The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – innovation.

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it” – Alan Kay

“Innovation is seeing what everybody has seen & thinking what nobody has thought” – Albert Szent-Györgyi

“If you look at history, innovation doesn’t come from just giving people incentives, it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect“ – Steven Johnson

“There’s a way to do it better, find it” – Thomas Edison

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity & change“ – Brene Brown

“Sustainability & innovation are two sides of the same coin” – Paul Polman

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination” – Albert Einstein

“Innovation is change that unlocks new value” – Jamie Notter

“Innovation requires the courage to let go of certainties” – Erich Fromm

“Learning & innovation go hand in hand” – William Pollard

“The heart & soul of a company is creativity & innovation” – Bob Iger

“Innovation is the creation of the new or the re-arranging of the old in a new way” – Michael Vance

“Imagination plus innovation equals realisation” – Denis Waitley

“The word innovation has become synonymous with technology, it shouldn’t be. Innovation is about new ways of thinking, creating & operating in all areas of our lives” – Sheryl Sandberg

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – innovation.

How do innovators come up with new insights or ideas? Innovative entrepreneurs have creative intelligence which enables discovery & experimentation. Our ability to think creatively comes through learning a skill & gaining confidence in our own capacity to create.

Our ability to connect seemingly unrelated challenges or ideas is central to innovation. The ‘Medici Effect‘. Creative explosion happened when the Medici family brought together sculptors, scientists, poets, painters & architects. As they connected & interacted, new ideas blossomed. The historic Renaissance era transformed the culture of the Western civilisation, contributing great meaning to our world. Steve Jobs observed, “creativity is connecting people & things.”

The important thing is not to find the right answer, it is to find the right question. Innovators constantly query common assumptions or beliefs. Most entrepreneurs remember specific questions when they had an inspiration for a new venture or project. Why? Why Not? What If?

Innovative thinkers have the capacity to hold two diametrically opposing ideas in their heads, then successfully synthesise. We impose constraints on our thinking when forced to deal with real-world limitations like talent or technology. Ironically, great questions actively impose constraints on our thinking, a catalyst for out of the box thinking. Creativity loves constraints.

Creators intentionally seek small behavioural details in their environment – customers, partners or competitors to gain knowledge on fresh ways of doing things. They quickly build prototypes & launch pilots, without seeking perfection. Edison said, “I haven’t failed, simply found 10,000 ways that don’t work“. Intellectual exploration is the key, a discovery oriented mindset or culture that fosters curious experimentation.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – innovation.

Read Steven Johnson’s, Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History Of Innovation. Triggers our thinking about creative collaboration & innovation. Great examples of how we can create environments that encourage good ideas. How can people with different skill sets & experiences come together to create & innovate?

We have a natural tendency to romanticise big breakthroughs or imagine momentous ideas. But, we can also take the small insights or ideas we’ve inherited or stumbled across, jigger them together into some meaningful form & shape. Focuses on the core elements of a conducive environment that fosters an atmosphere of imagination, creativity & innovation.

Technology is a potent fertiliser of discovery & invention. Fosters connections between people & creativity. We learn about Liquid Networks – flexible enough to facilitate dynamic connections between good ideas, but structured enough to support them. Good ideas are often the result of people building on each other’s thoughts, enhanced by an adaptable & fertile environment to stimulate growth. An inspiring read.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – innovation.

“What is now proven was once only imagined” – William Blake. Innovation is defined as the process of creating & implementing something new or significantly improved that adds value, whether it’s a product, service or idea. Innovation is about turning creative ideas into practical solutions. “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat” – Steve Jobs. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more innovation you have” – Maya Angelou. “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them, into the impossible” – Arthur Clarke.

The concept of innovation explores the meaning, nature & ethics of creating something new. It’s not just about how innovation happens, but why it matters, what it says about human progress & purpose. It is linked to human curiosity, ambition & imagination, traits that push us beyond survival towards joy, empowerment & advancement. It reflects our inherent inspiration to move forward, to imagine possibilities & to bring change. “When looking to innovate, fail forward. Innovation can be chaotic, embrace it & learn from the failures” – Luke Wester. “There’s a way to do it better, find it” – Thomas Edison.

Should we invent everything that can be invented? Who benefits from innovation? How do we innovate sustainably & inclusively? What responsibilities come with the power to create change? The ethics of innovation asks innovators to weigh its impact on our society, our environment & human dignity, not just profit or efficiency. It’s about creating new meaning & enhanced value in our world. Innovation is about shaping our future wisely, thoughtfully & with purpose. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it” – Alan Kay.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – perfection.

Our world is transforming fast with increased uncertainty & the threat of disruption in each business segment. Conventional approaches to strategy development & problem solving aren’t as effective as they once were. Some teams are stuck in a wait & watch position, while others are making tough bets.

Conn & McLean introduce an incredible approach to strategic problem solving. The Imperfectionists offers a dynamic approach to build an innovative direction based on harnessing the six reinforcing strategic mindsets – curiosity, dragonfly eye, occurrent behaviour, collective wisdom, imperfections, show & tell. Imperfectionists are curious – see the big picture, look at challenges from unique perspectives, foster inclusivity & diversity, analyse new data & encourage experimentation. They accept some novelty, some ambiguity & some failure to enhance discovery, creativity & learning. In a fast evolving world, being an imperfectionist can be a critical advantage. An inspiring read.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – perfection.

Read Brené Brown’s, The Gifts of Imperfection. A classic guide to find empathy, hope & self-compassion to overcome our fears, to strengthen our connection with the world, to believe that we’re worthy of discovery, joy & abundance. It aims to bolster our self-esteem, creativity & personal development through heart-felt storytelling.

With plenty of encouragement, it helps us release our definitions of imperfection to fully embrace who we are. Offers benchmarks that help us find compassion, beauty & balance in a perfectly imperfect world. Simple techniques to let go of self-defeating thoughts, so we can naturally embrace our imperfections & vulnerabilities. Positive, inspiring & motivational.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – perfection.

“Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it!” – Salvador Dalí

“The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection” – George Orwell

“Perfection is the enemy of progress” – Winston Churchill

“There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion” – Edgar Allan Poe

“Perfection is overrated. It’s the cracks that let the light in” – Leonard Cohen

“The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement” – George Will

“To be perfect is to develop unfolding perfection within imperfection” – Dōgen Zenji

“Striving for excellence motivates you, striving for perfection is demoralising” – Harriet Braiker

“Done is better than perfect” – Sheryl Sandberg

“Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough” – Julia Cameron

“There is no perfection, only beautiful versions of brokenness” – Shannon L. Alder

“Imperfection inspires invention, imagination, creativity. It stimulates. The more I feel imperfect, the more I feel alive” – Jhumpa Lahiri

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – perfection.

Perfection is the quality or state of being totally flawless, freedom from any fault or defect. An exemplification of supreme excellence. The philosophy of perfection explores the idea of an ultimate or ideal state of being – emotional, intellectual, physical or spiritual. It dives into what it means to strive for, achieve or even question the concept of perfection.

Plato advocated that perfection exists, but only in the non-material realm. Believed in Forms – perfect or abstract ideals of all things. All physical things are imperfect copies of these eternal Forms. According to Aristotle, perfection is dynamic not static & and rooted in function. He saw perfection as fulfilling one’s telos (purpose or end). A thing is perfect when it fully actualises its potential. In Christian philosophy, earthly perfection is impossible. Only God is perfect. Human perfection is about aligning with divine will or grace.

Immanuel Kant said that humans strive toward perfection, even if it’s never fully attainable. Perfection comes from a community where all treat each other as ends in themselves. Nietzsche saw human perfection as authenticity. We’re perfect when we are authentic. In eastern philosophy perfection is achieved through Nirvana (Buddhist ideal of letting go, surrendering to the divine) or according to Taoism, perfection is attained through harmony, flow & balance.

Is perfection truly achievable or even desirable? Human nature is fallible & finite. We are limited by our biology, environment, emotions or knowledge. Perfection often implies finality, but life is dynamic. Growth, learning, failure & adaptation are part of being human. If we were perfect, would we still change or evolve? Perfection is also subjective. What is perfect to one may not be to another. A perfect society or job is idealised, but can’t be universally defined. Perfection can suppress creativity, fluidity & vitality. It negatively impacts our passionate spirit, our sense of hope & happiness.

Yet, some precious moments or situations can be perfect. A memorable experience, a beautiful creation or a fulfilled purpose. Striving to fully engage with life, acting with integrity, authenticity, focus or compassion can be seen as a form of perfection. Just striving for excellence can foster creativity, joy, imagination & innovation. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence” – Vince Lombardi.

Flaws, unpredictability & even failures are often what make life meaningful, relationships real & people relatable. The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi values beauty in imperfection & impermanence. The pursuit of perfection, if done wisely, can shape us into more conscious, compassionate & capable beings. “You are perfectly imperfect and that’s what makes you beautiful.”

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word co-creation.

Read Brave Together. How did Apple overcome a culture of secrecy? How did Pixar out innovate Disney? Why do companies kill creativity? A timely guide that helps leaders be more creative & creatives be better leaders. Many workplaces are experiencing uncertainty & fear, the exact opposite of what a healthy culture is all about. How can we shape cultures that people love? There is hope in co-creation. Renowned leadership & corporate culture consultants Chris Deaver & Ian Clawson present a proven framework to ignite organisational success & innovation.

Brave Together delivers a set of meta-principles that leaders can leverage to unleash the potential & possibilities of co-creation. The power to be brave enough to shape the future with others, in any domain. These principles include – leading with questions, turning pain into learnings, making others the mission, defining success, creating context & following our true north. Brave Together confirms that a bright future isn’t just self-made, it is shared. When we’re in it together, really united as a team, anything is possible.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word co-creation.

Here’s a selection of powerful & thought-provoking quotes on co-creation, collaboration & the shared experience of creating value or meaning together, drawn from leaders, thinkers & creatives across disciplines.

“When we dream alone it is only a dream, but when many dream together it is the beginning of a new reality” – Friedensreich Hundertwasser

“None of us is as smart as all of us” – Ken Blanchard

“Co-creation means engaging people emotionally & intellectually to participate in the process of creating value” – Venkat Ramaswamy

“Creativity is a collaborative process. There is no lone genius” – Twyla Tharp

“We are not separate from the world, we are a co-creative part of its unfolding” – Charles Eisenstein

“We co-create our reality through our thoughts, beliefs & actions” – Gregg Braden

“The best things happen when people work together. When two people create something that neither could have created alone, that’s magic” – Neil Gaiman

“Art is not created in isolation, it is a co-creation between the artist & the world” – Rick Rubin

“The only way to win in the future is to stop delivering products & start co-creating experiences” – Venkat Ramaswamy

“Co-creation turns stakeholders into innovators” – Gary Hamel

“True innovation happens when silos fall, ideas flow freely between departments, teams & customers” – Satya Nadella

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