Outsiders

24 snips

Feb 5, 2025

Explore the inspiring journey of Fred Cox, an NFL kicker turned inventor of the Nerf football, showcasing how outsiders drive innovation. Kim Christfort shares insights on overcoming resistance to change and the fine line between critical thinking and cynicism. Learn the power of a beginner's mindset to encourage openness and creativity. Discover strategies for managing skepticism in teams, promoting open dialogue, and navigating innovation within organizational structures to advocate for transformative ideas.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Fred Cox and the Nerf Football

Fred Cox, a Minnesota Vikings kicker, invented the Nerf football.
He noticed kids getting hurt playing with traditional footballs and created a safer alternative.

INSIGHT

Outsider Innovation

Innovation often comes from outsiders with fresh perspectives.
Established toy companies failed where Fred Cox, an outsider, succeeded.

INSIGHT

Critical Thinking vs. Cynicism

Critical thinking seeks truth through provocative questions.
Cynicism, however, is toxic and shuts down new ideas, hindering innovation.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating story of Fred Cox, a former NFL kicker for the Minnesota Vikings, who transitioned from the football field to becoming the inventor of the Nerf football. His story showcases how innovation can emerge from unexpected places and how outsiders with fresh perspectives often lead to groundbreaking changes.

We are also joined by Kim Christfort, chief innovation leader and national managing director at the Deloitte Greenhouse Experience and co-author of The Breakthrough Manifesto. She discusses the concepts of overcoming resistance to change, distinguishing between critical thinking and cynicism, and fostering innovation by maintaining a beginner’s mindset. Kim enlightens us on dealing with internal and external skepticism, optimizing team dynamics to promote innovation, and leveraging the language of your organization to advocate for new ideas.

Key Learnings:

Outsider Innovation:

Fred Cox’s journey from NFL kicker to the inventor of the Nerf football exemplifies how fresh perspectives can lead to groundbreaking innovations.

Critical Thinking vs. Cynicism:

Critical thinking involves asking provocative questions and seeking truth, while cynicism is a toxic presence that shuts down new ideas.

Beginner’s Mindset:

Adopting a beginner’s mindset helps strip away preconceived notions and encourages openness to new possibilities, crucial for fostering innovation.

Dealing with Skepticism:

Logical explanations and creating structured environments for discussion can help mitigate the impact of skepticism and keep innovation efforts on track.

Leveraging Organizational Language:

Framing innovation opportunities in the language of the company (e.g., ROI, culture) can make them more convincing and increase the likelihood of buy-in.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more