Clik here to view.
How to Motivate Innovators
Organizations use a variety of tools to motivate employees to participate in their innovation efforts. The most common form of motivation involves compensation via a points system. When you contribute...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Change is Hard
I am someone who loves change. In fact I sometimes change things simply for change sake. But I recently learned a powerful lesson on why change is difficult, even for someone like me who loves to stir...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why We Crave Goals
As many of you may know, my second book was called Goal-Free Living. Although it was originally going to be a book on how to be more creative, it morphed into a manifesto for a counter-cultural way of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It is Okay to Marry Your Work (Part 2)
Last week I wrote an article for American Express about marrying your work. Unlike the “ball and chain” picture that tends to pop into our heads, I espoused the merits of loving your job, just like you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Insider’s View on Microwork and a Sample Output
As readers of this blog know, I am always interested in exploring different forms of open innovation, collaboration, and outsourcing. Personally, I have used a number of sites including 99designs.com...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should You Fish for Innovations or Catch Them?
On talk radio the other day, they were discussing the fishing industry. The conversation centered on how certain types of much more popular than others. I not sure of the specifics, but I think salmon,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New School is Old School
I just finished reading a mindless crime novel* – my favorite genre of book. The victim was the producer of an old television series who recently sold the rights to do a remake of the show. Fans were...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Path of Least Resistance a Threat to Innovation
It Creates Mirages and Kills Innovation by Stephen Shapiro While at a skeptics convention last week in Vegas, one of the speakers talked about why mirages are the result of light taking the path of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Innovation, Invention, Creativity and Artistry are not the same
Last night I was at an event where I woman said, “I want to get in touch with my creativity. I used to paint and play music, but no longer do that.” This got me thinking about how we throw around a lot...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Freedom Can Limit Innovation
Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the identical conversation with several different clients. Apparently, there is an existing belief that if you want to instill a mindset of creativity, you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Challenge to Find Challenges
Most organizations focus their energies on ideas, suggestions, and opinions. But for innovation to be efficient and focused, you need to ask better questions. What do you do when you don’t even know...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Creating the Apple Macintosh Mouse
Malcolm Gladwell has an excellent piece on how Apple created its first computer after visiting Xerox parc. In particular, he discusses how the mouse was developed. Continue reading →
View ArticleClik here to view.
Are You Asking the Right Question?
This simple exercise makes an incredibly important point. The way you phrase a problem will lead you down the path of a particular thought process. This, in turn will lead to a particular solution. How...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finding Innovation Help Next Door
One of my favorite topics is to discuss how breakthroughs are generated by looking for someone who has solved a similar problem in a different space. Some examples I talk about in my Best Practices Are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ideas, Ideas Everywhere
There's an old tale that goes… Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink. Inside of organizations, there’s a corollary… Ideas, ideas every where, Nor any one can think. Continue reading →
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lessons of Pawn Stars
Yes, you read that correctly. PAWN Stars. This reality television show on The History Channel chronicles a pawn shop outside of Las Vegas. I enjoy the show because of the history associated with the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Design to Handle the Exception – Not for the Exception
While going through security at the airport the other day, I was reminded of an important design and innovation concept... Continue reading →
View ArticleClik here to view.
What is Your Innovation Deep Structure?
The other day I was speaking with a CEO who wanted me to help facilitate a conversation around the crafting of the company’s purpose statement. I asked her, “Why do you want to do this?” Continue...
View ArticleClik here to view.
TopCoder’s Impressive Open Innovation
TopCoder is one of the best-kept secrets in open innovation. Their approach to open innovation is distinctive; something I have not seen elsewhere. I have to say, it’s all quite impressive. Continue...
View ArticleClik here to view.
7 Ways to Outsmart Your Brain And Be More Innovative
You are alive today. You were alive yesterday. You were alive the day before that. This is good news from a survival perspective. Unfortunately it is bad news from an innovation perspective. Continue...
View Article
