#134 Leading innovation without needing a huge budget; how curiosity fuels success; and why you need an unhealthy obsession with problems to innovate

Hey Listener!

Most businesses think innovation is budget-bound. But it's not.

In this episode, I talk about how to stay ahead of the curve with AI with Michael Todasco.At PayPal, he led a product innovation practice, exploring cutting-edge technologies long before they became mainstream. Recently, he's turned his focus to AI, becoming a key voice in the space through writing and advising.Connect with Mike on Linkedin.

Listen now on Apple and Spotify.

Actionable Takeaways

1. "If you're not failing, then you're not trying hard enough."

Understanding that failure is just part of the process is crucial in any innovative field. Mike emphasizes that his most memorable and educational career experiences stem from failures, which provide valuable learning opportunities that successes rarely do.

Takeaway: Embrace failure. Each setback offers lessons that drive growth and lead to more significant innovations.

2. "All ideas are born from other things."

True Innovation Occurs When Ideas Intersect:

Mike reminds us that unique ideas rarely emerge from a single source. Most innovations result from combining existing ideas, contexts, and inspirations. This concept reflects how diverse experiences and knowledge contribute to breakthrough innovations.

Takeaway: Encourage cross-industry learning and collaboration. Draw inspiration from unrelated fields to spark creativity.

3."Find where there is passion and you will learn so much from that."

Mike believes that innovating successfully relies on passion—it's the force that sustains and inspires us in our work.

It's not just about loving your project; it's about loving the problem enough to pursue a solution relentlessly.

Takeaway: Cultivate and nurture your passion. Let it guide your efforts and keep you motivated through challenges.

4. "Your future as a product manager is to be a director of AI Agents."

With AI's capabilities expanding rapidly, professionals must become directors of these technological tools.

The responsibility lies in leveraging AI to execute mundane tasks efficiently, freeing time to focus on strategic and creative aspects of their roles.

Takeaway: Embrace AI as an ally that can augment your capabilities, not replace them. Continuously explore how it can elevate your role and responsibilities.

5. "Literally give 20 bucks to Anthropic, buy Claude, give 20 bucks to OpenAI, buy ChatGPT."

Get ahead of the curve by starting to play with AI today.

Mike highlights the accessibility of AI tools and encourages everyone to dive in. He believes that hands-on experimentation is the best way to understand the potential and limitations of AI.

Takeaway: Begin experimenting with AI tools regardless of your technical background. Test their capabilities and see how they can integrate into your workflow.

Don't miss out on hearing Mike's detailed tactics and insights firsthand by listening to the full episode.

Cheers,

Caden Damiano

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