I try to spend a couple of weeks in San Francisco each year. It is like a “study abroad” program to learn the latest in innovation just being there. I have many friends who are out there now leading startup organizations. I learn a lot from them, not only about the latest web apps and
How to take an idea from Google and scale it down to you Read More »
This sixth grader, Thomas Suarez, gave a TED Talk. For me that alone stands out. How many 6th graders do you see doing TED Talks? He develops IPhone apps. His most popular one is called “Bustin Jieber.” He created it because a lot of his classmates disliked Justin Bieber. He knows how to develop ideas
The innovation opportunity is to improve your technology literacy Read More »
The Five Innovator’s DNA skills are observing, associating, questioning, experimenting, and networking. You can put these skills to use in everyday situations. The problem. I had fruit flies one summer day. This is fine in the 10th grade biology classroom but bad in your home. I was OK with an occasional few flying around but
Self-Innovation: Using 5 Innovator’s DNA Skills to Build a Better Fruit Fly Trap Read More »
Here is a new workshop zeroing in on what is important to managers, leaders, and change agents: Saving time, being clear & memorable, gaining buy-in, and reducing chance of failure by communicating for innovation. How to Communicate to Innovate: Networking to Individuals, Presenting to Groups, and Online to the World + Gain tools and techniques
I’m doing a pecha kucha keynote speech for an event called Showcase at the University of Wisconsin. This is my story of how I’m developing it. A pecha kucha is a structured framework for a presentation. It consists of 20 visual slides that advance after 20 seconds. It is only a 6:40 long speech! Some
How to create a visual keynote speech Read More »
This advice holds true for both the speaker and the conference organizer advising the speakers on their presentations. A killer presentation is like a killer product. It takes some time to develop and involves many prototypes and iterations. If the presenter is giving their speech or facilitating their program for the first time, it will
Advice for Conference Speakers on their Presentations Read More »
Do you ever find yourself needing to communicate an important new idea or concept so that it is understood quickly? Yoga instructors are the best at communicating complex ideas. They use all of the tools in the toolbox. You have to get it. If not, you might get hurt. Yoga instructors try to communicate a
Communicate Like a Yoga Instructor Read More »
During the past five years I have been immersed in creative thinking resources and reviewed many books on tools for generating ideas. I’ve synthesized and adapted some of the best practice tools that are out there and create some new ones as well. We have tried this system of ideation tools out with brainstormers and
Recommended Creative Thinking Books on Generating Ideas or “Thinking Tools” Read More »
“We need to out-innovate, outeducate and outbuild the rest of the world.” This was President Obama’s memorable quote from the 2011 State of the Union Address that summed up what we need to do as a country. Innovation is critical. It is at the center of the radar. But first, we need to teach people
My favorite innovation articles are those that focus on which capacities we need to cultivate to become better innovators personally. Innovation processes and systems are excellent but learning how to develop our own innovation skills is truly compelling because it is personal. Plus, much of the innovation chatter in organizations now is shifting from adopting