The bedrock of innovation is improvement, improvement is something we all do automatically. Even my dog, Pax, knows how to improve. We go through countless treat toys, toys that have a treat pouch or other means to embed or lock away a treat, something that makes getting the treat a bit harder than snapping it out of my hand. No…
Month: August 2015
Don’t specialize
Specializing means you’re focused on what you can do. The problem with this is a specialized focus often narrows your vision so you no longer see what your customer needs and instead only see what you can do. Often times that means you might be an expert at something nobody wants to buy. I’ve always disliked the question: “What do…
Innovation requires orienting people toward the right goals
Part of the reason that innovation is innate is because our minds are hardwired to achieve a goal, when presented with one. It’s part of the lazy nature of our mind. Effort is expensive, therefore we seek to minimize effort. The goals we hold people accountable to, dictate the optimizations they create.
Innovation revolves around customer need
Without customers, a business wouldn’t exist. The purpose of a business is to create value for customers. It’s a creative capacity, not a consumptive capacity. Therefore, the right goals are goals that contribute something that the customer ultimately buys. Something that satisfies the customer. To make this tangible, imagine you were a part of a team that assembled a chair.…
Creating something from nothing
Jonathan found $7 while walking Pax a few days ago. Later that night, we passed a homeless couple near our house that I’ve routinely passed and never had any money to give to because I don’t keep it on me most of the time. I suggested we give the $7 to the homeless couple, we did. We felt good in…
Read a book during 9 to 5
When’s the last time you read a book, during 9 to 5? And not in a situation where you were searching for an explicit answer to something pressing at the moment. Also, not in a situation where someone else assigned the reading to you. When was the last time you decided to read a book to improve? Is it something…
Interview – Diabetes Waiting to Happen (Commitment to Value)
In June I sat down for an interview with the guys over at This Agile Life You can listen here: (Commitment to Value) Diabetes Waiting to Happen – Ep. 88
Project by project to salary?
Someone asked recently “how do we shift from a project-by-project cash flow mentality and process to being able to pay a recurring salary”? That’s a common occurrence for many small firms. Here are two things that immediately came to mind: #1 – One thing to think about, if you want to switch your mentality – is to imagine what your…
Perfection at the expense of success
Instead of success not perfection, how about perfection at the expense of success. Therein lies two view points on the issue. Which view do you subscribe to?
Who you are today and how to become what you want to be
The things you did a year ago defined who you will be a year from now. Today was set in stone perhaps two years ago. Two years from now will be defined by the choices you make today. What do you want to be in two years and what do you need to do today to set the ball in…