulting offer? Leaders in most organizations are feeling very uncertain about innovation. This may be due to their lack of ability to come up with new ideas, or because of their historical inability to implement new ideas successfully. An organization may be able to come up with an idea, but most organizations historically struggle with making those ideas real. How big of a problem is this and what are the consultants zeroing in on? There was a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit that found that only 38% of executives said their organization was, “very good at turning innovative ideas into commercial success”. When these kinds of studies come out, consultants are all over it. They quickly create a consulting service to ‘fix the problem’.

The problem is that only 38% of executives feel very good about their ability to turn innovative ideas into commercial success. When leaders benchmark their innovative approach to others, they're trying to benchmark themselves out of uncertainty and into comfort. They're uncertain because they aren't doing very well. They want to see how other people do it which causes them to try to copy the 38% to be successful. This is part of what I refer to as the benchmark trap. A single organization’s benchmarking engagement does not stand on its own because you don't benchmark against yourself. If you benchmark your organization's ability to turn out new ideas into commercial success, you are also benchmarking the quality of your peers who have been benchmarked before. You have to have somebody to benchmark against. This is the service that consultants sell. If you’re company A, and consultants have done a benchmark for Company B or Company C, they’ll do a comparison so you can determine how well you stack up. Leaders are looking for ways to stack themselves up, so they feel comfortable. However, when you benchmark yourself against competitors or industry best practices, the results will be that you become exactly like them in terms of innovation performance.

When you benchmark, you're either trying to compare yourself or you're adopting what is viewed as their best practice to you. This drives everybody in the industry to converge towards the mean in results. You're not going to be the leader. You're going to be me too. It's one of the things I always hated when I was in one of the big six consulting firms. I used to run the telecom consulting practice at Computer Sciences Corporation back in the early 90s. One of the things that we sold was benchmarking, but we also did process reengineering, consulting work, etc. We pushed on this concept of benchmarking, and I traveled all around the world and did these benchmarks. While you're selling it to the leaders, the leaders, therefore, get comfortable because they've got a document they can put in front of their board of directors, investors, or shareholders to show they’re just as good or better. As more and more companies within an industry or area focus on benchmarking and adopting best practices, everybody starts to look the same. If Company A has a best practice on innovation, and everybody copies that best practice, assuming that you can copy someone's best practice and be just as effective, you all start to look the same. I think best practices are the stupidest concept ever invented. Over my years of talking companies into doing best practices, I've seen the impact. It makes everybody average, and everybody looks the same. There is no ability to have to stand-up performance when you've adopted the same practices, approach, and strategies as everybody else. No matter how high or how low your original benchmark is, you may have been an absolute leader in sales or innovation if you hadn’t followed other’s benchmarks.

The Dangers of Comparison and Comfort

 Innovation in benchmarking can be a powerful tool. It can bring benefits when done correctly. But it can also lead companies astray if it's not handled correctly. Let’s discuss some of the consequences of innovation benchmarking. Firstly, leaders run unnecessary risks trying to replicate the benchmark results exactly. We find areas where somebody else is better than us which causes us to want to replicate and adapt it. Why is this a problem? Because benchmarking typically involves leaders looking for insights and inspiration from benchmarking peers. The benchmarking experience is often oversimplified down to exactly what people did, how they did it, when they did it, etc. If they don't, it's a black box. It's oversimplified, and it's not enough detail to where you can duplicate it. We tend to focus on why they did all these different things. Firstly, you don't have all the details, because there are things inherently behind the scenes, and secondly, you’re thinking it's a formula. As a result, this can lead companies to take unwarranted financial, strategic, or organizational risks. When you're trying to replicate the benchmark experience of a peer, that experience is often unique to the peer. There's a lot of history in an organization that is not captured in the benchmarking activity. Be careful when leaders run unnecessary risks trying to capture the magic formula of a benchmark.

The second consequence is that leaders may benchmark themselves out of uncertainty and into comfort without realizing it. When leaders take benchmarking too far, it leads to what I call the comfort trap. Leaders can miss new opportunities and threats that emerge in the market when they unknowingly benchmark themselves into comfort. While you are looking for insights from your peers, it's important to keep in mind that what works for them, may not work best for your organization. You may have a unique value proposition, a different competitive environment, different costs, or brand equity. Be careful you don’t cherry-pick those things that either make you look the same or slightly better, but no worse than your competitors.  

The third consequence is that leaders benchmark their competitors rather than taking a fresh look at their innovation approach. This is probably the one that frustrates me the most. I get calls all the time from people who read my book or who have taken the innovation bootcamp, asking why it's not working for them. Be careful, take, what somebody else is doing in the innovation approach is not something you can replicate. They failed to take a fresh look at their innovation approach. They fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others who are not their innovation peers. You want to understand and find people who are innovating, that are similar to you, and not to duplicate or replicate, but adapt to what would work for your organization and your culture. If you're just looking to copy somebody else's innovation process, it will lead to bad decision-making that can destroy your organization. When you benchmark your competition, whether, from other industries, geographies, size, scale, etc., you automatically compare yourself to others who have been successful in completely different strategies for innovation success than yours. Attempting to imitate them will lead to failure.

Example: Picking the Wrong Peer

Here’s a personal example to drive the message home. When I was CTO at HP, the CEO, Mark Hurd, had a quote that was ingrained in everything the executive team did. “If you stare at the numbers long enough, they will eventually confess”. Mark established a culture he referred to as “extreme benchmarking”. This required every leader at HP to know the key benchmark metrics for each competitor and to have a plan to meet or beat the competitor's benchmark results. There was a lot of pressure from the benchmark numbers being compared to your competitors. If your numbers were not better than theirs, then you weren't running your part of the business appropriately. You had to be prepared to answer a question from Mark, walking down the hall asking, “what were the last quarter's benchmark results for XYZ competitor? And how and what is our current?” It was insane. The result was more than a few poor business decisions on the part of HP.

One example that I was directly involved in was the cutting of HP’s investment in innovation and R&D, to match the spending of our Asia Pacific-based competitors. Now, to give you some context, HP was spending roughly 3% of product revenue in the PC group on R&D. This included both consumer and commercial business products. To compare, Apple was spending about 9% of product revenue in the R&D group. The peer that Mark was forcing us to compare against, in our Asia Pacific base competitors, was spending 0.8% of product revenue on R&D. There was constant pressure to cut resources or move things like engineering offshore to get the benchmark closer to our peer. And let me tell you, the pressure was intense. This is the perfect example of picking the wrong peer. In the case of all my conversations with Mark Hurd, it was all about this Asia Pacific competitor. I wanted three times the R&D budget so that I could compete with Apple. That was my logical argument. Mark wanted 3% of my revenue on R&D spent down to less than 1%. I pushed back hard on this approach. My one regret was not pushing back even harder or finding a way to convince Mark and others of the folly of this approach.

Now you would think with my role and personal passion for innovation, I would have been able to figure this out. Nope, I failed, and it is one of the few regrets from my time as CTO at HP. Now, whenever someone says the word benchmark, my antenna goes up. Whenever you are thinking about doing any kind of comparison, understand the context of the information. Ask yourself if that somebody or thing is a good comparison. I spent almost 10 years in one of the big six consulting houses convincing others to do benchmarks. I've been on the other side of the table, and I'll be the first to admit, that was bad advice. Given it was the most popular advice, it was the advice everybody was giving at the time. In reality, you cannot just duplicate what somebody else is doing. You have to deeply understand the context behind what you are attempting to benchmark against.

Conclusion

The best way to avoid falling into the innovation benchmark trap is not to benchmark for benchmark’s sake. Instead of getting caught in this trap, learn from your peers. Don't assume that what worked for them will work for you. You need to have some discernment as to what would work and what to ignore. If you follow blindly, your organization will become average, or worse, will be destroyed. Instead, look at what your peers are doing and ask yourself two questions: “Why are they innovating that way?” and “what can we learn from that approach?”.

It is critical to get inside the mind of your innovation peer that you've identified and understand their thought process and discern what of their approach is worth you're experimenting with. Don't adopt at wholesale, find the elements that work and experiment with them. Otherwise, your organization may drive itself right off the innovation cliff.

Innovation is often lauded as the key to success in business. After all, staying ahead of the competition is hard if you're not constantly coming up with new ideas and ways to improve your products or services. But is every idea you come up with a good thing? Is there such a thing as being too innovative?

To keep yourself honest, you may consider appointing a devil's advocate.

The Devil's Advocate is a popular movie from the 1990s that tells the story of a lawyer hired to argue against a candidate for a high-ranking position in the Vatican. The lawyer's job is to poke holes in the candidate's qualifications and to find any dirt that might disqualify him. While the movie is fictional, the idea of a Devil's Advocate is accurate, and it's something that companies sometimes use when considering new ideas. The aim is to have someone whose job is to argue against the proposed idea, to improve the idea by making sure that all potential problems with it are discussed and addressed.

Definition of a Devil's Advocate

The term "Devil's Advocate" comes from the Catholic Church. In canonization, the process of declaring someone a saint, there is a Devil's Advocate (advocatus diaboli) whose job is to argue against the candidate's sainthood. If the Devil's Advocate can't find anything wrong with the candidate, they probably deserve sainthood.

Why Companies Use Devil's Advocates

There are a few reasons companies might use Devil's Advocates.

First, it can help to prevent groupthink. When people work on a project together, they quickly get caught up in thinking that their idea is great and should be implemented immediately. Devil's Advocates can help to forestall this by giving other people a chance to voice their objections and to point out any potential problems with an idea.

Second, it can help to ensure that all the stakeholders are on board with a decision. When considering a new idea, it's essential to get input from all affected by it. The Devil's Advocate can help ensure everyone's concerns are considered before a decision is made.

Third, it can help to ensure that a decision is well-reasoned and thought out. When you're considering a new idea, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of it and start thinking about all of the ways that it could be successful. But it's also important to consider all of the ways that it could fail. The Devil's Advocate can help to make sure that you're thinking about both the potential positives and negatives of a decision before you make it.

The Drawbacks

There are a few potential drawbacks to using Devil's Advocates, as well.

First, it can lead to decision paralysis. If you're considering a new idea and you have someone whose job it is to shoot it down, it's easy to get caught up in all the potential problems and never actually decide to go forward or kill it.

Second, it can frustrate the people who are working on the project. If you're constantly being shot down by someone whose job it is to find fault with your ideas, it can start feeling like your work is never good enough.

Third, it can lead to a negative work environment. If people feel like they can't share their ideas without being shot down, they may stop sharing them altogether. This can lead to a work environment where people are afraid to take risks and where new ideas never get a chance to be heard.

Overall, there are both positive and negative aspects to using Devil's Advocates. It's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding whether to use them on a project.

How To Properly Use a Devil's Advocate

If you decide to use a Devil's Advocate on a project, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

First, it's important to make sure that everyone understands the role of the Devil's Advocate. The person identified as playing this role should not be trying to kill the idea outright; their goal should be to make sure that all the potential problems with it are considered.

Second, it's important to give the Devil's Advocate enough time to do their job. If you're considering a new idea, you shouldn't just shoot it down as soon as someone objects. Take the time to consider all the objections and to see if any valid points need to be addressed.

Third, it's important to make sure that the decision-makers are the ones who ultimately decide. The Devil's Advocate can provide valuable input, but they shouldn't be the ones making the final decision. That should be left to the people who are responsible for implementing the idea.

Devil's Advocate as A Passive Aggressive Response

When someone starts a statement with "I'm just playing Devil's Advocate," it is usually a sign that they are about to say something which they know is going to be controversial. It's a way of trying to distance themselves from the idea in a passive-aggressive way. The problem with this approach is that it rarely leads to productive discussion. The individual will raise objections to an idea but instead of providing constructive criticism, they will nitpick and try to find fault with everything. The effect is to shut down the conversation because people feel like they are being attacked. It can also make the person who is playing Devil's Advocate look like they are just trying to be difficult for the sake of it.

If you find yourself in a discussion with someone who is playing Devil's Advocate, remind them the role is a formal one and if they are volunteering for it, they need to play by the rules. If they are just trying to be contrarian, close down the conversation.

10 Rules for the Devil's Advocate

Being the Devil's Advocate can feel like being on a debate team. In debate, you are given a position and you must argue for it, even if you don't agree with it. The same is true of being a Devil's Advocate; you have to be willing to take on the role and argue for the other side, even if you don't agree with it.

Here are ten rules that will help you be a better Devil's Advocate:

1. Present an argument against a proposal or idea, without necessarily believing in that argument.
2. Identify and explore potential problems and objections to a proposal or idea to improve it.
3. Provide alternative perspectives and challenge assumptions.
4. Force people to think about an issue from all sides and consider all options.
5. Encourage critical thinking and healthy debate.
6. Ensure that all ideas are given a fair hearing before a decision is made.
7. Act as a check against groupthink, where people go along with the majority opinion without question.
8. Be open-minded and objective, without being wedded to any particular position.
9. See both sides of an argument and understand different points of view.
10. Be willing to change their position if the evidence or arguments presented are compelling enough.

Examples of How Devil Advocates Are Used

Over the years, many organizations have leveraged the idea of a devil's advocate to improve their decision-making processes.

For example, the U.S. military has long used Devil's Advocates to help improve their decision-making. Before a new policy is implemented, they assign someone the role of Devil's Advocate and their job is to find any potential problems with the policy. This helps to ensure that they consider the potential risks before they decide.

Another example of an industry that uses devil advocates is journalism. They are used to making sure that they consider all sides of a story before it is published. This helps to ensure accuracy and avoid any potential libel issues.

The legal profession also uses devil advocates. Lawyers will use them to consider all the potential arguments that could be made against their case. This helps to ensure that they are prepared for anything that could happen in court.

Final Thoughts

Just as a church provides a place for people to come together to learn, discuss, debate, and think, so too does the Devil's Advocate provide a space to discuss, debate, and critically think about an idea. The Devil's Advocate can help improve the efforts of an organization by ensuring that all options are considered before any decisions are made.

Here is the last interview from my time at the Cable Tec-Expo Show in Philadelphia. Collin Howlett, the CTO of Vecima, joins us to discuss the acceleration of innovation in the cable industry.

Collin Howlett of Vecima on the Pace and Sources of Innovation

Predicting the future grows more challenging as the pace of innovation accelerates. Customers are deploying innovations at faster speeds than ever. Most cable operators are now mobile operators, with their focus fixed on fiber. At CableLabs, we are showing coherent optics at 50,000 gigs over a single strand. While this mind-blowing capacity may not be needed now, it will no doubt be needed in the future.

Hardware to Software

With the pace of the broadband industry increasing, necessary transitions are occurring. As the network transitions from hardware to software, engineers must develop a different skill set. This is leading to a shortage of people who understand both software and hardware. Collin emphasized the importance of knowing where to put certain parts of the technology while understanding the software and hardware division.

Some hardware has been out there for 30 years, and the companies that created it are now gone. Its valuable to build hardware that is generic and can be developed over time. It’s vital to build software from a modular perspective.

Many of the technologies deployed today will greatly affect our predecessors. We must think about the unintended consequences of our innovations. Collin believes organizations must think of their innovation’s effects at least 10-15 years into the future.

Innovation Culture

Collin’s team at Vecima likes to follow what’s happening in other industries and identify what they can take from those industries and apply to their own. Due to the pace of innovation, concepts and prototypes need to be spun out a lot faster than in the past. Decisions need to be made quickly. Collin said it is also important not to get emotionally tied to what you are working on. Being able to quickly pivot to the next innovation is vital.

Automation and AI

Many brilliant engineers of our day are retiring, and the question becomes, “How do you capture that expertise?” Collin believes there is value in automating the development of technologies, and low-level work through machine learning and AI. While we can capture everything, this could be a way to help bridge the skills gap going forward. The bottom line is, if innovators are not applying machine learning today, they will be left behind.

About our Guest: Collin Howlett

Colin Howlett is the Chief Technology Officer, joining Vecima in 1997. He is responsible for defining the overall technology strategy at Vecima and leads a group of product architects who work directly with customers to define the next generation of Vecima products. Colin has been an active participant in industry standards development within CableLabs and the WiMAX Forum and is currently actively involved in D3.1 and D4.40 initiatives at CableLabs. He holds multiple patents related to his work in cable broadband access systems at Vecima. Colin holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree and a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan.