FREE THE GENIE: Breakthrough Online Brainstorming Sessions
If you (or your team) need to get out of the box in an engaging way in order to originate bold, new, actionable ideas, keep reading.
This is precisely why Idea Champions has created Free the Genie -- a simple, affordable, time-efficient way for aspiring innovators to put their heads together to go beyond the status quo.
The service we've created is the distillation of 34 years of being innovation provocateurs for a wide variety of forward thinking organizations.
Bottom line, we've extracted the essence of three decades worth of real world experience and are making it available, online, to you and your team. In effect, we become the online catalysts of your creative process, greatly increasing the odds of you and your team tapping into its collective brilliance.
What people are saying about it.
It's fun. It's simple. And it works. Here's a simple (free) way to get started.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2023What Does It Really Take to Learn Anything from Somebody Else?
Since 1987, I have been providing consulting and training services to a wide variety of forward thinking organizations who have recognized their need to raise the bar for creative thinking, innovation, and teamwork. An optimist, by nature, I have always assumed that the people attending my sessions had an innate ability to benefit from whatever it was I was teaching, conveying, or imparting.
And while this optimistic point of view continues to be my default position, I have also understood that there are obstacles that often get in the way of people receiving the maximum value of what I (or any teacher, instructor, or facilitator) has to offer.
It is, shall we say, an occupational hazard.
Some of these learning obstacles are internal (i.e. participant mindset) and some are external (funky organizational culture). But no matter where these obstacles originate from, each of them can be decreased or eliminated with the right kind of effort.
Continue reading "What Does It Really Take to Learn Anything from Somebody Else?"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:50 AM | Comments (1)
April 21, 2023Today is the Launch of "Unspoken Word: Love, Longing & Letting Go"
Dear Friends:
If you have been reading The Heart of Innovation for a while, there is a very good chance you will enjoy my just-published book of poetry,"Unspoken Word: Love, Longing & Letting Go."
Today is the day it launches on Amazon.
If you are thinking about buying it (or even if you're not), today is the day to buy it. Why? Because the more people who buy the book on the same day, the greater the chance the book will rank high on Amazon's NEW RELEASES list. And the higher it ranks, the more visibility the book will get. And since my vision is that millions of people read this book, visibility is a good thing.
PS: If you read the book and enjoy it, please consider writing an Amazon review -- one more way to help me get the word out there. Gracias!
Buy on Amazon
What ChatGBT says about my poetry
The website
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2023The Awesome Power of Immersion
"If I had an hour to solve a problem," explained Albert Einstein, "I'd spend the first 55 minutes thinking about the problem, and the last five solving it."
Translation? One of the secrets to having a big breakthrough is immersion -- "the state of being deeply engaged, involved, or absorbed."
Immersion is the ocean in which our fabulous insights, ideas, and illuminations are swimming. That's why Yogis seek out caves, embryos gestate, and writers go on retreat.
And that's why my business partner, Steven McHugh, and I rented a townhouse in Boulder, Colorado for 30 days and 30 nights when it was time for us to start up Idea Champions. We knew we had a great idea for a business, but we also knew that ideas were a dime a dozen and that unless we really immersed we'd end up with nothing much more than a charming story to tell at cocktail parties -- the idea for a business, but not the business itself.
Continue reading "The Awesome Power of Immersion"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:58 PM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2023What Does It Really Mean to be an Effective Team Leader?
On planet Earth, there are millions of teams. They are everywhere -- in schools, businesses, communities, sports, organizations, armies, religions, and jails. If you are reading this, it is very likely that you are either a member of a team or a leader of a team.
Some of the teams you belong to are achieving their goals. Some are not. In either case, there is a 95% chance that somebody is playing the role of leader, captain, coach, coordinator, or director. You know, the person where the buck supposedly stops.
While there are thousands of books on the subject, very few people have the time or desire to read even one of these books. And, even if they did, reading a book doesn't guarantee success. Because, in the end, the reader of even the best book on team leadership will need to translate what they read into action.
The reality is this: very few team leaders understand what it really means to be a team leader and how to be a team leader -- especially those who have been drafted into the position by someone further up the food chain.
Continue reading "What Does It Really Mean to be an Effective Team Leader?"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:58 AM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2023Three Ways to Breathe Life Into Your Most Passionate Creative Venture
If you are on the cusp of a new venture that fills you with both excitement and doubt, welcome to the human race.
Most aspiring innovators on the brink of a breakthrough assume they need to be in a doubt-free state if they are going to succeed and that anything less is a sure sign that they are either imposters, fools or losers-in-waiting.
Not true.
The experience of doubt (and it's twin cousins, fear and dread) comes with the territory of starting a new venture. What's needed, wrote Rollo May in his extraordinary book on the topic, is courage -- the courage to create.
How will you develop the courage YOU need? In many ways.
Continue reading "Three Ways to Breathe Life Into Your Most Passionate Creative Venture"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)
Happy Valentine's Day to You!Here is an inspiring Valentine's Day slide show for you. Includes 21 wonderful quotes on love and vocals by Daya Rawat.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:27 AM | Comments (0)
Happy Valentine's Day to You!Here is an inspiring Valentine's Day slide show for you. Includes 21 wonderful quotes on love and vocals by Daya Rawat.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:25 AM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2023On Asking for the Help You Need
"You can do anything, but not everything." -- David Allen
Last year, I facilitate an online course whose purpose it was to help people transform their inspired ideas, dreams, and ventures into reality. It was ton of fun and very fulfilling -- my "calling", if you will (and even if you won't).
Baked into the learning process were some simple ways to help participants become aware of the places inside themselves where they may be tangled or challenged in their approach.
One tangle that has surprised me is how difficult it is for most people to ask for help.
Continue reading "On Asking for the Help You Need"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:22 AM | Comments (0)
February 03, 2023100 Reasons Why You Don't Get Your Best Ideas At Work
Since 1987, I've asked 2,500 people where and when they get their best ideas. Less than 2% have said "the workplace."
Based on my 33 years of working with a ton of innovation-seeking organizations, here's my take on WHY you don't get your best ideas at work:
1. Too much to do, not enough time.
2. Too many distractions and interruptions.
3. You work in a risk averse organization.
4. Sleep deprivation.
5. Mental clutter.
6. Fear that someone will steal your idea.
7. You don't think of yourself as creative.
Continue reading "100 Reasons Why You Don't Get Your Best Ideas At Work"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:29 AM | Comments (5)
January 16, 2023Entering the Theater of Your Own, Unique Creative Process
The creative process is a most mysterious one -- the inner journey a person takes to transform an impulse, idea, or inspiration into a manifested form that other people can enjoy.
For most of us, the creative process begins with the undeniable recognition that we are being called to express something -- to give shape to the invisible. Usually, the beginning of this process is quite intoxicating. The sky's the limit. Anything is possible. All systems are GO. Whoo hoo!
In time, however, things change. Our muse, once pristine, now has warts and we enter into the phase sometimes referred to as the "messy middles." Where once everything seemed clear, now nothing is. Confusion, distraction, and procrastination rule the day. The light at the end of the tunnel? Now more fluorescent than divine.
Continue reading "Entering the Theater of Your Own, Unique Creative Process"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
December 03, 2022WHY FREE THE GENIE WORKS: Thinking Beyond the Pandemic
1. TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE: No matter how creative you are, having the right person to brainstorm with -- at the right time and in the right way -- can often be the difference between success and failure. Human beings are social animals. We need to express ourselves. We need to be heard. We need connection, feedback, encouragement, fresh perspectives, and new ideas. This is not the time to be a lone wolf. You may be quarantined right now, but you are not in this alone!
2. YOU HAVE SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO CREATE: Yes, it's true! You are onto something. You are being called! You feel it in your bones and have known it for a while. Simply put, you have a gift to share with the world or at least your family and friends -- a service to provide. Now is the time to get it out of you head and into the marketplace! Free the Genie can help facilitate that process. "If not YOU, who? If not NOW, when?"
3. ALL OF US GET STUCK FROM TIME TO TIME: This just in! All people with great ideas eventually run into walls. It comes with the territory of creating something new. But here's the thing: those walls are often no more solid than a thought, assumption or belief. Free the Genie is designed to help you go over, under, around, or through those walls -- and, on a good day, prevent you from building those walls in the first place.
Continue reading "WHY FREE THE GENIE WORKS: Thinking Beyond the Pandemic"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)
November 30, 2022My Top Ten Posts on Medium
Recently, I've discovered MEDIUM -- a blogging platform with more than 100 million viewers per month. Not all of them have made it to my Medium abode yet, but word is getting out.
In case you haven't visited that part of cyberspace, now's your chance -- especially if you have been enjoying my writing over the years. Here are my ten most popular stories on Medium.
When an Email at 2:00 a.m. Changes Everything
Last Night I Googled Longing
What Have You Accomplished?
What I Learned in a Closet From My 3-Year Old Son
On Being Visited By an Angel
What It Really Means to Be a Friend
Here's the Problem with Reading Rumi
On Realizing the Nature of Pure Being
20 Poets and One Comedian on the Awesome Power of Poetry
A Small Bag of Red Berries
If you want to subscribe to my Medium blog and/or receive email alerts whenever a new post is published, click here. Then click on any story. At the end of each story is a simple way to sign up for email alerts. Easy peasy.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2022THE BEAUTY OF FEEDBACK: It's Not a Weapon. It's a Mirror.
I want you to imagine, for a moment, that I am your manager and, while passing you in the hallway on the way to yet another meeting. I catch your eye, take a step towards you and, in a halting voice, say "Umm... uh... hi... I'm wondering if you have some time later today for me... er... to share a bit of feedback with you."
How are you feeling right now?
I'm guessing not so good -- especially since the word, "feedback", in most organizations, has become synonymous with, "I'm just about to chop your head off."
Continue reading "THE BEAUTY OF FEEDBACK: It's Not a Weapon. It's a Mirror."
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)
November 18, 2022If You Enjoy Reading What I Write
If you enjoy my writing, I invite you to click on any one of the six links below. These are the six most popular posts of mine on MEDIUM -- an online platform where I am publishing daily. If you like what you read, feel free to subscribe to my posts and request to receive an email alert whenever anything new of mine is published there. Enjoy!
What I Learned, in a Closet, from my 3-Year Old Son
What It Really Means to Be a Friend
On Realizing the Nature of True Being
Here's the Problem with Reading Rumi
100 Sure-Fire Reasons to Go Within
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:38 AM | Comments (0)
November 10, 202232 Inspiring Quotes on Mastery
"Mastery" is a fascinating phenomenon -- one that many people speak about, but few attain. Is it possible? Yes, it is. But what is it really? Ah... now that's the question, isn't it? The dictionary defines mastery as "possession or display of great skill or technique." OK. Good start. If you're fluent in French, for example, you have a mastery of the language. If you win every game of chess, you show a mastery of the game. Skill is necessary, of course, in order to be a Master, but it not sufficient. Something else, beyond skill, is also needed. What might that be?
"One can have no smaller or greater mastery then mastery of oneself." - Leonardo DaVinci
"It's easy to get on the path of mastery. The real challenge lies in staying on it." - George Leonard
"If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all." - Michelangelo
"Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person." - Albert Einstein
Continue reading "32 Inspiring Quotes on Mastery"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:18 AM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2022101 Reasons Why You Definitely Won't Read This Blog Post
I know you have no time. YOU know you have no time. I know you're not gonna do anything you don't wanna do. YOU know you're not gonna do anything you don't wanna do. We both know you're not going to read this blog post. It's too long and you have way more important things to do.
What follows are 101 reasons why you won't read this blog post.
Continue reading "101 Reasons Why You Definitely Won't Read This Blog Post"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:06 PM | Comments (11)
October 30, 2022The Challenge Creative People Face
Here is one of the biggest challenges creative people face: finding the right balance between spontaneity and planning.
Spontaneity, while a huge part of the creative process, can also be a huge curse. The intoxicating nature of spontaneity -- and the likelihood that it will lead to more projects -- has a tendency to sidetrack. It's sparkly. It's fascinating. And it's fun. But it can also be a massive distraction.
The result? Many creative people have more projects "on the table" than they can execute. And while this often makes for good cocktail party conversation, it also makes for overwhelm, stress, and eventual self-loathing. Months go by (sometimes years) and the big, hairy, audacious goal remains just that -- a goal -- not a completion. The antidote? A renewed vision of what success looks like. Focus. Priorities. A game plan. A support team. And the day-by-day effort required to work the plan.
Bring your current, most fascinating project to mind. Now imagine that your efforts are totally successful. What does success look like? And how did you get there?
50 Awesome Quotes on Vision
Idea Champions
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:15 AM | Comments (0)
September 20, 202225 Simple Ways to Free Up Your Innate Creativity
Most people agree that creativity is a good thing. Accordingly, they want to know how they can become more creative. Makes sense, right? The question, however, is a tricky one, not unlike asking "How can I have a good marriage?" or "How can I become a better human being?" There are hundreds of answers and often different strokes for different folks.
Bottom line, there is no blueprint, no follow-the-dots instructions in this realm. But there are some simple principles and guidelines to consider. Below are 25 of them (and all it takes is ONE to get unstuck).
Continue reading "25 Simple Ways to Free Up Your Innate Creativity"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:13 AM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2022REST: The Art of Doing Less
I know you are super busy, so I am going to keep this book review super short.
Why do I know you are super busy? Because you are living in the age of information overload and, unless you are in a coma, traction, or jail, you are very likely feeling overwhelmed much of the time.
Or as the White Rabbit put it, "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date."
Most of our ancestors thanked God for everything. The rest of us? We thank God for Friday -- the proverbial end of the workweek -- a five day sprint too often cluttered with meetings, technology, and to do lists.
Continue reading "REST: The Art of Doing Less"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)
Want more? Read our Archives:May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, January 2023, December 2022, November 2022, October 2022, September 2022, August 2022, July 2022, June 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022, January 2022, December 2021, November 2021, October 2021, September 2021, August 2021, July 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, March 2021, February 2021, January 2021, December 2020, November 2020, October 2020, September 2020, August 2020, July 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, February 2020, January 2020, December 2019, November 2019, October 2019, September 2019, August 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, February 2019, January 2019, December 2018, November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, August 2018, July 2018, June 2018, May 2018, April 2018, March 2018, February 2018, January 2018, December 2017, November 2017, October 2017, September 2017, August 2017, July 2017, June 2017, May 2017, April 2017, March 2017, February 2017, January 2017, December 2016, November 2016, October 2016, September 2016, August 2016, July 2016, June 2016, May 2016, April 2016, March 2016, February 2016, January 2016, December 2015, November 2015, October 2015, September 2015, August 2015, July 2015, June 2015, May 2015, April 2015, March 2015, February 2015, January 2015, December 2014, November 2014, October 2014, September 2014, August 2014, July 2014, June 2014, May 2014, April 2014, March 2014, February 2014, January 2014, December 2013, November 2013, October 2013, September 2013, May 2013, April 2013, March 2013, February 2013, January 2013, December 2012, November 2012, October 2012, September 2012, August 2012, July 2012, June 2012, May 2012, April 2012, March 2012, February 2012, January 2012, December 2011, November 2011, October 2011, September 2011, August 2011, July 2011, June 2011, May 2011, April 2011, March 2011, February 2011, January 2011, December 2010, November 2010, October 2010, September 2010, August 2010, July 2010, June 2010, May 2010, April 2010, March 2010, February 2010, January 2010, December 2009, November 2009, October 2009, September 2009, August 2009, July 2009, June 2009, May 2009, April 2009, March 2009, February 2009, January 2009, December 2008, November 2008, October 2008, September 2008, August 2008, July 2008, June 2008, May 2008, April 2008, January 2008, December 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007,
