in Innovation, Leadership
Are you willing to suffer? Before I make a decision, I ask myself this question when I approach a new challenge I’m thinking about.
I’ve heard many people tell me they love learning. Often it’s just a spur of the moment thing where they have to say something because they can’t keep quiet. Most simply read stuff. Yes, reading is a way to learn. But the best learning happens when you do something; most people don’t approach learning this way.
in Innovation
Innovation is hard. Really hard. So hard that true innovation is rare. Most of what we see as innovative is increments, improvements, on existing products and services. With that said, it’s really easy to sabotage your innovation efforts when you don’t understand what you’re getting yourself into.
Shunryu Suzuki famously said “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.” What it means is you are open-minded, eager to learn and approach everything without preconceptions. Approaching, living life, with a beginner’s mind is something some of us try to do, but most don’t. And trying is very hard because we have to actively force ourselves to do it.
Any talk about innovation inside organizations is mostly just that; talk. Why? Because just like any individual that wants to make a change in his / her life, actually taking that step requires some reflection and clarity as to what you have to do to change; and you actually have to want to change.
Innovation is hard. Really hard; especially inside established organizations. And most people, and organizations, are not up to the challenge. The reasons are many, but innovation does happen in spite of those challenges.
in Innovation, Leadership
“Tell him I get pissed off when someone makes a mistake.” I talk and coach people through situations, and this was recently relayed to me by someone who works for an asshole boss. The boss told my friend’s manager to let him know that he would get pissed off if he made mistakes.
I’ve been going to the gym since I was 18; almost half of my life. In muscle building parlance, to grow muscle you have to stretch it; you have to feel discomfort. You have to force it. Muscle builders pursue the burn because when you do it right, you’re sore the next day.