Creators on Creating
This is the first in series of "Voice Over Slide Shows" featuring the wisdom of some amazing people who have gone beyond the norm to manifest exceptional creativity. The commentary is by yours truly.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2012You Tawkin' To Me?
You probably have read
this blog more than once.
But it's more than possible
you've never heard me speak.
I do. Speak that is.
(According to my wife and kids,
a bit too much).
Here is 11 minutes worth.
Speaking of speaking,
here's what I've written about the topic
and here's the simplest way
to invite me into your organization.
Hear my webinar, on May 17th, on culture of innovation.
My book
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2012Selling Ideas
In the advertisement to your left, it looks as if someone is selling an SUV or perhaps a brand of bicycle. But, actually, neither is the case. The SUV and the bikes are only a means to an end.
Well then -- "What is that end?"
Or, to put it another way -- most people don't like buying things. The decision to buy something, in fact, brings up a lot of obstacles and challenges to overcome, including coming up with the money.
So, why DO people buy things?
Continue reading "Selling Ideas"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:11 AM | Comments (0)
May 12, 2012How Many Dancers Does It Take to Screw in a Lightbulb?
Here is
the answer
to the question
you probably
never asked
because the
answer
just seemed
too difficult
to figure out.
The question?
How many
dancers
does it
take
to screw in a
light bulb?
Our next webinar
Idea Champions
Innovation like dancing
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:48 PM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2012A Virtual High Five to You!
I'd like to take this moment to thank you for logging on and reading Idea Champions' blog. We continue to appreciate the fact that you take time out of your very busy day to check in.
Hey, if you're not reading, we're not writing. It takes two to tango and we're glad you're our virtual dance partner.
Feel free to make requests. Sometimes, one of our readers has an interest that will resonate with us and we'll write something in response.
NOTE: Please do not ask us to write about polyester, soy futures, or crop circles. We've said everything we could possibly say about these topics in earlier postings you probably missed because you were either late for something, flossing, or contemplating a career change.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:47 PM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2012The Power of Pause
Who
can
wait
quietly
while
the
mud
settles?
- Lao Tzu
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 06:21 AM | Comments (0)
May 08, 2012Go Beyond Pet Ideas! Get Your Pet's Portrait Painted Here!
Did you know that there are 64 million dogs in the United States?
And did you know that the portrait of the dog to your left was painted by my wife, Evelyne Pouget, who has just launched Woodstock Pet Portraits.
If YOU, oh faithful reader of this blog, would like Evelyne to paint your pet's portrait, leave a message here.
Evelyne is offering the first three portrait-buying readers of this blog a 30% discount on orders received before May 30th.
Continue reading "Go Beyond Pet Ideas! Get Your Pet's Portrait Painted Here!"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)
Creating Time to Innovate
On Thursday May 17th, I will be delivering a live webinar on Fostering a Culture of Innovation. The first 50 people to sign up get half off, so register now!
During the past few years I've noticed a curious paradox heading its ugly rear among business leaders tooting the horn for innovation.
On one hand they want the rank and file to step up to the plate and own the effort to innovate.
On the other hand, they are unwilling to grant the people they are exhorting any more TIME to innovate.
Somehow, magically, they expect aspiring innovators to not only generate game-changing ideas in their spare time, but do all the research, data collection, business case building, piloting, project management, idea development, testing, report generation, and troubleshooting in between their other assignments.
Tooth fairy alert!
This is not the way it happens, folks! Not only is this approach unreasonable, it's unfair, unbalanced, and unworkable.
Continue reading "Creating Time to Innovate"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:36 AM | Comments (1)
May 07, 2012Fascination is the DNA of Innovation
I own a huge library of books on innovation. Mostly hardcover. The $27.95 variety with big indexes and forwards by people who make more money than I do.
Some of these books are actually good. Most of them bore me. (I must confess I have a secret desire, whenever I enter a bookstore, to put glue between pages 187 & 188 in all of the new releases just to see if the publishers get any complaints).
The books attempt to describe the origins of innovation. You know, stuff like "the innate human impulse to find a better way" and "the imperative to find a competitive edge." That sort of thing.
Corporate-speak, in other words.
In my experience, the origin of innovation is fascination -- the state of being intensely interested in something. Enchanted. Captivated. Spellbound. Absorbed.
Continue reading "Fascination is the DNA of Innovation"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:24 PM | Comments (7)
May 06, 2012The Mystery of "Anonymous" Revealed
I have a confession to make. Actually, it's more like a revelation than a confession.
You know all those fabulous quotes and articles you've read over the years with no attribution other than "anonymous"? It was me.
It's true. I have written thousands of things I've never signed my name to. I couldn't. I mean -- the writing just came through me. Like a storm. In fact, I was in such a state of presence as these pearls of wisdom appeared, there wasn't even a "me" involved, so how could I sign my name?
So I did the only thing I could do -- and that was to sign what I wrote with the now all-too-familiar word "anonymous".
Continue reading "The Mystery of "Anonymous" Revealed"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:37 PM | Comments (7)
May 05, 2012The Kindness-At-Work Manifesto
It has recently come to my attention that some of the most loving, passionate, well-intentioned people in the world have a tendency to treat their co-workers unkindly -- especially during times of stress or on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.
Consumed by their need to do something extraordinary for humanity, they forget the people they work with are human.
And so, in an effort to restore a Culture of Caring to organizations everywhere. it is my honor to present to you the Kindness-At-Work Manifesto -- 40 daily opportunities to go beyond the imperfections of your co-workers and rise to a place of uncommon goodness.
Where does it begin? With your intention to maintain your commitment to kindness any time one of your co-workers does not.
Continue reading "The Kindness-At-Work Manifesto"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:38 PM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2012The Power of Positive Feedback
Most high level executives do not expect a lot of recognition from others. Neither do they give a lot of recognition to others.
Many managers are like the classic husband who, when his wife complains that he doesn't tell her he loves her any more, responds that he told her he loved her when he married her -- and would have let her know if anything had changed.
Continue reading "The Power of Positive Feedback"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:47 AM | Comments (1)
May 01, 201256 Reasons Why Most Corporate Innovation Initiatives Fail
Innovation is in these days. The word is on the lips of just about every CEO, CFO, CIO, and anyone else with a three-letter acronym after their name.
As a result, many organizations are launching all kinds of "innovation initiatives" -- hoping to stir the soup. This is understandable. But it is also, far too often, very disappointing.
Innovation initiatives sound good, but usually don't live up to the expectations. The reasons are many.
What follows are 56 of the most common ones -- organizational obstacles we've observed in the past 25 years that get in the way of a company really raising the bar for innovation.
Continue reading "56 Reasons Why Most Corporate Innovation Initiatives Fail"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:17 PM | Comments (0)
April 30, 2012Jesse Has Made His Choice!
Teen Manifesto
A message for dads who travel
The genie is a leprechaun today
14 year old running for President
Sticky idea
PS: Jesse is going to pay for part of his education by outsourcing his many talents as a Photoshop maestro. Leave a message here if you want to engage his services.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
April 28, 2012Don't Let This Happen to You!
This is a digitized photo
of a Director of Innovation
from a very large
insurance company
who decided to
go with one of our competitors.
I told him he was making a big mistake,
but when you're a
consulting company
sometimes prospective clients
think you're just trying to
win more business when you speak the truth. Not so.
We believe in karma and integrity
and doing everything possible to help our clients succeed.
Don't end up like this guy.
Idea Champions
Our new webinar series
Who we are
Our values
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2012The List of Lists
Of the 460 postings on this blog, the most popular ones have been our lists. Many have "gone viral" (which, I guess, is better than "going postal.")
Anyway, just in case you want to see what all the fuss is about, here is a list of our lists -- something for everybody -- even a list about WHY lists are so compelling.
1. 26 Reasons Why Most Brainstorming Sessions Suck
2. 50 Ways to Foster a Culture of Innovation
3. 20 Reasons Why Many People Get Their Best Ideas in the Shower
4. 56 Reasons Why Most Innovation Initiatives Fail
Continue reading "The List of Lists "
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:41 PM | Comments (2)
April 25, 201212 Ways to Make Bad Decisions
There are three things that continue to astound me about most organizations: The cro-magnon way performance reviews are done; the pitiful way brainstorm sessions are run and; the voo doo way decisions are made.
What follows is an elaboration of the third -- 12 common phenomena that contribute to funky decision making. As you read, think of the teams you work most closely with, which of these behaviors describes them, and what you can do to change the game.
1. Selective Search for Evidence: Gathering facts that support pre-determined conclusions, but disregard other facts that support different conclusions.
2. Premature Termination of Search for Evidence: Accepting the first alternative that looks like it might work.
Continue reading "12 Ways to Make Bad Decisions"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:28 PM | Comments (1)
"We're Moving in Another Direction"
If you work for an organization that issues RFPs to consulting companies, I have one humble request for you:
Please cease and desist from using the phrase "we're moving in another direction" when it comes time to letting consultants know you've decided NOT to engage their services.
It may seem like a small thing, but it's not.
"We're moving in another direction" is a totally bogus phrase. It's meaningless -- a euphemism with no soul that delivers no useful information or feedback to the person to whom you are supposedly communicating.
If you've asked a consultant to take the time to engage with you, learn about your company, and submit a proposal, the least you can do is find a more honorable way of delivering your feedback.
Continue reading ""We're Moving in Another Direction""
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:24 PM | Comments (4)
April 22, 201234 Awesome Quotes on Leadership
1. "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." - Peter F. Drucker
2. "If you don't understand that you work for your mislabeled 'subordinates,' then you know nothing of leadership. You know only tyranny." - Dee Hock
3. "A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say 'we did it ourselves.'" - Lao Tzu
4. "The led must not be compelled; they must be able to choose their own leader." - Albert Einstein
5. "The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why." - Warren Bennis
6. "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you." - Max DePree
Continue reading "34 Awesome Quotes on Leadership"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:06 AM | Comments (1)
April 19, 2012The 8 Dimensions of a Brainstorm Session
Most people think brainstorming sessions are all about ideas -- much in the same way Wall Street bankers think life is all about money.
While ideas are certainly a big part of brainstorming, they are only a part.
People who rush into a brainstorming session starving for new ideas will miss the boat (and the train, car, and unicycle) completely unless they tune into the some other important dynamics that are also at play:
1. INVESTIGATION: If you want your brainstorming sessions to be effective, you'll need to do some investigating before hand. Get curious. Ask questions. Dig deeper. The more you find out what the real issues are, the greater your chances of framing powerful questions to brainstorm and choosing the best techniques to use.
Continue reading "The 8 Dimensions of a Brainstorm Session"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:17 AM | Comments (2)
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