Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney

You've probably heard the saying that ‘Creativity is a muscle.' Like your biceps or triceps, your creative mind needs regular exercise to stay in shape. What exercises will let you build your creative muscle? How do you turn these creativity exercises into a habit that is a routine part of your daily life? For many of us, developing creativity habits can seem overwhelming. Starting Small and Simple Where do you even begin? Research has shown that starting small is the key to creating sustainable habits. Renowned psychologist B.J. Fogg, for example, emphasizes the concept of “Tiny Habits,” suggesting that an individual should start with behavior that's easy to do and can be accomplished in less than 30 seconds. This could be as simple as sketching a single line on paper or writing one sentence in a journal. James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits,” recommends an approach of 1% improvement each day. Clear suggests that success is the product of daily habits—not a once-in-a-lifetime transformation. So rather than trying to write a novel in a day, aim to write one paragraph. Over time, these small increments can add up to substantial progress. Another best practice is to anchor your new creative habit to an existing routine—this is known as habit stacking. For example, if you already have a routine of having a cup of coffee every morning, add a few minutes of your chosen creative habit to this routine. And finally, make sure to reward yourself. Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator in habit formation. So after each successful day of practicing your creative habit, allow yourself a small reward. Over time, this creates a positive association with your new habit, making you more likely to stick with it. The goal isn't to do something creative once and forget about it. The goal is to incorporate creativity into your daily life naturally and sustainably. And with these research-backed strategies, that goal is well within reach. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are habits. It's not about making massive changes overnight but taking small steps consistently. Habits to Cultivate Creativity The following are a few habits that can fan the flames of your creativity and help you tap into your innate inventive spirit. This is not an exhaustive list but merely a starting point. As you embark on building creative habits, you may find others that work better for you. Don't feel confined by this list—feel free to add, modify, and explore other practices that spark your creative energies. The most effective habits are the ones that resonate with you and your unique creative process. Here are some habits you might consider: Daily Journaling: Daily Journaling can genuinely be a transformative habit. It serves as a personal canvas where you can paint your thoughts, emotions, and ideas freely and without restraint. This practice declutters the mind and fuels creativity by helping you explore different trains of thought and identify patterns over time. Moreover, daily journaling can be adapted according to your preferences. Some individuals prefer traditional narrative journaling, while others might opt for bullet journals, sketching, or digital journaling. The form it takes isn't as important as consistently putting your thoughts on paper. Also, journaling can act as an incubator for your ideas. For instance, you might jot down a passing thought or a spark of an idea in your journal and then revisit it later to develop it further. This practice especially benefits creative people who need an outlet to capture their flowing ideas. The key to journaling is not to censor yourself. This is your private space for exploration, reflection, and creativity. So let your mind wander, let your pen flow, and you might be surprised at the innovation and creativity that emerge from the pages of your journal. Mindfulness Practices: Mindfulness practices have gained prominence as powerful tools to nurture creativity. They involve focusing on the present moment, accepting it without judgment, and developing a deeper awareness of your surroundings and internal experiences. This increased sensitivity and openness to the present can spark new insights and ideas, enriching your creative output. Meditation, one of the most common mindfulness practices, can be particularly beneficial. Regular meditation sessions can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and promote mental clarity—all of which create a conducive environment for creativity. Consider starting with just a few minutes of meditation each day, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable. Sit in a quiet, comfortable place, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. When your mind wanders—and it will—gently bring it back to your breath. This practice of returning to the moment can strengthen your ability to focus, a critical skill in creative endeavors. Mindful walking is another mindfulness practice you might try. This involves focusing on the sensation of walking, the feeling of your feet touching the ground, and the rhythm of your footsteps. This practice can be an effective way to clear your head and foster a state of relaxed alertness that can lead to creative breakthroughs. Just like any other habit, mindfulness requires consistency and practice. But with time, you can cultivate a more mindful approach to life that opens up new pathways for creative thinking. Curiosity Feeding: Curiosity feeding is about intentionally seeking out new knowledge and experiences. It's a habit that can nurture creativity by broadening your perspective and providing fresh inspiration. Each day, make a conscious effort to learn something new. This can be as simple as reading an interesting article, listening to a podcast, or diving into a new book. You might watch a documentary, learn a new word, or even converse with a stranger. The key is to keep an open mind and embrace the unfamiliar. This can lead you to stumble upon unexpected ideas and connections, fueling your creativity. Engaging with a diverse range of topics also helps to build a rich reservoir of knowledge that can be drawn upon during the creative process. Moreover, curiosity feeding encourages you to ask questions and challenge assumptions—an essential aspect of creative thinking. By nurturing your curiosity, you foster a mindset of continuous learning and exploration conducive to creativity. The aim is not just to amass knowledge but to stimulate thought and inspire innovation. So be curious, be open, and immerse yourself in the joy of discovering something new every day. Idea Generation: Idea Generation, often known as brainstorming, is about unleashing your mind to explore different possibilities and avenues. It's about breaking free from the constraints of logical thinking and embracing wild and crazy ideas. This practice stimulates your creative muscles and opens up a treasure trove of potential innovations. Here are a few strategies to make the most of your idea-generation sessions. Firstly, create a conducive environment. Choose a quiet, comfortable space where you can think without distractions. Some people find that certain settings, like a park or a café, stimulate their creativity more than others. Experiment and find what works best for you. Secondly, set a timer. Giving yourself a specific timeframe, like 15 minutes, can create a sense of urgency that pushes your brain to think more creatively. Thirdly, remember that there are no bad ideas during brainstorming. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible, not to judge them. Write down everything that comes to your mind, no matter how absurd or impractical. This encourages free thinking and can often lead you down unexpected paths to brainstorm innovative ideas. Lastly, do it often. The more frequently you brainstorm, the more readily your brain can generate new ideas. The purpose of idea generation is not only to come up with solutions to specific problems but also to nurture a mindset of creativity and innovation. Creative Exercises: Creative exercises are vital activities that stimulate your brain, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and idea generation. They take various forms and can be tailored to individual preferences and interests. One popular creative exercise is solving puzzles. Whether it's a jigsaw, crossword, or Rubik's cube, puzzles force you to think strategically and look for patterns. They challenge your brain to work in ways it normally wouldn't, fostering creativity. Artistic endeavors such as painting, drawing, or sculpting are also great creative exercises. They allow you to express yourself freely and create something unique from your imagination. Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, creating art can stimulate creative thinking. Cooking a new recipe is another form of creative exercise. It's about mixing ingredients in different ways to create unique flavors. Experimenting with cooking methods can also lead to discoveries in the kitchen, like how experimenting with ideas can lead to innovation. Writing exercises, like poetry or storytelling, can also stimulate creativity. They encourage you to play with words, conjuring compelling narratives from your imagination. The goal of these exercises isn't necessarily to create a masterpiece but to spark creativity and have fun in the process. Next Steps To Creating Habits The next step is commitment. Commit to doing one of these exercises every day for 30 days. Why 30 days? Because science tells us that's about how long repeated actions become a habit. Some things to keep in mind: Set Clear Goals: Begin by setting a clear and achievable goal. It should be something that you can realistically accomplish within the 30-day time frame. For example, if you want to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine, your goal could be to meditate for 10 minutes each day. Start Small: It's crucial to start with small, manageable tasks. If your goal is to read a book a week, you might start by reading a few pages each day and gradually increase your reading time. Starting small makes the habit easier to adopt and less overwhelming. Consistency is Key: Consistency is the cornerstone of habit formation. Stick to your routine every day for 30 days. If you aim to engage in creative exercises daily, ensure you set aside time each day for this activity, whether in the morning, during lunch breaks, or in the evening. Be Patient and Persistent: It takes time to form a habit. You might encounter obstacles or have off days, but it's important not to get disheartened. Persistence is key, and consistently repeating the activity leads to habit formation. Remember, the goal isn't perfection. It's consistency. There will be days when it feels harder to engage your creativity. That's okay. What matters is showing up, day in and day out. Stay Positive: Finally, staying positive and maintaining a growth mindset is essential. Each day is an opportunity to learn and grow. Celebrate your successes, even the small ones, and be kind to yourself when you feel discouraged or frustrated. Tell Someone: Being held accountable by having someone checking in on you can be motivating. Find an accountability partner who will support and encourage your endeavors. Creating a creative habit isn't easy, but it is achievable with these strategies. With consistency and dedication, it won't be long before you experience the reward of a more creative life. Benefits of Cultivating a Creativity Habit People who cultivate a creative habit experience numerous benefits. It opens up new possibilities and expands your horizons, and creativity can also improve physical and mental well-being. Here are some of the most prominent advantages associated with nurturing a creative mindset: Improved Problem Solving: Creativity can help you develop more efficient solutions to problems. This is because it encourages divergent thinking, which involves considering multiple perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. Heightened Focus and Concentration: Creative activities are often engaging and stimulating, positively affecting your focus and concentration levels. Working on creative problems or projects can help you stay focused for extended periods. Higher Levels of Self-Esteem & Confidence: Taking risks and engaging in creative activities can boost your self-esteem, giving you a sense of accomplishment and pride. This increased confidence can have far-reaching implications, improving personal and professional relationships. Increased Happiness & Satisfaction: Research has shown that engaging in creative activities can improve our happiness levels and overall life satisfaction. This is because creativity helps us to express ourselves and get more in touch with our inner selves. Wrapping Up: The Power of Cultivating Creativity We can all significantly enhance our creativity through dedication and commitment. We can awaken our inherent creative forces by making creativity exercises a part of our daily routine. It's not about creating masterpieces daily but about sparking creative energy within us. Whether it's solving puzzles, painting, or even experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, these activities stimulate our brains in unique ways, fostering creativity. The journey of cultivating a creative habit doesn't have to be solitary. Sharing this journey with an accountability partner can provide mutual encouragement and motivation. Regardless of the obstacles, be patient and persistent because every step in this journey brings us closer to reaping the numerous benefits of a creative mindset, from improved problem-solving skills and heightened focus to increased self-esteem and happiness. The journey to enhanced creativity might seem long and challenging but worthwhile. So, dare to commit to this transformative journey, for the destination promises an enriched life overflowing with creativity. It's time you unleashed your inner Da Vinci! To learn about cultivating a creativity habit, listen to this week's show: How to Cultivate a Creativity Habit. 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Hello, Innovators! Welcome back to another episode of the Killer Innovations podcast. I am so happy to be back in the studio with you today, and I'm excited to give you an update on the show and myself. A few months ago, in February, I had to undergo open heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. The surgery was totally unexpected when we went to Florida for Christmas. I have a rare genetic cardiac condition, so I'm under Mayo's care. During my annual check-up, the test showed some issues, which turned a three-week visit into a four and half month stay. Unfortunately, the nine days I spent in the intensive care unit being intubated caused damage to my vocal cords, preventing me from recording new episodes — that is, until today. The damage to the vocal cords is why my voice may sound different. But the show must go on, and that's where the team that helps me with the show stepped in. While I've been out, Andrew, Kirk, and Ethan have been serving up the most popular shows from our rich 19-year archive. Since I couldn't record, I turned my attention to my writing, posting multiple times weekly to my blog at philmckinney.com. If you haven't checked it out lately, I encourage you to hop over. You will notice that all of my writing is now merged onto the Ghost platform that hosts the blog, making it easier for everyone to find the archive of my articles going back to 1996. To get back in front of the microphone, I've been meeting with vocal cord experts, including those specializing in performers and audio professionals. We looked at various options to determine what it would take to get my voice back to its pre-surgery level. The most important was letting the vocal cords rest. In addition, the specialists changed my diet to reduce the acid reflux, which has been scaring the vocal cords. Who knew? Now for some exciting news. I've been cleared to experiment with recording new shows to see how my vocal cords hold up. Andrew, our associate producer, has been investigating and testing AI tools that can be trained on my past shows, taking the scripts I write and recording the audio for me. This will allow us to deliver original content without over-stressing my vocal cords. In fact, the introduction you heard today was an actual recording of me from my mobile studio built into my bus parked in Port Angeles, Washington. This main segment you are listening to was recorded using one of the AI tools. Like my challenge to you, the podcast team needs to innovate, even in how we produce the show. What do you think? As for my health, I'm doing great. I've lost 35 pounds—though I wouldn't recommend bypass surgery as a weight loss program. My focus now is on my cardiac rehab and rebuilding my strength and stamina. This summer, I'm working from my bus parked in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, walking on the beach to get my steps in, and loving my Starlink broadband! Regarding the show, our team is working hard to rebuild the queue so we can release new original content on a more regular schedule. If we miss a few weeks, I apologize in advance. So, what is changing — and staying the same with the show? When the show was launched in 2005, the goal was to explore creativity, design, and innovation. Over the years, this podcast has grown to include a mix of interviews, solo episodes, and occasional co-hosts. This focus and format will not change, but the technology behind producing this show will continue to evolve. So, who are our listeners? Well, Killer Innovations attracts a broad spectrum of people. From tech aficionados to aspiring entrepreneurs, from top brass at leading tech and strategy firms to those just embarking on their career journey. My mission is to satisfy your curiosity about what it takes to be successful as an innovator, inventor, and creator and to equip you with the tools and insights needed to navigate the rapidly changing landscape. What can you expect from future episodes? Not much difference from what we've been doing in the past. We will continue to delve into innovations that are reshaping our lives—but don't stop there. We dig deeper to uncover the stories behind these breakthroughs. How did these innovators turn their initial ideas into tangible realities? What obstacles did they face and overcome? And crucially, how can you apply these insights to your own path? You may hear more of my experience from a 40-year career in inventing and launching innovations. What topics do you want to hear more about? What topics have you heard enough of? Let us know. Now, how can you help? We need supporters to help us cover our costs to produce the show. For 19 years, I've covered the costs out of my pocket with help from Eric and his team at Zoom, who have been a lead sponsor of the podcast for the last eight years. But our expenses have increased with the team stepping up while I have been out. If you are willing to support the show and the team, please consider becoming a financial supporter. Visit the blog at philmckinney.com and click on ‘Membership' at the top. Rest assured, none of the funding will go to me. It will go to the team and associated out-of-pocket costs. We are looking for $10,000 per month. Imagine this: you're sipping your morning coffee, earbuds in, listening to our show. You're learning new things, being entertained, and it feels like you're part of a community. That's the power of our podcast. But did you know it takes more than just a microphone and an interesting topic to keep that podcast coming to your ears week after week? It involves hours of research, editing, and production. Not to mention the cost of hosting and distributing each episode. What if you could help ensure this podcast's continuation while gaining exclusive perks? You can do just that for just $50 per year — about $1 per episode. Your financial support can make a significant difference in maintaining the quality and consistency of our content. Think of it as buying us a cup of coffee once a week as a thank-you for the content we provide. And in return, we'll continue to deliver the engaging and insightful episodes you look forward to every week. We need 2,400 financial sponsors to cover our show expenses. Are you ready to be one of them? Will you help us keep the conversation going? Remember, supporting us isn't just about helping cover costs. It's about investing in something you value and want to see thrive. It's about being part of a community that values knowledge, engagement, and entertainment. So, are you ready to step up and become a financial supporter of our podcast? Visit philmckinney.com and click ‘Membership.' Because every good story deserves to be told… and heard. That's it for today's episode. Thanks for your continued support. Remember, stay curious, stay innovative, and keep pushing the boundaries. To learn how you can help the show, listen to this week's show: Navigating Uncharted Territory with Innovation. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovation series, we look at David Su’s innovative solution to the problem of disposable and short-lived battery life and his tips for success that helped him start Atmosic. Being connected has become an essential part of our daily lives. Wireless has made huge strides over the past two decades.  IoT is connecting our world in ways we would have never imagined.  With the growing demand for constant connectivity, one area that needs fine-tuning is battery life.  All these devices we use throughout the day require battery power. Today’s guest saw this as an opportunity.  David Su is CEO of Atmosic.  His company is innovating battery life.  Creating technologies to reduce battery usage, Atmosic develops solutions that keep things powered up. Stanford to Startup Much of David’s career has been in the wireless space.  With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford, David joined Atheros Communication in 1999 as its fifth employee.  David continued with Atheros as it grew and went public. He stayed on when Qualcomm acquired Atheros. After some years, David felt his time at Qualcomm had run its course.  He ventured into new areas.  With four former work colleagues, he started a new company. Atmosic’s Vision In the wireless world, battery power can be a boon and a bane.  Reliance on wireless means dependence on batteries for power. When batteries lose charge, things can come to a standstill.  Limited battery life also means a lot of batteries get thrown out – to the tune of three billion per year.  Two and a half years ago, David and fellow co-founders started Atmosic with this in mind.  David, Masoud Zargari, David Nakahira, Srinivas Pattamatta, and Manolis Terrovitis brainstormed.  They sought advice from experts in the field. Their vision began to coalesce – to keep connected devices powered with little to no battery usage. With the vision in place, Dave and his team went to work innovating battery life.  They started with battery-powered Bluetooth devices. Solving Core Battery Problems The advantages Autmosic’s technologies will offer: Lowest power usage without compromising quality. Turns device off when not in use with system level check that transmits only when needed. RF energy harvesting, enabling the battery to last forever. Long-term vision: “Battery-free utopia” – ecosystem in enterprise applications. Lessons Learned What has David learned along the journey toward innovating battery life?  David has some tips for people whether they’re starting a company or pursuing innovation. Interoperate – work with what is already known and improve it. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and be willing to listen. Make sure what you are doing is what you truly believe in and arepassionate  Ground what you are doing in reality. By innovating battery life, Atmosic is focusing on a problem that affects us all.  Powering down to power up will keep us connected sustainably. To track what Atmosic is doing, visit www.atmosic.com/   For the latest updates, check them out on Twitter and LinkedIn. To learn more about powering up, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: A New Way to Power Up. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast  

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovation series, we examine how one creator, Rama Sreenivasan of Blitzz, looked outside the box and created solutions to the hindrances he faced on his innovative journey. When you're in the middle of an important project and equipment fails, you want it fixed fast.  In this week's show, I talk with Blitzz Co-founder Rama Sreenivasan. His company is solving the inefficiencies of tech support.  Blitzz's customer support innovation integrates AI, AR, and live video to solve problems faster. Winding Journeys Connected Rama's path has taken some unexpected twists, from a chemical engineer working on medical devices to starting a SaaS company.  But at the heart of it, he is a problem solver.  The source of his inspiration: his dad, who he likes to call “MacGyver.” Rama founded Blitzz together with co-founder Keyur Patel two years ago.  They most recently participated in CableLabs Filterator.  This accelerator program helps startups develop a product-market fit for the cable industry. A System That Assesses Without the Hassle When instruments stop working, it's time to bring in a helpful live assistant. Blitz's customer support innovation allows a better perspective of and feel for the problem. Through live video chat, companies can avoid spending on onsite technician visits. Customer support is not only heightened but it is also trained to see around the inconspicuous.  Innovation in repair operations contributes to cuts in labor fees and time processing.  What prompted Rama to create Blitzz's innovative approach?  During his PH. D and Post-Doctoral work, frustration with equipment breakdown mid-experiment was the impetus.  The long wait to get repairs done seemed a waste. Rama felt there had to be a better way. AR Perception In any given company, customer support could always be better. That's why the addition of AR technology adds to the customer experience. Questions can be answered faster and more efficiently. One no longer has to worry about the hassle of scheduling an in-person visit. AR perception captures it all. This innovation allows one on one human interaction on a more convenient level. AI Intelligence Equipment can malfunction and run the risk of being unreliable. AI customer support can redirect the customer to questions and answers that may be a better fit. This AI customer support innovation becomes its teacher. The AI brings the ability to learn from the information it processes. Lessons Learned Rama highly recommends entrepreneurs go through an accelerator.  He learned critical elements of the startup process through that experience.  He also credits passion for driving the startup process. Connecting with mentors can help fan the flames of that passion. If you'd like to track the latest with Blitzz, visit the website: https://blitzz.co/ or check out Blitzz on LinkedIn and Twitter. We love your feedback. Tell us what you'd like to hear on Killer Innovations. Get in touch and let me know. To learn more about innovations in customer support, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: Innovations in Customer Support. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

You can learn, practice, and perfect the skill of innovation. To keep the innovation funnel flowing, generating quality ideas is essential. On this week’s Best of Killer Innovation Series, we ask, how do you boost innovation in a team lacking confidence? One practical approach is organizing a disruptive ideation workshop. Let's explore how to create a successful one. Condensed Boot Camp I run an intensive four-day Innovation Boot Camp course a few times yearly. Students often request a condensed one-day version for their teams. In response, I developed the Disruptive Ideation Workshop, which focused on a disruptive approach to generate more and better ideas using the FIRE method. The workshop aims to teach the skill, apply it, and create a pipeline of ideas for the organization. Recently, we tested the workshop with 25 senior leaders with no innovation background. The results surpassed expectations, leading us to name it the “Disruptive Ideation Workshop.” Overview of the Disruptive Ideation Workshop Disruptive ideation means causing innovation through unconventional approaches. The workshop has two main objectives: Teach a disruptive approach to ideation, significantly increasing the quantity and quality of generated ideas. Apply the learned skills to the organization's real-world problem, resulting in a ranked set of disruptive ideas. The course comprises two sections: Foundation and Skills and Application/Practice. Foundation Section: Debunk myths and mysteries surrounding innovation. Develop essential innovation skills, such as overcoming self-doubt, fostering imagination, and seeing with fresh eyes. Address innovation anti-bodies, such as ego, risk aversion, and resistance to change. Introduce the FIRE framework: Focus: Define the problem statement clearly for relevant idea generation. Ideation: Use powerful questions to generate a multitude of high-quality ideas. Ranking: Group and identify top ideas from the pool. Execution: Refine and expand on selected ideas. We emphasize the Ideation component. Skills and Application/Practice Section: Students apply the elements of the FIRE framework to an accurate problem statement. Skills taught include: FOCUS: Clearly defining the problem as a well-defined statement is crucial. IDEATION: Use questions to generate more and better ideas, building upon individual contributions. RANKING: Group and select top ideas from the pool. EXECUTION: Expand on chosen ideas with depth and thought. We emphasize “Adapt and Adopt,” allowing students to apply the learned skills effectively within their organizations. Lessons from the Disruptive Ideation Workshop Insights from conducting the workshop include: The one-day format allows focused time away from daily responsibilities. Crafting a solid problem statement is critical, so allocate sufficient time. Limit workshop size to a manageable number of students, ideally no more than 20. Establish the following steps to sustain momentum post-workshop. Foster a community among participants to maintain a vibrant learning atmosphere. To learn more about disruptive innovation workshops, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: Creating a Disruptive Ideation Workshop. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

On this week’s Best of Killer Innovation Series, we analyze qualities that promote strong innovation leadership and will help any organization become a trailblazer in the game. What are the unique skill sets needed for innovation leadership?  We all have a list of what good leadership skills are but what are the unique ones you need to be a true innovation leader?  Today on Killer Innovations, I will discuss what I have found to be the skills needed for successful innovation leadership. Innovation Leadership Skills These leadership skills apply to all organizations, whether you are a small organization or a large organization. Integrity You need to trust the people you are working with. You need to know they are looking out for what is in the best interests of the team and organization. Vision and Strategy. Team members are looking to the leaders to communicate what the vision and strategy are. You need to look long-range beyond where the team is and roll that back in so they can see what your vision is. You need to be able to tell the story, make the pitch, and share your dream with others. Communication is critical to successful innovation leadership, If you are going to be a leader, you need to be able to interact and build relationships and truly have an interest in other people’s lives. Know what is going on in your team members’ lives so you can help them eliminate distractions and get their heads in the game. You have got to persuade people to leave what they are doing now and join your team. You must be able to convince them that what are doing is something worth their time. Adaptability and Flexibility. As a leader you cannot be rigid, you must be adaptable and flexible with your team and organization. Can you operate as a leader of a team? You need diversity in your team to be successful. Coach and develop. Find young and upcoming people and coach and develop them. Decision-Making. You must be comfortable making the final decision. Realize that sometimes the decision you make is going to fail. Planning and organizing. If you are not good at planning and organizing, then hire people to do it for your team. Basic Skill You Need These are the basic skills you need to be a successful innovation leader.  So, what skills do you need to do differently to truly be an innovation leader? Innovation leadership involves taking risks. You must be comfortable that some of the decisions you make are going to fail. Some of your decisions are going to be flipped. You need to keep looking for new opportunities and threats. Look for threats to your organization, industry, or geography. Innovation is about change. Stability is the death of innovation. Foster a culture where change is expected. Do not rest on the traditional management techniques. Every situation is different. You need to invent the way you manage and do leadership. Be an optimist. Innovation is about being an optimist. You need to convince and convey an optimistic view of the future. Innovators cut through the crap. Innovation leaders need to cut through the crap and get to the core. You need to step in and stop the corporate game-playing. Let’s connect; I am on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.  If we do connect, drop me a note and let me know.  The email address is feedback@philmckinney.com or you can go to Philmckinney.com and drop me a note there. Thinking Beyond the Obvious The challenges on the creativity innovation side do not change based on scale.  It is the same whether you have a five-person team or a fifty-person team.  The challenge is operating and innovating at the same level.  A lot of companies get in a rut because they are doing what they have always done.  So, how do you push yourself and people to go beyond the obvious and do the next thing? Break the rules. Corporate antibodies will come after new ideas; you need to recognize that these antibodies exist. Sometimes you are the corporate antibody. You must think differently. You must unlearn what you have been taught when it comes to conforming. Make sure that you challenge yourself to go beyond the obvious answer to questions. It is all about asking. How do you ask questions that will make you think about something you have not considered before? How do you ask those killer questions? Better questions get you better answers. To learn more about innovation leadership, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: The Art of Innovation Leadership. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations Series, we touch on creativity. Below are some ways to get inspired into incorporating creativity into your personal life to benefit your professional success. What's your creative inspiration? Everyone is creative.  Yet some people seem more creative than others.  What do those people have that others might lack?  What's the secret to creativity? This week we talk about finding creative inspiration outside of work.  I'll share my thoughts on what makes people creative. We'll also hear Kym McNicholas interview Tania Katan.  Tania has just come out with a book called Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy into Your Work and Life. Finding Inspiration Humans use creativity every day to solve complex issues.  Some people are more creative than others in problem-solving.  How do these people manage to stay ahead of everyone else creatively?  First, these people are inspired. Find something piques your interest and drives you to go above and beyond, experiment, and learn.  You can find creative inspiration even at work. If you are passionate about your work, you are feeding your creativity. Practicing Creativity Another common denominator of creative people is that they practice creativity.  People do not just wake up already skilled at something. They have to practice it until they have mastered it.  We can define practice as two things: To do repeated exercises for proficiency To pursue a profession actively   There is a myth that you can't practice creativity and innovation.  You can practice and become proficient. There are many ways to exercise your creative abilities.  There are exercises for the daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly practice of creative skills. Talking Creative Inspiration with Tania Katan Tania Katan shares with Kym McNicholas how people's creativity in their personal life can enhance their work.  Her book, Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy Back into Your Work and Life, examines the impact of bringing personal creative exercise into the workplace. Tania wrote this book because she saw a disconnect between people's creativity and what they did at their jobs during the day. Tania says that if you are looking for innovation, you must bring your creativity to your job.  We can solve problems with innovation by getting our creativity to work. Throughout the book, there are exercises called “Productive Disruptions.”  These are creativity breaks. Stanford's study was called the “Walking Creativity Study.” This proved that people who went for walks experiencing creative blocks experienced 60 percent higher creativity afterward. Scientific studies have proven that disruptions and breaks help improve creativity. Many people don't enhance creativity because they don't have the right experience or training.  We must break through that barrier and ask “what if” questions. Stop trying to solve problems the same way and push creativity. Some of the most significant takeaways from the book are: Our job does not have to be uniquely creative for us actually to be creative. We need to feel free at the workplace to create a creative revolution inside our bodies, minds, and cubicles. One of the biggest roadblocks to creativity is the fear of thinking and doing things differently. The best way to get through that obstacle is to face it. To learn more about creative inspiration, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: Creative Inspiration— From Personal to Professional. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Looking at our Best of Killer Innovations Series, we examine the dynamic nature of innovation and how to manage changing cycles best so that you and your ventures can succeed. Today's latest innovation can quickly be replaced with the next best thing tomorrow.  Whether you're a newcomer to innovation or a seasoned innovator, there's something every innovator should know.  How to forecast and survive cycles of innovation.  This week Ray Zinn, longest serving CEO of a publicly traded company in Silicon Valley, shares his insights—Ray's astute ability to forecast what was coming enabled his company to survive the innovation cycles. Sage Advice: Don't Work for Someone Else In 1974, Ray's boss conveyed a bit of advice.  Don't work for someone else. This advice set Ray on the entrepreneurial path.  He started his own company. With $300,000 of self-funding, he started doing test services.  It was challenging to start a company that was profitable from day one. Ray and his business partner managed it.  By 1985, their company, Micrel Inc., hired engineers and started designing their products. Eventually, Samsung selected Micrel technology for their first cell phones.  With blue chip clients, numerous inventions, and patents in wireless radio and other areas, Micrel went public in 1994. Micrel was profitable every year through 2001. Although Ray had to rebuild the whole company, it remained profitable. Forecasting Innovation Cycles How do you lead companies through the high rate of innovation change?  Ray was able to accomplish this. Ray learned the cycles of innovation so he could forecast them.  You have to know the cycles to predict them for your company.  How do you do this? Your customers are your best lead.  The key to surviving these cycles is understanding them.  Cycles last at the most five years.  You must anticipate what is going to be the following winning product. Getting Your Board Right What were the insights Ray wished he had early on?  Be careful about your Board. He elaborated on his biggest mistake –  not being more selective about his Board of Director participation.  Having a viable, helpful, and contributable Board is critical.  You want members who roll up their sleeves and add value where needed.  You don't need board members to pick you apart and create tension. Ray believes that Boards must focus less on what investors or shareholders want.  They must emphasize what is best for the company and adds sustainable value. Boards should not be too independent. Independence leads to disconnect and a lack of understanding of a company's intricacies and operations. With his wealth of experience in the heart of the world's startup capital, Ray wanted to give back.  He created the Zinn Starter, a seed investment firm akin to Shark Tank for universities. Almost every university in this country has an entrepreneur program.  The Zinn Starter consists of students taking their business ideas before a Board. If the Board approves the concept, the student can start a company while still a student.  Zinn Starter is limited to fully enrolled university students. It is part of the entrepreneur program for six universities. The program has been running for two years, with over five thousand students participating. Ray has also written a book called Tough Things First.  Used by many universities as a textbook, it covers his time with his company in Silicon Valley.  You can track Ray at http://toughthingsfirst.com/.  Visit his website to hear weekly podcasts and tips for entrepreneurs. To learn more about surviving changes, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: How to Survive Changing Cycles and Accurately Forecast. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Diving into our Best of Killer Innovation series, we address a common hindrance to innovation: a drought of new ideas. To fix this problem, I’ve developed a simple list of ways to get the creative flow of thoughts circulating back into your organization. When generating ideas, the default answer is to host a brainstorming session.  Are there other ways to create new ideas that are not dependent on traditional brainstorming?  Today on Killer Innovations, I will share the five I use with you. Mind Mapping and Wishing Mind mapping is a fairly common term nowadays; many types of software provide templates for mind mapping.  Traditionally they are used to organize your data, but it is also a great way to generate new ideas. Develop your problem statement. Write the problem statement in the center of your idea (whiteboards work great). Expand on this problem statement by surrounding it with terms that better describe your needs. Now add a second layer to each of your needs describing how you might be able to solve these individual challenges. Keep adding to your mind map using the steps above until you have sufficiently broken down your problem into manageable parts. It is a fantastic ideation technique that encourages creative answers.  Another great way to generate new ideas is by wishing.  Wishing encourages your team to let their imaginations run wild.  Assuming you have a well-researched and understood problem statement, ask each participant to dream up the most unattainable solutions related to the problem statement.  Create a list of a few dozen wishes and go through the wishes by considering and discussing the ideas in detail.  Ask yourself: What makes them so impossible? How can that idea be scaled down? Which features of that wish could we integrate into this other approach? You might be surprised to discover practical, real-world solutions among the team’s wildest wishes. Six Thinking Hats Six Thinking Hats by Dr. Edward de Bono unleashed a new approach to generating ideas by breaking down the ideas into six areas of thought.  It helps participants put themselves into the shoes of another.  The six hats are: Logic- the facts. Optimism- the value and the benefits. Devil’s Advocate- the difficulties and dangers. Emotion- Feelings and intuitions. Creativity- Possibilities and new ideas. Management- Ensuring the observance of the hat rules. So, how do you use the tool? Have each member put on one of these different “hats” for the discussion. Make sure everyone has their say, and rotate the hats to others for extended sessions. Hence, everyone can see the problem and ideas from various perspectives. Brain-Writing and Forced Combinations One challenge for generating ideas is getting everything rattling around in your head out.  In this exercise, each participant takes a piece of paper and writes rough ideas for solving the problem statement.  Each person passes on each piece of paper, reads it silently, and adds their ideas to the page. This process is repeated until everyone has had an opportunity to contribute to each piece of paper. Once participants have retrieved their original paper, they read and organize the ideas.  Then each participant shares the notes and ideas on their piece of paper.  The significant advantage of brain-writing is that it ensures everybody has an opportunity to share their ideas and reinforces the idea of “building on the ideas of others.” Lastly, the final way to generate ideas is one I have used with my product teams.  The premise is to look at non-logical combinations to create entirely new ideas.  This exercise involves combining ideas that serve different needs or interests to form a new concept.  How does this work? Bring a bag of random items to your ideation. Draw up two lists side-by-side of the items in the bag. Request a team member to choose two or more items and explore ways they can combine them. On the list, draw a line for each combination shared with a brief description of the ideas that resulted. Put the items back in the bag. The following person selects two or more items and repeats the process. This technique can produce some silly results, but it is ultimately a helpful way of getting your team out of a creative rut. To learn more about generating new ideas, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: Escaping a Creative Rut – Generating New Ideas. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations series, we look at one manufacturer's innovative use of resources. This company's story is a testament to how innovation can unexpectedly occur anywhere, with any resource, and at any moment. Innovations' ubiquitous nature is evident in every corner of our rapidly evolving world. We firmly believe in the limitless potential of innovation, as anyone can ignite it, and it can ignite in any realm imaginable. Silicon Valley and other recognized innovation hubs do not have a lock on innovation or a secret sauce that cannot be modeled or improved upon.  It takes a willingness to put aside time, use your resources, explore the unknown, and expand your creativity (we all have it) beyond where you are today to see the non-obvious.  When you do, you will be like our Kentucky guests, revolutionizing in a non-traditional innovation hub and creating a non-high-tech innovation. As part of our Innovation Across America tours, we ventured across the country in our new mobile studio to Paducah, Kentucky. During the tour, we actively sought individuals pushing the boundaries and innovating “Beyond the Obvious.” In our show this week, we had the opportunity to interview the founders of Fin Gourmet Foods.  Started in 2010, Fin Gourmet is a Kentucky Proud Producer of wild-caught Asian Carp products.  So why Asian Carp? It has the highest source of healthy, clean protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, on par with wild-caught salmon.  Nowhere else in the world but the USA are Asian Carp wild-caught, and those from western KY are of the best quality. But more importantly, this innovation story is unique.  Fin's mission and vision are that the Asian Carp provide economic opportunities for communities, fostering job creation and revitalizing the inland fishing industry. Defining and Tackling a Problem Statement The team at Fin Gourmet defined the problems and challenges they encountered and engaged in disruptive ideation.  As an integral part of their innovation process, they considered some basic assumptions of innovation to create value, including: Turn other people's trash into a product:Fin took the Asian Carp, an invasive species taking over the Mississippi and Ohio river systems, and he innovated a way to turn it into an excellent food source. Give opportunities to people overlooked:In addition to locating in a rural part of the country, Fin works with local halfway houses to offer jobs to former prison inmates and others down on their luck.  Training, teaching, and building a culture that values and leverages the abilities of all. Breathe life back into an industry overlooked by others: Fin pays a premium price for what many consider “trash” to help local independent fishing families to transition to this new species of fish and the economy it can support. What is the Non-Obvious Innovation at Fin? Fin has two patented innovative processing techniques: Debone Asian Carp fillets. Make all-natural surimi (Japanese fish paste) from the Carp without water or chemicals. With their innovative model, process, and approach, Fin Gourmet is making a significant impact locally and globally with their products and story.  The Fin founders and fishermen like Ronny Hopkins better manage the Asian Carp so that our rivers/lakes/estuaries are better protected while employing people who need second chances from incarceration, drug court, domestic violence, and more. The ubiquitous nature of innovation is a remarkable phenomenon that defies the limitations of time, place, and resources. It serves as a testament to the infinite wellspring of human creativity and our unwavering commitment to progress. Whether it emerges from the humblest of workshops or arises amidst the chaos of our lives, innovation has the extraordinary power to reshape our world. It reminds us that brilliance can sprout from the most unexpected sources, and no idea should ever be underestimated or dismissed. Let us wholeheartedly embrace the limitless possibilities and foster a culture that not only recognizes but also nurtures the ubiquitous nature of innovation. Together, through our collective efforts, we pave the way for a future that is brighter, more awe-inspiring, and brimming with endless possibilities. To learn more about the ubiquitous nature of innovation, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: The Ubiquitous Nature of Innovation. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast