Growing by Design
The Cobbler: Barefoot No More!
You might remember the old adage, "the cobblers children have no shoes". I have always been fascinated by this. Why do we ignore applying what we do so well to ourselves? Somehow, we build an expertise and then forget we have it when we need it most. That...
The Role of Detractors!
Innovation is change by its very nature and so it brings out energy, both positive and negative. The positive energy is from all the people who get excited about the possibilities. But, there may be as many people who harbor negative energy...your detractors. You...
Silver Bullets vs. Toolbelts
Everyone wants a silver bullet. An easy way to find the answer, to win, to outmaneuver the competition. I have to admit, a silver bullet would make life easier in business, but a lot less interesting. I find I am more interested in well worn and outfitted tool belts,...
Preparation!
As I sit watching Princeton's Elite Basketball Camp and my son play, I am reminded of Duke's Coach K saying that "most people fail because they fail to prepare." Preparation is a simple concept but so difficult for athletes and business people, because inherent in...
The Job of Design Thinking
Have you heard of Jobs Theory? It is a growing approach to innovation that is capturing business people's imagination. At the heart of a product or service is the progress desired by the person, the job. Jobs differ by circumstance and can be driven by functional,...
Reflection and Renewal
Its a brand new year and with that comes a fresh start, a new chance, a new mountain to climb. I always look forward to January as a time to reflect on the prior year and imagine the future year I want to craft. In my reflections on the past year, I reviewed my blog...
Designing for Delight
In business, we are all chasing delighting our customers. Delighted customers are loyal and tell others about your brand. They can be very profitable. The challenge is that the pressure in business is to be as big as possible so believe you should please...
What are you asking
Which is more powerful: focusing on the solution or the question? Early in my career I was mesmerized with the solution. Not any longer. It's the questions that fascinate me today. I believe focusing on the questions is a powerful approach to business and...
A clear signal in a sea of noise–insight driven ideas
As I tried to have a conversation with the buzz of a conference crowd around me, it was really difficult to hear what was being shared. I think this is an analogy for so much of what innovators and marketers face. There is a lot of noise out there and people with...
The Discipline of Discovery
Discovery, Creativity, Innovation. When you think of these words I bet you don't think of associating words like discipline and process to them. Yet, I would say it is appropriate to do just that, but in ways that may not be what you might typically imagine. Two...
