The Power of Positive Constraints

Today’s Monday Morning Movie… We often think of constraints as being something bad. But actually they can be quite beneficial. They can help us get more done work more efficiently. And surprisingly, they can help us be more creative. You can read the transcription here….

Four Heads Are Better Than One

Today’s Friday Fun Fact… A machinist, clockmaker, glass blower and mathematician were all walking in Menlo Park…. Despite how this reads, it isn’t the beginning of a joke.  It was actually the start of a new era. I am talking of Charles Batcheldor (machinist), John Kruesi (clockmaker), Ludwig Boehm (Glass blower) and Francis Upton (Mathematician); […]

What Are Your Innovation Blind Spots?

Today’s Wednesday Work Wisdom… Innovation is often discussed in terms of what we know about innovation. But sometimes it is useful to uncover what we don’t know. What are the things that might catch us off guard and ultimately reduce the long-term impact of our innovation efforts? Some useful questions to ask to are: What […]

Environments That Bring Out Your Creative Best

Here’s today’s Friday Fun Fact… In my Monday Morning Movie, I talked about finding your “third place” to work in order to stimulate new thoughts and escape from the distractions often found in your home and work environment. When searching for this third location, what appeals to you personally will vary.  However, if you are […]

A 6 Step Blueprint for Creating a Culture of Innovation

Here is today’s Wednesday Work Wisdom… The question I get most often from my Fortune 500 clients: “How do we create a culture of innovation?” Although there is no simple answer, here’s a blueprint I’ve found useful to get things started and build momentum. Ask employees for ideas – Most organizations start here with the corporate […]

Your Third Place

Today’s Monday Morning Movie Although this is hardly a new concept, it is useful to remember that our best work is often not done at home or in the office. We are most creative when we find a neutral place, ideally one that provides new stimuli and new people.  

Friday Fun Fact: How to Improve Your Improv

My Monday Morning Movie had me in a hot tub discussing the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex’s (DLPFC) role in creativity.  Or more accurately stated – its role in killing it. There is research that also proves that the DLPFC affects a related area: improvisation. Research by Charles J. Limb and Allen R. Braun, says… …We examined […]

Wednesday Work Wisdom: Your Organization is a Cult

Contrary to conventional wisdom, opposites do not attract. In fact, it has been scientifically proven that opposites repel. The reality is, like attracts like. As a result, your organization has a bunch of people who think the same way. People have personalities, and so do organizations. Many would call this their culture. This is an […]

European Business Review Article

An article of mine was just published in the European Business Review. It is a concise summary of my overall innovation philosophy. Here’s the introduction… In today’s fast-paced business environment, the ability to innovate is not enough. You need to innovate efficiently, quickly, and with less risk. Tradition innovation methods, such as asking employees or […]

Turn Everything Upside Down

I love to take baths as home.  But the water never seemed deep enough. When I would fill the tub up with 9 inches of water, the overflow plate would prevent more water from entering the bath. I tried a number of ways to cover the drain hole, including Saran wrap, duct tape, and plastic […]