I was recently interviewed for an article for Investor’s Business Daily. The topic of conversation was how reframing a problem can lead to better solutions. Here is the very start of the article: Racing to stay a step ahead of rivals, leaders often rush to find new innovations. They state a problem and tell their […]
Finally I launched my podcast. This has been in the works for quite some time. Although it will be available through most podcast platforms in the near future, for now I decided to share an early preview here. In this first episode, I share a story you may have seen here: my baggage claim story. […]
Innovation does not need to be new or original. It just needs to be valuable… One of my favorite quotes comes from Mark Twain: “There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them […]
I’ve always found that innovation and mysteries have a lot in common. They both involve solving complex problems, and sometimes making the impossible possible. This is why I primarily read and watch mysteries during my spare time. They force me question my thinking in order to see the clues. One of my all-time favorite television […]
People don’t want creativity. They may say they do, but there is a strong anti-creativity bias in most organizations. And unfortunately this bias happens at an subconscious level. This video shares some interesting findings from a study by Cornell University (my alma mater) – and the implications. Note that the video talks about “newness.” In […]
My most recent Inc. article has been popular and controversial. The premise is that there are no new ideas. (if you haven’t read it, please do so before reading on…) This got me thinking back to when I was pitching a TV show. My agent said that Hollywood doesn’t want you to think OUTSIDE the box, […]
Just because you KNEW your industry and customers, doesn’t mean you KNOW them. Our past experiences can limit our ability to see new opportunities. According to the World Economic Forum, complex problem-solving is the most important soft skill companies and individuals need right now. I would argue that complex problem-formulation is what is needed. The […]
Your past success can lead to future failure. If you are focused on opportunities based on your past experience, you may be solving irrelevant problems. This segment is called “Good to Gone” as we discuss some of the companies that were once the largest in their industry, but they are now gone or on life […]
Today’s videobook installment moves us down the path of reframing problems a better way. We often hear the expression, “think outside the box.” But what if the key to better innovation and problem-solving is “finding a better box?” It’s not the expansiveness of your thinking that limits your range of solutions. You are often just […]
Previously I discussed why we don’t want to ask questions that are overly abstract/broad. Today we explore why the opposite – asking questions that are too specific – can also lead to less than stellar solutions. The example in today’s video is one of my favorites: The Exxon Valdez tanker spill. For nearly 2 decades […]
