Archive for: 2012

Why do trendspotting at all?

in Innovation, Question-To-Innovate, Questions, Strategy

question to innovate

This number twelve of a series of weekly posts where I will answer a few common questions about innovation. Please feel free to add your own response. Also, if you have any questions you think we should discuss, let me know.

This is one of those not so obvious questions.

First of all, if you are doing trendspotting because you want to stay ahead of competitors, you have it all wrong. This is a reactive response. Sure, if you do it right (and most of the time you won’t be right), you’ll stay ahead of competitors. But that shouldn’t be your main motivation.…

Help nominate Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2012

in Innovation

top-40-innovation-bloggers

It’s that time of the year again. Time to nominate the Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2012.

Here is my list of Nominees in no particular order:

  1.  @practicallyrad
  2. @dscofield
  3. @timkastelle
  4. @Digitaltonto
  5. @InnovationFixer
  6. @MarkTruelson
  7. @Paul4innovating
  8. @ovoinnovation
  9. @BULLDOGDRUMMOND
  10. @Kaihan
  11. @Brainzooming
  12. @chuckfrey
  13. @greggfraley
  14. @Jabaldaia
  15. @nilofer
  16. @ralph_ohr
  17. @bankervision

If you’ve been around Twitter or browsed through Innovation Excellence, you will be familiar with most of these people. I added a few new faces which you may not recognize because I think they don’t get enough attention.

With that said, if you believe I should be nominated too, I will appreciate it if you as a Top 40 Innovation Blogger of 2012.

Thank you for visiting and I wish you a fabulous 2013!

 

Hop off the bandwagon

What argument can you win?

in Innovation, Strategy

Hop off the bandwagon

There are 2 kinds of warfare: asymmetrical and stupid.   —DR. CONRAD CRANE, DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. ARMY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND AUTHOR OF THE U.S. ARMY/MARINE CORPS COUNTERINSURGENCY FIELD MANUAL

I have a client who competes with Starbucks. Or at least that is what they think. I don’t think they do because they have no argument to win. What is Starbucks good at? There are other factors at play, but these are the main ones: They fill the middle between your home and work, and they are also known for making good enough coffee.

These are not attributes where my client can make a confident argument that they can win. And my client can’t just turn itself into a roaster. And it shouldn’t.

So what to do? The answer is simple but difficult: You do what the other guy can’t or won’t.…

Innovation must reads of the week: Innovation failure starts at the top

in Must reads of the week

Innovation must reads of the week: Innovation failure starts at the top

Storified by Jorge Barba · Sat, Dec 08 2012 15:26:31

#Innovation failure starts at the top http://wp.me/p10V0m-1clPaul Hobcraft
RT @JurgenLACoach The Science of Storytelling: Why Telling a Story is the Most Powerful Way to Activate Our Brains http://zite.to/TPYTgIRalph-Christian Ohr
Leaders do the right things. Managers do things right. #Innovation needs more leaders. http://innovateonpurpose.blogspot.com/2012/12/managers-are-for-efficiency-leaders-are.htmlJeffrey Phillips
To Change the Culture, Stop Trying to "Change the Culture" http://s.hbr.org/YVRvqMHarvard Biz Review
New blog post: Your Competition is Never "No One" http://buff.ly/Syrn02 #innovationTim Kastelle
People First, Processes Next, Then Ideas – the right order for innovation! http://ow.ly/fUe1EStefan Lindegaard
In a fragmented world, go deep http://dlvr.it/2bpKCYNilofer Merchant

If you like these links, check out all the previous “Innovation Must Reads of the Week“. And don’t forget to

question to innovate

If you had to define innovation in one word, what would it be?

in Innovation, Question-To-Innovate, Questions

question to innovate

This is the eleventh of a series of weekly posts where I will answer a few common questions about innovation. Please feel free to add your own response. Also, if you have any questions you think we should discuss, let me know.

Here is a question for You. I’d love to know what you think: If you had to define innovation in one word, what would it be?…

The Legion of Innovation Doom

The Legion of Innovation Doom Part 2

in Innovation

The Legion of Innovation DoomLast week I shared with you ?What If!’s first part of The Legion of Innovation Doom. ?What If! has created a series of characters that personify the challenges faced in the innovation space. If your company wants to innovate, “The Hidden Agenda” is the know-it-all that will stall the process. “Doctor Gravitas” is all work and no play, a “Debbie downer” if you will, eager to stomp all over your innovative ideas in a flash.…

line illusion

Dare to look where no one does

in Innovation

The title of this post could have easily been titled “dare to go where no one goes” but to “go” you must first observe and then decide. And when I mean look, I literally mean observe. For example, look at the optical illusion below.

Which horizontal line is the shortest? Your eyes will tell you that it is the first one, but they happen to be exactly the same size.

line illusion

Only by really paying attention will you see that both lines are the same size. Call it what you will, but the art of observation is a dying art. Before you can notice, you must observe. And to observe, you must look.…