Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney - A Show About Ideas Creativity And Innovation

This is the third interview from my time at the Cable Tec-Expo Show in Philadelphia. Asaf Matatyaou, the VP of Solutions and Product Management for the Cable Access Business at Harmonic, joins us to discuss AI, data, and innovation culture. Consumer expectations have considerably shifted due to the impact of COVID-19. As a result, the reliability of network connectivity has become paramount. Power usage is another area brought to the forefront of innovation. The cable industry is heavily focused on reducing power usage while improving speed. Green initiatives and power saving, especially with the rising electricity costs, have become motivating areas for today's innovators. Network Virtualization The network is moving from traditional proprietary silicone and hardware stacks into software. As a result, running the network now requires different capabilities. As the cable industry steps into this transition, it is essential to get those with experience comfortable while also allowing them to utilize the newest technologies. AI Automation and the Value Creation of Data Finding the role of AI within networks to create reliability tends to be tricky. One group thinks AI is the most significant new thing, while others think it's evil and dangerous. Asaf believes that there is an excellent opportunity for implementing AI in terms of scale. To unlock this opportunity, organizations must be confident and prove they are getting the correct data. Secondly, they need the right actions for that data. Lastly, they need to train that data continuously. Many organizations overlook the quality of the data they are capturing. When Harmonic started, they put money into every bit of data they could. Over time, they realized the importance of filtering out non-valuable data. It is key to figuring out what data you need, what you can do with it, and how frequently you need it. I believe that if organizations are not thinking of applying AI to their innovations, they will be left behind. Innovation Culture & Collaboration Harmonic collaborates with its customers to pinpoint their desired focus areas and provide actionable solutions. Internally, Harmonic prioritizes having an innovation culture. The organization's leaders encourage experimentation at every level and don't shy away from failure. Every year, they host a two-day ‘Hackathon,' allowing anyone in the organization to develop new ideas. They offer prizes for the top ideas and even implement some ideas into their solutions. To those who have an idea and don't know what to do with it, Asaf has a simple message: Don't waste time talking about it. Just do it, and then learn from it. Fail and then achieve. Check out Asaf's LinkedIn here. Check out Harmonic's website here. About our Guest: Asaf Matatyaou Asaf Matatyaou is Vice President of Solutions and Product Management for the Cable Access Business at Harmonic. Asaf is responsible for product management, strategy, and solution architectures in this role, including Harmonic's virtual cable access solution, CableOS®. Asaf has 20+ years of experience as an engineer and executive in the cable industry, including roles where he led the development of CMTS products and helped drive industry specifications. Asaf earned his BS degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of California, Davis. To know more about Asaf Matatyaou and Harmonic, listen to: Asaf Matatyaou of Harmonic on Innovation Culture and AI. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Humans have always been thinkers. From the time early humans began to communicate, they used their brains to figure out how to survive and thrive. Over the years, humans have continued to use their brains to solve problems and create new things. To do this, humans have had to learn to think differently. Interestingly, humans are not the only animals that think. Ravens, for example, are known for being very clever birds. They can solve problems and even use tools. However, humans still outrank all other animals regarding their thinking ability. This is mainly because humans can think abstractly. We can imagine things that don't exist and come up with solutions to problems that don't have straightforward answers. Human versus Computers With thinking, humans and computers have similarities and significant differences. Both humans and computers can solve problems. Although humans are better at abstract thinking, computers are better at logical thinking. Computers can come up with ideas based on logic and data, but they cannot come up with totally new and original ideas. One thing that will always set humans apart from machines is our ability to think creatively and come up with new solutions to problems. Thinking Styles There are two fundamental ways humans think: convergent and divergent thinking. Convergent thinking is focused and goal-oriented. It is suitable for solving problems that have a single correct answer. Most people think in a convergent way most of the time because our schools and workplaces reward people who come up with the one right answer. However, to innovate and create, we need people who can think in divergent ways. Divergent thinking is more open-ended and exploratory. It is good for solving problems that have multiple correct answers. We often use this thinking in creative professions, where people are encouraged to develop new and innovative ideas. Both convergent and divergent thinking are essential. The best way to solve a problem is to use both types of thinking together. Start by using divergent thinking to explore different possibilities to develop new and innovative ideas. Then, by using convergent thinking, you can narrow down your options and find the best solution. Convergent Thinking Convergent thinking is a problem-solving approach that involves generating one correct solution to a problem and creating action plans. Characteristics of Convergent Thinking There are several characteristics of convergent thinking. First, it is logical and systematic. This means that convergent thinkers approach problems step-by-step, analyzing all the data before coming to a conclusion. Second, they are analytical. They like to break down problems into smaller parts so that they can understand them better. Third, they are objective. They make decisions based on facts and data, not emotions or personal opinions. Finally, they are decisive. They know what they want, and they go after it aggressively. Limitations of Convergent Thinking While convergent thinking is an important skill, it has some limitations. First, it can be rigid and inflexible. They often have trouble adapting to new situations or changing their minds once they have made a decision. Second, it can be restrictive. They often focus too much on the details and lose sight of the bigger picture. And finally, it can be boring. It can be repetitive and unchallenging, leading to stagnation and a lack of creativity. Divergent Thinking Humans need people with divergent thinking skills to create and innovate. Divergents think outside of the box and come up with many possible solutions for a problem instead of one good idea like convergent thinkers do; they explore all angles to find something new or different about any given situation which can lead them down paths not taken by others before – essential if we want our world's progress made quickly enough! Characteristics of Divergent Thinking There are several characteristics of divergent thinking. First, it is creative. Divergent thinkers think outside the box and come up with ideas that no one else has thought of before. Second, it is flexible. Divergent thinkers can adapt quickly to new situations and change their minds when necessary. Third, it is open-minded. Divergent thinkers are willing to consider different points of view and explore alternate solutions. And fourth, it is challenging. Divergent thinking can be frustrating because it involves taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone. Limitations of Divergent Thinking While divergent thinking is essential for innovation, it has its own set of limitations. First, it can be disorganized. Divergent thinkers often have trouble staying focused on one task or goal. Second, it can be undisciplined. Divergent thinkers may start projects but never finish them because they get sidetracked easily. And finally, it can be chaotic. Divergent thinking can lead to confusion and may not always result in a clear solution. Need More Divergent Thinkers Since convergent thinking is the most common form of thinking, we need to expand our thinking styles by building up divergent thinkers. The first step in improving your divergent thinking skills is understanding the different types of divergent thinking. There are ideators, connectors, and analogizers. Ideators come up with a lot of ideas, connectors connect ideas, and analogizers see similarities between ideas. You need to practice and be proficient in all three types to improve your divergent thinking skills. The Ideator To be a successful divergent thinker, you need to be an ideator — the ability to generate new ideas constantly. The best way to do this is to have a tool or method that you can use to stimulate your creativity. It can be any process, approach, aid (e.g., card decks), or tool you find helpful in getting your creative juices flowing. The key is to use the tools to be creative regularly. Don't just use it to develop new ideas for work or school projects. Use it to come up with new ideas for anything and everything. The more you use your ideator skills, the better your divergent thinking skills will become. There are so many ways that you can improve your ideator skills. One way is to practice brainstorming by identifying a daily object like a ballpoint pen and setting an idea quote (e.g., 25) for how many ways you could improve it. The idea quota forces you to brainstorm various ideas, some of which may be far-fetched and beyond the obvious. Still, the important part is that it gets you into the habit of generating new ideas regularly. The Connector The connector skill takes two seemingly unrelated ideas and finds the link. Divergent thinkers need to see the world in terms of connections and can come up with new ideas by linking together different concepts. This results in taking a lot of disparate ideas and finding the common thread that ties them together. The result is ideas that wouldn't have been possible if the thinking was linear. One exercise is to take a problem you are trying to solve and break it down into different fundamental parts. Then, find as many evident and non-obvious connections between those parts. Then take those connections and use your ideator skills to brainstorm more ideas. This will force you to see the problem differently and come up with new ideas that might seem random but could lead to an unexpected solution. The Analogizer The Analogizer is the skill where someone can see the similarities between wildly different ideas. They can take two seemingly unrelated concepts and mash them up. The result is the ability to come up with new and innovative ideas by finding connections between ideas that don't seem to be related. For example, it can take two different industries, companies, products, or services and find as many non-obvious similarities and differences as possible. Then take those and use your ideator skills to brainstorm more ideas. Divergent Thinkers Win The world is full of convergent thinkers. They are the people who work in corporations, follow the rules, and arrive at a single solution. They are good at following instructions and are often praised for their ability to “stay within the lines.” The world also has its fair share of divergent thinkers. They are the people who start businesses, push boundaries, and come up with new ideas. They are often praised for their creativity and innovation. Divergent thinkers are critical to innovation and progress. Corporations rely on convergent thinkers to maintain efficiency and consistency, but divergent thinkers drive innovation and change. Divergent thinkers can see beyond the status quo and develop new ways of doing things. They challenge the rules and find solutions to problems nobody else has thought of. Divergent thinkers help businesses stay ahead of the competition by coming up with new ideas that no one has ever thought of before. They help businesses remain innovative and relevant in today's constantly changing world. As a result, businesses that want to succeed must embrace divergence and encourage their employees to think creatively. To know more about divergent and convergent thinking, listen to: Why Divergent Thinkers Will Always Win. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Jordi Fernandez, Founder and CEO of BeneTalk, joins the show to discuss the mobile app that provides a community for people who stutter. Jordi is a person who stutters and growing up, his parents and teachers didn’t understand how to approach it. At a young age, he engaged in various forms of speech therapy. When he moved from Spain to the UK, his therapy took an alternative approach. It focused on getting him out of his comfort zone and provided him with a community to be a part of. This community focus greatly helped Jordi and inspired him to eventually found BeneTalk. The Importance of Community People who stutter often struggle with social anxiety and other mental health issues. As a result, many choose to limit their speech. In the realm of speech therapy, this is called ‘masking’. Because of this, Jordi says there are a lot more people who stutter than the studies typically show. Having a community that shows it is all right to stutter can make a world of difference. It allows people to embrace their stuttering, instead of running away from it. This is where the BeneTalk app comes into play. The focus is not all on fixing the stutter, but rather on enabling those who stutter to feel more comfortable speaking. This allows them to build confidence and improve their speech over time. The BeneTalk app Jordi's vision for BeneTalk was to build a stuttering device similar to how a Fitbit operates. The hardware would be placed on the user’s chest and used daily. When COVID-19 broke out, Jordi and his team decided to pivot to a mobile app. The BeneTalk app allows users to learn about themselves, connect with others who stutter and track their speech progress. The app contains courses on stuttering and teaches speech techniques. The team is currently working on creating personalized speech therapy programs. Additionally, they are building a separate app for parents to help their children. Today, they have around 2,000 monthly users, from 165 different countries. In the future, Jordi hopes BeneTalk can be a digital therapeutics platform utilized by all those who stutter around the world. Check out Jordi’s LinkedIn here. Check out BeneTalk’s website here. About our Guest:  Jordi Fernandez is the founder and CEO of BeneTalk: a mobile app that combines digital speech therapy and community to help people who stutter, and their families, reduce the negative impact stuttering has on lives. Jordi was born in Barcelona, Spain, and worked as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer in multi-billion-dollar deepwater projects for 15 years in the UK. Jordi is a person who stutters, and in 2021, he quit his job to help millions like himself through BeneTalk. To know more about Jordi Fernandez and BeneTalk, listen to: Jordi Fernandez of BeneTalk on Innovating Stuttering. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Whenever I'm speaking outside of California, I can usually expect an audience question about Silicon Valley. Such as — “What's the secret to Silicon Valley's success?” After all, this region is home to some of the world's most successful and innovative companies. People want to know what about Silicon Valley makes it so successful, and they're eager to learn any tips or tricks they can use to bring that success to their businesses and regions. If it were only that easy! The truth is, there's no one secret to Silicon Valley's success. Rather, it's a combination of factors that have come together to create the perfect environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. History of Silicon Valley The history of Silicon Valley is fascinating. Before there was Silicon in Northern California, there was agriculture. The first settlers in the area were farmers, and the region was known for its fruit orchards. In the early 1900s, the Santa Clara Valley was nicknamed “The Valley of Heart's Delight” because of its abundant fruit production. As the century progressed, the Santa Clara Valley became increasingly industrialized. During World War II, the region's companies produced materials for the war effort. After the war, the area's economy shifted to a focus on high-tech. This change was partly due to the presence of Stanford University, which attracted talented scientists and engineers to the area. Silicon Valley got its name from the silicon chip manufacturers once based there. Several major technology companies in the 1950s and 1960s were founded in Silicon Valley, including Hewlett-Packard. At that time, the area was known for its “startup culture” of risk-taking and innovation, and the region's many venture capitalists fostered it. In recent years, Silicon Valley has faced some challenges. Economic recession, cost of living, and competition from other regions have led to a decline in the proportional number of startups being founded in Silicon Valley. There have also been several cornerstone companies that have moved their headquarters out of the valley, including; SpaceX, Oracle, and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. However, the region's culture and philosophy remain strong, and it continues to be a leader in technological innovation, albeit a shrinking leader. Innovation Culture of Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is known for creating a regional culture and environment for breakthrough and radical innovations. What are the elements of this regional culture? Here, failure is seen as an opportunity to learn and grow. The region's many venture capitalists are willing to take risks with new and innovative ideas, and the region's entrepreneurs are eager to experiment and take risks to achieve success. In the valley, securing funding for your next idea after a failure is easier than getting your first round of funding. Why? You learned. The region is also known for its culture of openness and collaboration. Unlike other business regions where companies compete fiercely with one another and keep everything confidential, in Silicon Valley, it is common for companies to share ideas and resources to create the best products and services possible. In addition, Silicon Valley is home to some of the world's best universities, which are a source of critical talent and innovation. Examples of Famous Inventions That Came From Silicon Valley Over the years, Silicon Valley has produced some of the most groundbreaking commercially successful inventions in history. While most did not originate in Silicon Valley, the willingness to innovate beyond what others are doing has made the region so successful. Here are some examples of famous inventions that came from Silicon Valley: The personal computer The personal computer is one of the most famous inventions to come out of Silicon Valley. It was first developed in the early 1970s by a team at Xerox PARC, and it quickly became popular in Silicon Valley thanks to its ability to help people work faster and more efficiently. In the 1980s, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak helped to bring the personal computer to the mainstream, and they helped make it into the essential tool that it is today. GPS The global positioning system is a technology that has revolutionized how people navigate. Bradford Parkinson, professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University, conceived the present satellite-based system in the early 1960s and developed it with the U.S. Air Force. The GPS works by using a network of satellites that orbit the earth. These satellites emit radio signals picked up by receivers on the ground. By triangulating these signals, the receiver can determine its location on earth. The consumer commercialization of GPS started with Hewlett-Packard's Charlie Trimble. Trimble was an engineer who became interested in using GPS for navigation after getting lost on a hike. Trimble Navigation was founded in November 1978 by Charlie Trimble and two partners from Hewlett-Packard, initially operating above a movie theatre in Los Altos, California. In the 1980s, the U.S. government allowed civilians to use GPS for navigation, and the technology quickly caught on. Trimble Navigation was one of the first companies to develop consumer GPS receivers. Over the years, GPS has become increasingly accurate and widespread. It is now used for everything from guiding planes and ships to finding our way around unfamiliar cities. GPS has even found its way into our pockets. Smart Phones The first smartphones were developed in the early 1990s. They were large, clunky devices that were not very popular. The Nokia 9300i was one of the first smartphones that gained some traction in the market. It was released in 2003, and it ran on Symbian OS. In 2007, Apple Inc. introduced the iPhone, which was a game-changer in the smartphone It was the first smartphone to become a mainstream hit. The iPhone was a revolutionary device because it combined the features of a phone, a computer, and a camera into one small package. The iPhone was made possible by Silicon Valley's love of innovation and its focus on integrating new technologies with the early failed concepts of others. Online Search Engines Given the birth of the internet, the need to organize the explosion of information became critically important. This led to the development of search engines. While there were many early attempts at organizing the web, the first true search engine was Archie, developed in 1990 by Alan Emtage, then a postgraduate student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Archie allowed users to search for files on anonymous FTP sites. In 1996, Larry Page and Sergey Brin invented a new search engine called “BackRub.” BackRub differed from Archie because it used links (backlinks, thus the name BackRub) between websites to measure importance. This algorithm would later become the basis for Google's search engine algorithm. Google's dominance is because of its superior search engine algorithm, which ranks websites based on their importance and relevance. Portability of Silicon Valley's Innovation Culture The secrets to Silicon Valley's success are not that secret. Each element can be easily understood and applied, but what is unique is the combination of all these factors. What five actions other regions and businesses can and should take away as learnings? An Attitude of Innovation Cultivating a culture of innovation with a strong belief that innovations can change the world for the better is essential. This mindset encourages people to dream big. Encourage creativity and risk-taking One way to encourage creativity and risk-taking is to create an environment where it not only tolerates failure but embraces and encouraged it. In Silicon Valley, entrepreneurs can experiment with new ideas without fear of reprisal. This allows them to take on risks no other entrepreneur would dream of taking and develop innovative solutions. Fund and support early-stage startups One of the critical reasons that Silicon Valley has been so successful is the amount of funding and support available for early-stage startups. This allows entrepreneurs to develop their ideas without fear of financial insecurity. In addition, several organizations in Silicon Valley provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and funding assistance. Encourage collaboration The culture of collaboration is vital in Silicon Valley. Startups help one another by sharing resources and ideas, contributing to their growth and success. Establishing co-working spaces and incubators is an excellent way to promote collaboration. Co-working spaces allow entrepreneurs to collaborate and share ideas, while incubators provide support and direction for startup businesses. Develop a strong workforce Silicon Valley has developed a strong workforce because it has located itself amid leading research universities such as Stanford and the University of California Berkeley. These universities help to cultivate the skills that workers need for jobs in the tech industry. Businesses and regions can replicate Silicon Valley's success by investing in education and training programs. They should also focus on developing relevant programs for the local economy. Not All Good As with any region or industry, Silicon Valley has its share of pros and cons. While it is home to some of the world's most innovative companies and has produced countless technological advancements, some things need to change. For one, Silicon Valley is incredibly expensive. The cost of living in the area is astronomical, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for young people to afford to live there. In addition, the high cost of housing is causing many people who grew up in the area to be displaced. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the lack of diversity in Silicon Valley. The tech industry is overwhelmingly white and male, and this needs to change if Silicon Valley continues to thrive. Finally, Silicon Valley has an attitude of elitist thinking regarding innovation that is not invented there — “Real innovation only happens in Silicon Valley.” Innovation with global impact requires collaboration that extends beyond any geographic area. This silicon valley thinking must change if it is going to maintain its position as a world leader in technology and innovation. Conclusion The innovation secrets of Silicon Valley aren't that secret. The region has been thriving because it has cultivated a culture of innovation, encouraged creativity and risk-taking, supported early-stage startups, and encouraged collaboration. These are all things that businesses and regions can replicate to achieve similar levels of success. However, there are some areas where Silicon Valley needs to improve. The region is becoming increasingly expensive and challenging to live in, and it needs to do more to foster diversity within the tech industry. Additionally, Silicon Valley must learn to embrace collaboration with other regions to maintain its position as a world leader in technology. The first step a region or organization should take is to identify the unique strengths and resources that it has to offer. Once these assets have been identified, a plan can be developed to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. Any region or organization can achieve Silicon Valley-level success by following these steps. While I spent most of my career in Silicon Valley, I firmly believe that innovation success can be achieved anywhere in the world. The steps above are not meant to be prescriptive but rather provide a general framework for how any region or organization can encourage innovation. With the right mix of ingredients, any place can experience innovation success. To know more about Silicon Valley, listen to: The Secret to Silicon Valley's Success. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

This is the second interview from my time at the Cable Tec-Expo Show in Philadelphia. Jan Ariesen, the CTO of Technetix, joins us to discuss how his organization’s prioritization of innovation, paired with the right team, helps them solve tomorrow’s problems. Jan Ariesen of Technetix on Prioritizing Innovation Engineers typically focus on solving today’s problems but don’t take time to think about tomorrow. Technetix has a reputation for solving tomorrow’s problems that others in the broadband industry don’t think of. Predicting the future is not simple, as you will almost always be wrong. Technetix empowers its employees by giving them the freedom to predict the future without fearing failure. Jan said that most of their ideas at Technetix fail, and only a few succeed. This is simply the nature of innovation. For example, it took the engineers at Technetix five years to develop a new style of broadband amplifier. While everyone told them it was impossible, they are now building amplifiers that can do 1.8 gigahertz. Technetix pushes its people to “make decisions” from the top down. People in the innovation space often get hung up on analysis and allow the fear of failure to overcome them. Organizations with a heavy experimentation culture give their people the tools they need to make game-changing innovations. Hiring the Right Team When Jan is conducting interviews for engineers, he looks for two key attributes. He always asks specific questions to those he interviews. “If your bike got a flat tire, would you go to the shop or fix it yourself?”. If the interviewee says they would take their bike to the shop, then he says they are not an engineer. True engineers want to understand things and desire to solve them. They have an unconventional way of thinking that others do not possess. Jan also looks to hire those that are team players. These people will help others and learn from them along the way. People often overlook the importance of collaboration and cooperation and overemphasize technical skills. You can always teach the technical, but you can’t teach the attitude and mindset. Check out Jan’s LinkedIn here. Check out Technetix’s website here. About Our Guest: Jan Ariesen Jan Ariesen is an experienced engineer with 30+ years of broadband cable TV design experience. He leads the CTO, Marketing, R&D, and QA teams at Technetix. Before 2008, Jan was the VP of Engineering, leading teams in the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands. His teams were responsible for researching, developing, and inventing new products and technologies. Jan joined the Technetix board in 2018. To automatically receive the latest episodes of Killer Innovations downloaded to your device, click here and subscribe! To know more about prioritizing innovation, listen to: Jan Ariesen of Technetix on Prioritizing Innovation. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

What is future literacy? Future literacy is the ability to look at the world and understand how it will change in the future. This can be a valuable skill that historically has not been on most people's radar screen. Most people don't think about the future much. We focus on the present, and when we think about the future, it is usually what we want it to be. However, if we want to be ready for the future and take advantage of its opportunities, we need to start with our future literacy. Future literacy is about imagining the world 25, 50, or even 100 years from now and then looking back (backcasting) to today and making decisions accordingly. It is not about predicting the future but understanding the trends and influencers shaping it. What Changes Should We Watch? The world is constantly changing. New technologies, economic shifts, and social movements are just a few of the things that can cause dramatic change. By paying attention to them, we can get a glimpse into the future and start planning for what's to come. Some areas that are worth researching include: Technology: What new technologies are on the horizon? How will they change the world around us? We are seeing new technologies emerging all the time, impacting our lives. For example, the internet has completely transformed how we play, live, and work. It has enabled us to connect with people worldwide and given us access to the information we would never have had before. New technologies are also changing the way we interact with each other. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are giving us new ways to communicate and connect with others. We are also seeing new technologies that are changing the way we live our lives, such as driverless cars and robots. As these technologies continue to develop, they will significantly impact our lives. It is crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest developments to understand how they will affect the world around you. Social Change: What social changes are happening now that will impact the future? It is essential to be aware of the social changes that are happening so that you can adapt to them—for example, the rise of the gig economy and automation. The gig economy is a new way of working that is becoming increasingly popular. People are increasingly choosing to work freelance or on a contract basis instead of full-time. The rise of automation is another. With advances in artificial intelligence and robotics, we are seeing more and more jobs being replaced by machines. This is having a growing impact on the way we will work in the future. Economic Change: What economic changes are happening now that will impact the future? Economic changes will have a significant impact on the future. For example, the rise of nationalism and protectionism is already impacting the global economy. As countries and regions close their borders to immigration and limit trade, the global economy becomes increasingly fragmented. This will negatively impact the global economy, slowing economic growth and leading to more conflict. Environmental Change: What environmental changes are happening now that will impact the future? Several environmental changes are happening. For example, climate change already has a significant environmental impact and is expected to cause even more damage. Other environmental changes include biodiversity loss, air pollution, and water shortages. These issues will have a significant impact on the environment and the way we live our lives. Taking Action It is crucial to be proactive about the future and not be a passive participant in it. We need to take action now to make sure that we not only adapt to the changes happening but also decide to influence the future we will leave behind. If we don't, we risk letting the future be dictated to us. One way that we can take action is by improving our future literacy. This means staying up-to-date with the latest technological developments, social change, economic change, and other areas of influence that will impact our future. By understanding these changes, we can ensure that we are prepared for the future. Another way we can take action is by ensuring that we are involved in shaping the future. This is a role that is made for innovators like you and me. We can do this by voting, campaigning, and speaking out about the issues that matter to us. We need to make our voices heard so that we can shape the world. The future is happening now, and we must ensure we are prepared for it. By taking action now, we can ensure that we have a bright future to look forward to. Step 1 is to improve your innovation literacy. The Benefits of Improving Future Literacy There are many reasons it is vital to improving your future literacy. Some of the most important are: 1.      It can help you make better decisions today. Making decisions today is critical to shaping your future. By thinking ahead and considering the possible implications of your decisions, you can make choices today that are more likely to lead to a desirable outcome. Future literacy can help you make better decisions by enabling you to understand, think critically about, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. 2.      It can help you identify potential opportunities and challenges that may arise in the future. Future literacy enables you to identify potential futures and assess the associated risks and opportunities. This information can be helpful when making important decisions, such as what career to pursue or products to buy. When you have a better understanding of the potential consequences of your actions, you are more likely to make informed decisions today that will benefit you in the long run. 3.      Help you develop a more global perspective. When you have a better understanding of the consequences of your actions, you can make informed decisions that consider the needs of people from all corners of the world. This expanded perspective better equips you to understand the tradeoffs of each decision and its effect on people from all over the world. 4.      Equip you to communicate better about future-related topics. Having a sound foundation in future literacy can help you communicate more effectively when discussing future-related topics. You better understand the concepts being discussed and can ask questions that will help clarify any uncertainties. By having a solid understanding of future-related topics, you can share your knowledge and expertise with others and help educate them about the potential implications of the decisions being made. 5.      Improve collaboration with others to create better future solutions. When you can think about the future and understand the implications of decisions made today, you are in a better position to collaborate with others to create solutions. You can bring your unique perspective to the table and contribute to finding creative solutions that consider the needs of all involved. Additionally, by being future literate, you can help others to see the potential implications of their actions and encourage them to consider the long-term impact of their decisions. 6.      Help you make the world a better place. When you have a strong understanding of future literacy, you can think about the long-term implications of decisions. This helps you make informed choices that consider not only your own needs but the needs of others. Additionally, you can help to educate others about the importance of thinking about the future and making decisions that will benefit us all in the long run. When everyone makes choices with the future in mind, it can help create a brighter future for all. 5 Habits to Improve Your Future Literacy Several habits will improve your future literacy. These include: 1.      Reading articles and books about the future. Reading articles and books about the future gives you a deeper understanding of the concepts involved. This will help you apply future literacy in your life. 2.      Watching documentaries about the future. Watching documentaries about the future can help improve your understanding of what life could be like. By seeing how experts think about the future and what they believe may happen, you can gain a better perspective on the range of potential futures. 3.      Taking online courses about future literacy. There are many online courses available that can help you learn more about future literacy. These courses often provide a more in-depth look at the concepts involved. 4.      Participating in discussion forums about the future. Discussion forums are a great way to connect with others interested in discussing the future. You can better understand different perspectives by sharing your thoughts and ideas with others. 5.      Researching specific topics related to the future. If there is a specific topic related to the future that interests you, research it! This can be helpful when discussing future topics with others or applying them to your work. What Should You Monitor? When thinking about the future, there are a few key things that you should pay attention to. I use tools like Google Alerts and Feedly to help me keep track of essential topics, companies, and industries I want to know more about. You can also use social media to follow experts in the field and get their take on current events. The three areas I would recommend you start monitoring immediately include the following: The accelerating pace of change: It is hard to overstate how fast the world is changing. We are seeing exponential growth in many areas, including population, technology, and information. This growth is causing unprecedented change and upheaval. Increased global interconnectedness: The world is becoming more connected every day. This interconnectedness is causing new problems and opportunities. With the internet and social media rise, we are seeing a global village emerge. The rise of artificial intelligence: AI is poised to change the world in ways we can't imagine. It is already starting to transform industries and will soon impact our economy and way of life. Conclusion Future literacy is essential because it helps you to understand and make decisions about the future. It can be challenging to keep up with the rapidly changing world, but by monitoring key areas and staying informed, you can improve your chances of success. The future is unpredictable, so always preparing for anything is essential. With a solid future literacy foundation, you can face whatever comes your way head-on!   To automatically receive the latest episodes of Killer Innovations downloaded to your device, click here and subscribe!   To know more about future literacy, listen to: Understanding and Improving Your Future Literacy. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

Matt Greeley, the Founder and CEO of Brightidea, is on The Killer Innovations Show to discuss the launch of their new idea incubation tool, BrightIdea Memo. Matt has been involved in idea management systems (IMS) since their early days. In 2005, BrightIdea launched the first-ever online innovation platform. During my time at HP, I worked with Matt on the earlier versions of Brightidea while they serviced us. At CableLabs, where I am now CEO, we have been utilizing Brightidea for almost a decade. Brightidea acts as an innovation pipeline platform, similar to how Salesforce is a sales pipeline platform. The platform’s goal is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization’s innovation process, leading to financial impact. Since innovation tends to be messy, having a non-restrictive tool at your disposal is essential. Executives and IMS In the past, most executives did not understand the true value of a tool for ideas. With today’s fast innovation pace, leaders are tasked with even more challenges. Due to constant disruption, many executives are now recognizing the importance of innovation. Idea Management Systems (IMS) have transformed from simply capturing ideas to helping organizations find ideas with the highest value. It’s all about taking an idea and identifying how to mature it. Long-form Narrative Ideas Amazon no longer uses PowerPoint to present ideas to executives. Jeff Bezos swapped out PowerPoint for six-page memos. These memos get sent out to the executives before each planning meeting. At CableLabs, we have also banned PowerPoint. This helps executives avoid wasting time learning about ideas during meetings. Narrative writing utilizes a process I like to call backcasting. You write things backward, starting with the launch date, using a press release. The press release puts the customer first by focusing on how they would view the solution. A core benefit of this practice is organizational alignment. Long-form narrative writing gets the entire organization involved in the visioning exercise from the start. This provides a much broader ecosystem of input. The Launch of BrightIdea Memo BrightIdea Memo is a tool that sets up teams for long-form narrative writing around an idea. The platform acts as a home for outside-the-box projects that still need to incubate. You can start with a blank document or use a press release template. The tool allows for collaboration, has AI writing software, and sports a peer review function. Brightidea Memo guides users to get their 6-page memo actionable and ready for executives. Check out Brightidea Memo at Brightidea’s website here. About our Guest: Matt Greeley Matt Greeley is the Founder & CEO of Brightidea, the global leader in On-Demand Innovation Pipeline Management (IPM) software. Previously, Matt consulted for Wrenchead.com and co-founded Silicon Valley enterprise software provider Alyanza Software, which Niku acquired. Matt has a Degree in Computer Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and studied Creativity and Marketing at Stanford University. To know more about Matt Greeley, listen to: Matt Greeley of Brightidea on Long-Form Narratives of Ideas. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

We kick off a new series of interviews from my time at the Cable Tec-Expo Show in Philadelphia. Hanno Narjus, the SVP of Video and Broadband Solutions at Teleste, joins us to discuss innovation efforts from the European to the U.S market. Cable Tec-Expo Show Due to COVID-19, many of us missed out on various events. It was great to experience the high energy levels at the expo as everyone was finally in 3D. Seeing cable products coming to life, especially around 10G, brought excitement to everyone in attendance. Hanno Narjus of Teleste on European Innovation and Nokia Hanno is based out of Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki has an excellent reputation as a hub of European innovation, specifically through the impact of companies like Nokia. When Nokia shut down, hundreds of thousands of people spread to different companies and industries across Finland. The country's innovation culture was transformed as people brought their global perspectives and experiences to various places. The Cable Industry's Secret Weapon As Hanno brings his innovations from Europe to the U.S, he faces many challenges. Throughout history, many of the greatest innovations have come from the U.S. While challenges exist, the cable industry's culture has bridged many gaps. From Hanno's perspective, the U.S has a welcoming and appreciative culture around innovation and ideas. There is an open culture of sharing ideas and innovations in the cable industry, which Hanno loves. This collaborative environment is truly the secret weapon of the cable industry. The Importance of Innovation Processes Hanno says his organization has a process of innovation while still encouraging people to think outside the box. I would argue that having an innovation process is essential. While the process is necessary, it is vital to avoid locking that process. You must constantly innovate the way you innovate, just as you innovate your business processes and services. Hanno's Advice for the listeners For those who have ideas within their organization, be passionate and patient. Believe in what you have, but don't immediately go to the top with your idea. Build a group around you who can be opinion leaders that will back you up once you gain some momentum and have created a support system. Run with it. About our Guest: Hanno Narjus Hanno Narjus is the Senior Vice President of Video and Broadband Solutions at Teleste Networks. He has more than 30 years of experience in the ICT sector, including mobile communications, fixed broadband, and cable networks. Hanno has held several managerial positions in the telecommunications industry and spent ten years of his career at Nokia. He holds a Master's degree in economics from the University of Tampere in Finland.   To know more about Hanno Narjus, listen to: Hanno Narjus of Teleste on European Innovation and Nokia RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

In an age where the latest and greatest technology is just a click away, it's easy to become an imitator. We see something new and want it without considering whether we really need it. We buy into the hype without stopping to think about the implications of our purchase. Before we know it, our homes are cluttered with gadgets and devices that we never use and don't need. But there's another side to this story. Some people see the world around them and find ways to improve on what they see. They are innovators—always looking for new ways to solve old problems, to make things faster, easier, and more efficient. Trends or popular opinion do not sway them; instead, they rely on their intuition and creativity to drive their innovation. What is the difference between an innovator and an imitator? There is a big difference between innovators and imitators. Innovators are people who see the world around them and find ways to improve on what they see. They come up with new ideas and solutions to old problems. Imitators follow the trends and popular opinions of the day. They are not creative or intuitive; instead, they rely on others to tell them what to do. Innovation is key to progress. It is innovators who come up with new technologies, new products, and new ways of doing things. Without innovators, we would still be living in the Dark Ages. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it will never lead to progress. If we all followed the trends, we would never make any real advancements as a society. How can you tell if you are more of an innovator or imitator yourself? The truth is, everyone is a mix of both innovators and imitators. We all have our moments of creativity and our moments of imitation. But some people are more inclined to be innovators, while others are more inclined to be imitators. So how can you tell if you are more of an innovator or more of an imitator? The best way to figure this out is to look at the different areas of your life. Are you more creative and intuitive in your professional life, or are you more likely to follow your boss's lead? Are you more adventurous and daring in your personal life, or do you prefer to stick to the status quo? I've built my career around innovation and focused it on my professional life. For those that know me, my personal life is very uncreative and traditional. I'm not an innovator in my personal life, which surprises people because of my high-profile innovation work. It's not that I can't be creative in my personal life. It's just that I don't have the same focus on innovation. Do you have to be an innovator in all areas of your life to be successful? No, you don't have to be an innovator in all areas of your life to be successful. You can be successful as either an innovator or an imitator. It all depends on what you want to achieve in life. Understanding whether you are more of an innovator or more of an imitator can help you become a more well-rounded person. It can also help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses. What are some examples of famous innovators and imitators throughout history? Innovation and imitation are two essential aspects of success in any field. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, and both can be successful. Famous innovators throughout history include Thomas Edison, who invented the lightbulb, and Alexander Graham Bell, who created the telephone. These men were able to change the world with their inventions, and they opened up new possibilities for everyone. They were innovators because they came up with new ideas and worked hard to make them a reality. There have also been many famous imitators throughout history. One example is Johannes Gutenberg, who invented the printing press. He was not the first person to come up with the idea of printing books, but he improved the process and made it more efficient. This made it possible for books to be printed on a large scale, which helped spread knowledge around the world. Another famous imitator is Leonardo da Vinci, an expert painter, sculptor, and architect. He copied the work of other artists and improved upon it, making his paintings and sculptures some of the most famous in history. He learned from others and became one of the most accomplished artists of all time. Both innovators and imitators have had a significant impact on society. Innovators have changed how we live our lives, while imitators have helped spread knowledge worldwide. Neither approach is better than the other; both contribute to progress. How do you think the world would be different if there were more innovators and fewer imitators? The world would be very different if there were more innovators and fewer imitators. We would see a lot more creativity and progress if there were more innovators. Innovation drives change; without it, the world would be stuck in a rut. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but can also hold back progress. There is no incentive to develop new ideas when everyone is copying each other. This can lead to stagnation rather than growth. Imitators may be happy with the status quo, but innovators always look for ways to improve things. The world needs innovators and imitators, but we need more innovators to see real progress. We need people willing to take risks and think outside the box. We need people who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and develop new ideas. A Society of Imitators In today's society, it is easy to be an imitator. With the internet at our fingertips, all it takes is a quick Google search to find out what others are doing and how they are doing it. This has led to a society of people who are quick to imitate others without putting in the time and effort to develop their ideas. One example of this is the way that we consume media. We are quick to watch the latest movie or TV show that is popular without taking the time to see if there are any other options out there. We also tend to follow the latest trends without asking ourselves if they suit us. This can be seen in the way that we dress, the way that we eat, and even the way that we spend our free time. Another example of this is the way that we do business. We are quick to adopt new technologies and methods without taking the time to see if they will actually work for us. We also tend to copy the business models of others without putting in the time and effort to come up with our ideas. This can be seen in the number of businesses started every day that are copies of what others are doing, many of which fail within their first year. The bottom line is that, in today's society, we are too quick to imitate others. We need to take the time to come up with our ideas and put in the effort to make them work. So what? Imitation may be easy, but being an innovator is not. It takes hard work and dedication to develop new ideas and solutions. Innovators are the ones who change the world, and they are the ones who we should look up to. So why should you be an innovator? First, innovation is essential for growth. If you want your business to thrive, you need to be constantly coming up with new ideas and solutions. Second, innovation is necessary for progress. Without innovators, our world would be a far less advanced place. So how can you become an innovator? The first step is to start thinking for yourself. Don't just imitate what others are doing; come up with your ideas and solutions. The second step is to be creative. Allow yourself to be open to new possibilities and think outside the box. The third step is to be persistent. Please don't give up on your ideas; see them through until the end. And finally, the fourth step is to be passionate. Be passionate about your work and about changing the world for the better. Final Word Innovation and imitation are two sides of the same coin; they both have their place in the world. Just as a coin has two sides, so does innovation have its imitators and vice versa. As an innovator, you should be proud of your work, knowing that you are adding value to the world. And as an imitator, you should be humble, knowing that you are building on the work of others. Both innovators and imitators are necessary for progress. So which one are you? To know more about innovators and imitators, listen to: Are You an Innovator or an Imitator? RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast

The statement “what is now proved and commonplace was once just imagined” is powerful. It speaks to the idea that anything is possible if we put our minds to it. And it's true – many things we now take for granted were once just ideas or dreams. For example, consider the internet. It's hard to imagine our world without it, but it was once just a concept that people talked about in science fiction novels. Or consider the airplane – that too was once just an idea. People laughed at the thought of flying through the air. So what does this mean for us? Some would say that we can make something happen if we can imagine something. The question I want to dig in on is the idea of the imagination of others inspiring innovation. Do we ever truly have ideas that are not inspired by others? It seems that every idea we have is in some way influenced or inspired by something or someone else. We take information from the world around us and process it in our minds to develop new ideas. But where do those ideas come from? Are they truly original? It's an interesting question to ponder. And it does not have a clear answer. But I think it's important to consider because it shows how interconnected we are. We may not realize it, but the people and things around us are constantly influencing us. And in turn, we influence others with our ideas. What is Inspiration? When most people think of the word “inspiration,” they probably think of artists or musicians. Someone who is inspired is filled with ideas and creativity and can bring those ideas to life. But inspiration can come from anywhere. It can come from a painting, a song, a movie, or even just a conversation. Anything that touches our hearts or minds can spark inspiration in some way. And that's what makes it so special – inspiration is personal and unique to each individual. What inspires one person may not inspire another person at all. So what exactly is inspiration? I like to think of it as a lightbulb moment. It's that moment when an idea pops your head, and you suddenly see things differently. You have the power to change things, to create something new and amazing. For me, inspiration is about the possibility. It's about seeing the potential in everything and believing that anything is possible. When I'm inspired, I feel like I can do anything. And that feeling is incredibly empowering. Is Imagination The Same As Inspiration? What is the difference between imagination and inspiration? Imagination seems more about creativity and dreaming, while inspiration seems more about bringing those dreams to life. Imagination is about possibilities, while inspiration is about actualization. Imagination can be a powerful tool, but it must be combined with hard work and determination to become a reality. Inspiration is what gives us the motivation to turn our imaginations into reality. I think of inspiration as the light that guides us from imagination to reality. It's that voice inside us that tells us we can do it, encouraging us to keep going when we feel like giving up. And it's a force that can't be denied – once we're inspired, nothing can stop us from achieving our goals. So what is inspiration? I like to think of it as the bridge between imagination and reality. It's the thing that makes our dreams a reality. And it's a power we all have inside us – we need to learn how to access it. The Imagination of Others as Inspiration Our world is constantly changing and evolving. Much of that change is due to the innovations of today's generation. But where do those innovations come from? Many of them come from the imagination of others. The imagination of others has been an inspiration for centuries. It has led to the creation of new technologies, medicines, and even entire civilizations. And it's a power we all have access to – we must learn how to tap into it. The people who have inspired me most are the ones who never gave up on their dreams, even when things were tough. They were the ones who refused to let their imaginations die. And their passion and determination were infectious – they encouraged me to keep going no matter what. So what is imagination? I like to think of it as the gateway to possibility. When we tap into our imaginations, anything is possible. We can create anything we want – our imaginations only limit it. And that's why imagination is so important – because it allows us to dream big, to see the world in a new way. To imagine a future that does not yet exist. The Imagination of Science Fiction Writers Science fiction writers help us to see the world in a new way and dream big. They have always been at the forefront of imagining new worlds and technologies. From early works like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to modern classics like 1984 or Minority Report, science fiction has given us a glimpse into the future. And while some of their predictions have come true, others still seem like far-off dreams. But that's the beauty of science fiction—it allows us to stretch our imaginations and explore what could be. It helps us to question the status quo. For example: Scuba was predicted in “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” By Jules Verne in  1875 Aldous Huxley described test-tube Babies in “Brave New World” in 1932 Robots were first mentioned in “Rossum's Universal Robot” By Karel Capek in 1920 Cable TV was predicted in George Orwell's book, “1984” The internet was predicted in 1898 in a Mark Twain story, “London Times of 1904” Science fiction is more than just entertainment; it's a way of viewing the world differently. It challenges us to think about what could be and inspires us to turn those dreams into reality. So the next time you feel stuck, pick up a science fiction book and let your imagination take off. Who knows—you might just come up with the next big thing. The Imagination of Children Children are some of the most imaginative creatures on earth. They see the world in a completely different way from adults. And their imaginations are always running wild. In many ways, children are the perfect inspiration for us. They remind us to dream big and never give up on our goals. They show us that anything is possible. I am always amazed by how many ways a child can turn a toilet paper roll into a toy. Or how they can turn a cardboard box into a fort. And their creativity is not just limited to physical objects – they can also create entire worlds in their minds. When we were children, our imaginations were unlimited. We saw the world as a place of possibilities. But as we grow older, we start to lose that childlike imagination. We become more realistic and grounded in our thinking. It's not that we stop dreaming altogether – it's just that our dreams become smaller and more attainable. We no longer believe that we can achieve anything we set our minds to. But what if we could recapture that childlike imagination? What if we could learn to dream big again? It's not as impossible as it sounds. We can all learn to tap into our imaginations again with a little effort and practice. How? By hanging out with children and letting their imagination inspire us. And while their imaginations might seem silly or far-fetched to us, they often contain the seeds of great ideas. The Bottom Line Imagination is a powerful tool we can all use to achieve our goals. It's the bridge between our dreams and reality. And it's a force that can change the world. So never let your imagination die – keep dreaming big and never give up. To know more about using imagination as inspiration, listen to: The Imagination of Others As Inspiration. RELATED:   Subscribe To The Newsletter and Killer Innovations Podcast