267. Alan Gregerman | The Wisdom of Ignorance
BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books
Why Not Knowing Can Drive Innovation
Alan explains how expertise narrows thinking and how strategic not-knowing widens possibilities for breakthroughs.
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In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Alan Gregerman, author of The Wisdom of Ignorance: Why Not Knowing Can Be the Key to Innovation in an Uncertain World.
Alan is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and internationally recognized innovation strategist. He’s the President and Chief Innovation Officer of VENTURE WORKS Inc., where he’s helped hundreds of teams create meaningful breakthroughs—often by unlocking the hidden genius in people who aren’t “experts.” He’s been featured in major outlets from The Wall Street Journal to CNN and is known for turning curiosity into real-world results.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to use “enlightened ignorance” to spark better ideas, a simple new-hire clipboard exercise that surfaces game-changing insights on day one, and why 99% of great ideas come from outside your industry—including nature—and how to adapt them fast.
We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Alan Gregerman.
To Learn More about Alan and buy his book visit:
The Book: https://a.co/d/gUtK54b
Website/Socials:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-gregerman-a33b236/
https://www.instagram.com/agregerman
https://www.facebook.com/alan.s.gregerman
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:31 The Wisdom of Ignorance & How To Innovate By “Not Knowing”
5:21 How to stand out by your organization & drive (not only by what you know)
8:01 Connecting the dots between unconnected opportunities
10:45 Practical strategies for innovation (get out of the box!)
15:07 Lessons from nature to integrate into business
16:47 The importance of presence to get new insights
18:48 We are most innovative when we are purposeful
20:02 6 principles to cultivate innovation as a business leader
25:23 Real-world successful applications of his own ideas
28:49 Idea Sex & Book Sex (A practice for innovation)
32:32 Alan’s innovation & ownership with his personal brand & style
35:07 Paying attention in everyday moments to spot a fuller spectrum of life
37:41 Where to connect with Alan, his work and his book
38:56 “Don’t stop sharing your genius”
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