Your Innovation Efforts are Focused on the Wrong Opportunities
One very dark night I was walking down the street. Under a street lamp there was a drunk guy who was on his hands and knees looking for something. I stopped and asked what he was doing. He slurred his words and said, “I lost my keys and am looking for them.” I asked him, […]
Change the Question, Change Your Kids
In a recent blog entry, I discussed how changing the questions you ask can change your results, which in turn can change your life. Not too long ago I gave a speech whereafter someone in the audience asked me how this approach to asking questions could be applied to raising children, in particular his high school […]
Steal Domino’s Idea…Please
3 weeks ago we had all of our belongings boxes and shipped from Boston to Florida. The movers still haven’t arrived and we don’t know where our items are and we don’t know when they will arrive. I find this incomprehensible. Domino’s Pizza can tell me where my pizza is in the cooking process, who […]
Change the Question; Change Your Life
Many years back I consumed a massive amount of diet cola. 5 liters or more each day. I would unconsciously drink a 20-ounce bottle while working at my desk. It seemed like within 5 minutes it was empty, and I didn’t even recall drinking it. So I would buy another and consume it equally fast. […]
Stories not Scoring
Last week after giving a speech at a casino hotel in Las Vegas, I sat at the bar and settled in to listen to a band play old music from the Rat Pack. Just as I was getting ready to leave, a guy tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “Are you Steve Shapiro, the […]
The Uberization of Everything
The taxi industry is shaking in its boots, worried about the impact of Uber. The reality is, every industry should be concerned. For those of you luddites who have not yet heard of Uber, it is a technology platform that allows you to request a ride from an individual who will then pick you up in his […]
Blackjack and Innovation
As I write this, I am in Las Vegas, a place sometimes referred to as Lost Wages. For the past two nights, I hit the blackjack tables for some fun. Fortunately I am ahead…so far. I like blackjack because it is a game of probability – and only probability. It is fun to watch other […]
Innovation Philosophy Transcription
I recently posted my 6-minute animation video that explains my innovation philosophy. If you prefer it in written form, here it is…Enjoy! *** Innovation. You know it is essential for long-term growth. You are clear that it’s the key to beating the competition. And… you avoid it like the plague. Why? There are MANY reasons organizational […]
Innovation Philosophy Video
Many people have asked me to summarize my innovation philosophy. Although I have many articles on the topic, to make it easy, I decided to create a 6-minute animation. This video summarizes the three key mistakes companies make when innovating – and what they can do to address those issues. Following these steps can lead to […]
Pink Boxes, Assumptions and Innovation
I recently met up with a client. The first thing I noticed was the bandage on his left hand. I asked what happened. He said, “I was looking for a box that contained cloth napkins for a dinner party we were throwing. I went to the garage, remembering that they were in a box on a […]