Archive for: April, 2015

Deadly innovation sin: Believing process will save you

in entrepreneurship, Greatness, Innovation, Leadership

Inside established organization innovation is killed before it even gets a chance to make its case. The reasons are many, and while there are many Sins of innovation,from my POV the one that kills most projects focused on transformational outcomes are ones where there needs to be a fixed “process” for achieving those outcomes.

The battle against obesity often leads individuals to explore various weight loss medications. Two such medications that have gained attention in recent years are Wegovy (semaglutide) and Ozempic (also semaglutide). While both offer the promise of weight loss, it’s crucial to understand their potential dangerous side effects and consider safer alternatives for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

Wegovy and Ozempic: How They Work

Both Wegovy and Ozempic belong to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. They work by increasing feelings of fullness, reducing appetite, and slowing down the digestion process, which ultimately helps individuals eat less and lose weight. Wegovy is a higher-dose formulation of semaglutide specifically approved for weight loss.

The Dangers of Wegovy vs Ozempic

While Wegovy vs Ozempic have shown promise in weight reduction, they are not without potential risks and side effects:

Gastrointestinal Issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are common side effects of both medications. These symptoms can be severe and lead to discomfort and discontinuation of treatment for some users.

Pancreatitis: Both Wegovy and Ozempic have been associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis, a potentially serious and painful inflammation of the pancreas.

Gallbladder Problems: Weight loss at a rapid rate, as facilitated by these medications, can increase the risk of gallstones or gallbladder-related issues.

Thyroid Tumors: Animal studies have suggested a potential link between semaglutide and thyroid tumors, although further research is needed to establish any direct connection in humans.

Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia): While Ozempic is also used to treat diabetes, it can lead to low blood sugar levels, especially when combined with other diabetes medications.

A Safer Weight Loss Alternative

Considering the potential risks associated with Wegovy and Ozempic, individuals seeking safer alternatives for weight loss should consider a comprehensive and sustainable approach:

Balanced Diet: Focus on a well-rounded, calorie-controlled diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods. Consulting a registered dietitian can help tailor a diet plan to your specific needs.

Regular Exercise: Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. A combination of cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and flexibility workouts can help you burn calories and build lean muscle mass.

Behavioral Changes: Address the psychological aspects of weight management by seeking support from behavioral therapists or counselors. Emotional eating, stress, and unhealthy habits can often contribute to weight gain.

Medical Supervision: If necessary, consult with a healthcare professional who can provide guidance on prescription weight loss medications, when deemed safe and suitable for your individual circumstances.

Support Groups: Joining a weight loss support group or seeking the support of friends and family can provide motivation and encouragement throughout your weight loss journey.

Conclusion

Wegovy and Ozempic offer potential weight loss benefits but come with significant risks and side effects that should not be underestimated. Before considering these medications, individuals should explore safer alternatives, such as adopting a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, addressing behavioral factors, and seeking medical supervision when necessary. The key to successful and sustainable weight loss lies in a holistic and health-centered approach. Always consult with a healthcare professional before embarking on any weight loss program or medication.

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Innovation needs outsiders. Here’s how to source them

in Innovation

imagine

The most interesting ideas, the ones that span boundaries, are found and at the intersection of domains. This isn’t a new insight, but it is one that is rarely taken into account inside most businesses.

True to form, established businesses suffer from the Curse of Knowledge: I already know what I need to know. The expertise on which they built their business blinds organizations from creating the future, it’s the reason many businesses that were thriving at the beginning of this century are no longer with us.

How do you break free from the Curse of Knowledge?

By shifting perspective……

Are you a Chief Idea Killer?

in Innovation, Leadership

Much of what we think stands in the way of innovation is in our control: our attitude.

In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way; that’s an attitude most traditional organizations don’t have. I’ve made reference to this fact quite a bit in the past, and is a common topic of discussion among innovation wonks. One way to know if you are standing in your own way is to look at your organization from the perspective of “what are we doing to block innovation?”.

For example, do you have an organizational chart that looks like this?

management is the enemy of innovation

Probably. This is how an organization where management is the enemy of innovation looks like, it’s also why most organizations can empathize with the following sketches:

Can you see how your organization is deliberately killing innovation?

Bottom line: The default state of all new ideas is “NO”. New ideas have to be protected, they need to be given room to breathe. As a business leader, your jobs is to jumpstart progress by enabling innovation. They way to do that is to provide purpose, challenge and support; then get out of the way. That’s how you give ideas oxygen.

H/T: Vala Afshar.

For our youth to thrive, it matters how we teach them to view failure

in entrepreneurship, Innovation

During our discussion about The Future for Youth, one of the main points we touched on was “risk aversion”. And though we see a trend towards more entrepreneurs, the truth is many of them are not entrepreneurs.

Why?

Because most entrepreneurs fail and leave it at that. But real entrepreneurs view failure as a prerequisite for learning; that’s the difference.…

Any business that has not yet been totally disrupted by the existence of the internet will be

in entrepreneurship, Innovation

The internet, arguably the greatest invention of all time, is just starting to shape our world. New ventures are dreamed up every day to take advantage of it’s power, and legacy businesses are being disrupted because of it; the business world has been reshaped and redrawn since the inception of the internet.

What does this disruption look like? Here are a couple of clues……