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

You've probably heard the saying that ‘Creativity is a muscle.' Like your biceps or triceps, your creative mind needs regular exercise to stay in shape. What exercises will let you build your creative muscle? How do you turn these creativity exercises into a habit that is a routine part of your daily life? For many of us, developing creativity habits can seem overwhelming. Starting Small and Simple Where do you even begin? Research has shown that starting small is the key to creating sustainable habits. Renowned psychologist B.J. Fogg, for example, emphasizes the concept of “Tiny Habits,” suggesting that an individual should start with behavior that's easy to do and can be accomplished in less than 30 seconds. This could be as simple as sketching a single line on paper or writing one sentence in a journal. James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits,” recommends an approach of 1% improvement each day. Clear suggests that success is the product of daily habits—not a once-in-a-lifetime transformation. So rather than trying to write a novel in a day, aim to write one paragraph. Over time, these small increments can add up to substantial progress. Another best practice is to anchor your new creative habit to an existing routine—this is known as habit stacking. For example, if you already have a routine of having a cup of coffee every morning, add a few minutes of your chosen creative habit to this routine. And finally, make sure to reward yourself. Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator in habit formation. So after each successful day of practicing your creative habit, allow yourself a small reward. Over time, this creates a positive association with your new habit, making you more likely to stick with it. The goal isn't to do something creative once and forget about it. The goal is to incorporate creativity into your daily life naturally and sustainably. And with these research-backed strategies, that goal is well within reach. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are habits. It's not about making massive changes overnight but taking small steps consistently. Habits to Cultivate Creativity The following are a few habits that can fan the flames of your creativity and help you tap into your innate inventive spirit. This is not an exhaustive list but merely a starting point. As you embark on building creative habits, you may find others that work better for you. Don't feel confined by this list—feel free to add, modify, and explore other practices that spark your creative energies. The most effective habits are the ones that resonate with you and your unique creative process. Here are some habits you might consider: Daily Journaling: Daily Journaling can genuinely be a transformative habit. It serves as a personal canvas where you can paint your thoughts, emotions, and ideas freely and without restraint. This practice declutters the mind and fuels creativity by helping you explore different trains of thought and identify patterns over time. Moreover, daily journaling can be adapted according to your preferences. Some individuals prefer traditional narrative journaling, while others might opt for bullet journals, sketching, or digital journaling. The form it takes isn't as important as consistently putting your thoughts on paper. Also, journaling can act as an incubator for your ideas. For instance, you might jot down a passing thought or a spark of an idea in your journal and then revisit it later to develop it further. This practice especially benefits creative people who need an outlet to capture their flowing ideas. The key to journaling is not to censor yourself. This is your private space for exploration, reflection, and creativity. So let your mind wander, let your pen flow, and you might be surprised at the innovation and creativity that emerge from the pages of your journal.

Hello, Innovators! Welcome back to another episode of the Killer Innovations podcast. I am so happy to be back in the studio with you today, and I'm excited to give you an update on the show and myself. A few months ago, in February, I had to undergo open heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. The surgery was totally unexpected when we went to Florida for Christmas. I have a rare genetic cardiac condition, so I'm under Mayo's care. During my annual check-up, the test showed some issues, which turned a three-week visit into a four and half month stay. Unfortunately, the nine days I spent in the intensive care unit being intubated caused damage to my vocal cords, preventing me from recording new episodes — that is, until today. The damage to the vocal cords is why my voice may sound different. But the show must go on, and that's where the team that helps me with the show stepped in. While I've been out, Andrew, Kirk, and Ethan have been serving up the most popular shows from our rich 19-year archive. Since I couldn't record, I turned my attention to my writing, posting multiple times weekly to my blog at philmckinney.com. If you haven't checked it out lately, I encourage you to hop over. You will notice that all of my writing is now merged onto the Ghost platform that hosts the blog, making it easier for everyone to find the archive of my articles going back to 1996. To get back in front of the microphone, I've been meeting with vocal cord experts, including those specializing in performers and audio professionals. We looked at various options to determine what it would take to get my voice back to its pre-surgery level. The most important was letting the vocal cords rest. In addition, the specialists changed my diet to reduce the acid reflux, which has been scaring the vocal cords. Who knew? Now for some exciting news. I've been cleared to experiment with recording new shows to see how my vocal cords hold up. Andrew, our associate producer, has been investigating and testing AI tools that can be trained on my past shows, taking the scripts I write and recording the audio for me. This will allow us to deliver original content without over-stressing my vocal cords. In fact, the introduction you heard today was an actual recording of me from my mobile studio built into my bus parked in Port Angeles, Washington. This main segment you are listening to was recorded using one of the AI tools. Like my challenge to you, the podcast team needs to innovate, even in how we produce the show. What do you think? As for my health, I'm doing great. I've lost 35 pounds—though I wouldn't recommend bypass surgery as a weight loss program. My focus now is on my cardiac rehab and rebuilding my strength and stamina. This summer, I'm working from my bus parked in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, walking on the beach to get my steps in, and loving my Starlink broadband! Regarding the show, our team is working hard to rebuild the queue so we can release new original content on a more regular schedule. If we miss a few weeks, I apologize in advance. So, what is changing — and staying the same with the show? When the show was launched in 2005, the goal was to explore creativity, design, and innovation. Over the years, this podcast has grown to include a mix of interviews, solo episodes, and occasional co-hosts. This focus and format will not change, but the technology behind producing this show will continue to evolve. So, who are our listeners? Well, Killer Innovations attracts a broad spectrum of people. From tech aficionados to aspiring entrepreneurs,

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

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

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

On this week’s Best of Killer Innovation Series, we analyze qualities that promote strong innovation leadership and will help any organization become a trailblazer in the game. What are the unique skill sets needed for innovation leadership?  We all have a list of what good leadership skills are but what are the unique ones you need to be a true innovation leader?  Today on Killer Innovations, I will discuss what I have found to be the skills needed for successful innovation leadership. Innovation Leadership Skills These leadership skills apply to all organizations, whether you are a small organization or a large organization. * Integrity * You need to trust the people you are working with. * You need to know they are looking out for what is in the best interests of the team and organization. * Vision and Strategy. * Team members are looking to the leaders to communicate what the vision and strategy are. * You need to look long-range beyond where the team is and roll that back in so they can see what your vision is. * You need to be able to tell the story, make the pitch, and share your dream with others. * Communication is critical to successful innovation leadership, * If you are going to be a leader, you need to be able to interact and build relationships and truly have an interest in other people’s lives. * Know what is going on in your team members’ lives so you can help them eliminate distractions and get their heads in the game. * You have got to persuade people to leave what they are doing now and join your team. * You must be able to convince them that what are doing is something worth their time. * Adaptability and Flexibility. * As a leader you cannot be rigid, you must be adaptable and flexible with your team and organization. * Can you operate as a leader of a team? * You need diversity in your team to be successful. * Coach and develop. * Find young and upcoming people and coach and develop them. * Decision-Making. * You must be comfortable making the final decision. * Realize that sometimes the decision you make is going to fail. * Planning and organizing. * If you are not good at planning and organizing, then hire people to do it for your team. Basic Skill You Need These are the basic skills you need to be a successful innovation leader.  So, what skills do you need to do differently to truly be an innovation leader? * Innovation leadership involves taking risks. * You must be comfortable that some of the decisions you make are going to fail. * Some of your decisions are going to be flipped. * You need to keep looking for new opportunities and threats. * Look for threats to your organization, industry, or geography. * Innovation is about change. * Stability is the death of innovation. * Foster a culture where change is expected. * Do not rest on the traditional management techniques. * Every situation is different. * You need to invent the way you manage and do leadership. * Be an optimist. * Innovation is about being an optimist. * You need to convince and convey an optimistic view of the future. * Innovators cut through the crap.

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

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

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

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations series, we look at one manufacturer's innovative use of resources. This company's story is a testament to how innovation can unexpectedly occur anywhere, with any resource, and at any moment. Innovations' ubiquitous nature is evident in every corner of our rapidly evolving world. We firmly believe in the limitless potential of innovation, as anyone can ignite it, and it can ignite in any realm imaginable. Silicon Valley and other recognized innovation hubs do not have a lock on innovation or a secret sauce that cannot be modeled or improved upon.  It takes a willingness to put aside time, use your resources, explore the unknown, and expand your creativity (we all have it) beyond where you are today to see the non-obvious.  When you do, you will be like our Kentucky guests, revolutionizing in a non-traditional innovation hub and creating a non-high-tech innovation. As part of our Innovation Across America tours, we ventured across the country in our new mobile studio to Paducah, Kentucky. During the tour, we actively sought individuals pushing the boundaries and innovating “Beyond the Obvious.” In our show this week, we had the opportunity to interview the founders of Fin Gourmet Foods.  Started in 2010, Fin Gourmet is a Kentucky Proud Producer™ of wild-caught Asian Carp products.  So why Asian Carp? It has the highest source of healthy, clean protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, on par with wild-caught salmon.  Nowhere else in the world but the USA are Asian Carp wild-caught, and those from western KY are of the best quality. But more importantly, this innovation story is unique.  Fin's mission and vision are that the Asian Carp provide economic opportunities for communities, fostering job creation and revitalizing the inland fishing industry. Defining and Tackling a Problem Statement The team at Fin Gourmet defined the problems and challenges they encountered and engaged in disruptive ideation.  As an integral part of their innovation process, they considered some basic assumptions of innovation to create value, including: * Turn other people's trash into a product:Fin took the Asian Carp, an invasive species taking over the Mississippi and Ohio river systems, and he innovated a way to turn it into an excellent food source. * Give opportunities to people overlooked:In addition to locating in a rural part of the country, Fin works with local halfway houses to offer jobs to former prison inmates and others down on their luck.  Training, teaching, and building a culture that values and leverages the abilities of all. * Breathe life back into an industry overlooked by others: Fin pays a premium price for what many consider “trash” to help local independent fishing families to transition to this new species of fish and the

Resuming our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we hone in on six categories of essential KPIs that will help you successfully predict and keep track of crucial details that will allow you to run your organization smoothly. This episode addresses questions from listeners on innovation KPIs.  After clocking 12,000 miles in the mobile Innovators Studio, I'm back in Colorado.  On the road, I talked with interesting innovators and analysts. Taking a break from interviews, I'd like to answer your questions on measuring innovation success. There are hundreds of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure innovation success. What are the right innovation KPIs to use?  What KPIs will give insight into the innovation process?   KPIs should be unique to your organization.  Think through what KPIs will measure and how that can guide innovations and your organization. KPI Building Blocks I've broken innovation KPIs into categories, like building blocks.  Build up the blocks to get a complete perspective on your innovation effort. Six categories for Innovation KPIs: Idea process /managing the idea funnel * What's done to get ideas, put them in a funnel, review, manage and analyze them? * Raw ideas * Raw ideas validated * Ideas prototyped * Age of ideas Idea commercialization * Innovation idea brought to market. * Innovations that became a product * Innovations that make a profit * Are early customers willing to pay a margin premium? * Innovations purchased * resources in the organization aligning to make the product a reality? Financial impact * Tough to measure – long lag from the time of investment to product launch in the market * Revenue from new innovations * Profit from innovations * Revenue protected by patents * Revenue from patent licensing Customer impact * Customer success compared from old products to new innovation * What has the latest product allowed customers to achieve? * How many customers have shifted to new ones? * Market share trend for innovation – grabbing from competitors? Organizational impact * New products/services have an impact * Can pull organization into the new category of focus * The ratio of sales from old versus new – sales ramping up for further/declining for old? * The ratio of profit from old versus new * Investments – Is investment shifting from old to new? * Rate of return on innovation investment * Has it driven brand awareness? Pure Innovation KPIs * Catch-all * Staff trained for innovation * Use of formal creativity tool * Implementation and use of Idea Management System * Structured problem-solving tools * Committed resources to innovation * Patents/year Guidance * Pick three to five essential KPIs from each category that work for your organization. * Ensure you can measure them.

Sometimes, life surprises us with moments of reflection. I remember vividly having a captivating conversation with a taxi driver. While stuck in traffic on my way to the airport after hosting a South by Southwest meet-up on neural diversity hiring, he curiously asked about the key to my success. His question inspired me to jot down my 7 rules to live by. Continuing with the Best of Killer Innovations, I share them with you in the hope that they'll assist you in achieving personal and professional triumphs. My 7 Rules to Live By Stay connected to the people who matter most. Keep in touch personally, not just electronically. Nurture deep relationships with loved ones. Listen more, talk less. Be genuinely interested in others, actively listen, and ask questions—end conversations by offering help. Make commitments you're genuinely committed to. Don't make false promises. If you can't deliver, be honest and find alternative solutions. Don't get caught up in credit. Credit will find its rightful owner. Embrace teamwork and acknowledge others' contributions. Acknowledge and encourage others. Success is a result of collective effort. Express gratitude and provide words of encouragement. Handle criticism with compassion. Pause before responding. Count to ten or wait a day. Choose compassion over rudeness. Seek advice before reacting. Set priorities based on the “5 Fs.” Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, and Finance. Filter demands based on these priorities. Now that you have my 7 rules to live by, create your own set to achieve personal and professional success. Before you start, let me just tell you one thing: success is personal, so your set of rules should be, too. Think about what matters to you, what principles guide you, what values you hold dear. Create a set of rules that aligns with them. And don't forget to make them actionable, measurable, and realistic. Remember, these rules to live by are not a one-time thing. They're a continuous practice that helps you grow, learn, and become a better version of yourself. To learn more about rules to live by, listen to this week's show: The Best of Killer Innovations: 7 Rules to Live By.

Picking up with our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we delve deeper into the art of making ideas reality by following a proper execution plan. In this episode, we wrap up a series of shows we did on the innovation framework known as FIRE. We will discuss the part of the innovation framework known as execution. Execution is composed of making your best ideas into something tangible. Execution I have used the FIRE (Focus, Ideation, Ranking, Execution) framework for over 20 years, and thousands of organizations use it. * Focus is defining where your problem area is. * Ideation is the process of creating ideas to address your problem areas. The process consists of individual and team ideation, which, when combined, generates 30% more ideas than when done individually. * Ranking is where you prioritize your ideas. This process is through dot/wow voting and criteria ranking. * Execution, the last element of the FIRE framework, is how one turns ideas into innovation—done through two phases: testing and validation and launching the MVP (Minimum viable product). Execution is not easy. 92% of CEOs say innovation is critical to their organization, but only 35% have confidence in executing these ideas. What to Expect In my opinion, innovation consists of ideas made real. I constantly repeat one quote: “Ideas without execution are a hobby, and I'm not in the hobby business.” At this point, you've ranked your ideas, but need to figure out how to make these ideas a real innovation. Going into this, you won't know all of the answers. Expect a very messy process because there might not be a clear path from point A to point B. It would help if you were adaptable and ready to learn things. It would be best if you innovated around the idea frequently. Be okay with an unexpected outcome, as the process is an experiment. Innovation projects have to be measured differently than a typical product development project. One of the measurements of success is learning throughout the process. Stay away from innovation antibodies. Innovation causes conflict, prompting these antibodies to come out. These include ego response (stepping on someone's toes), fatigue (people who have tried and failed at it before), no risk response (CFO or legal counsel), and comfort response (we don't need to change). Steps of Execution The first step to making an idea real is creating the pitch. The pitch is your way of telling the story around your idea, also known as strategic storytelling. The key is to tell your idea's story so that others see what life will be like when your idea is delivered. The second step is to create the funnel. There are four funnel gates: market validation, customer validation, limited launch, and global launch. The key here is to convey that not all ideas will go forward. * Market validation is where you ask if the problem exists. One way to do this is through gorilla idea validation. Talk to people you don't know to get brutally honest feedback rather than people you know who might tell you what you want to hear. * Customer validation is where you see if your idea solves the customer's problem. I use the Michelle test. I would take a product we built at HP, bring it home, and leave it on the counter for my wife. She would take it out of the box and use it, giving it her honest evaluation. Because my wife is not a technology person, I would receive some solid feedback from a different perspective.

Returning to our Best of Killer Innovations series, we kick this week off with a look back at vital innovation skills. This foundation can help beginner and seasoned innovators stay ahead in an evolving world. What innovation skills are needed to create new ideas and products successfully? Many people often find themselves void of creativity in the innovation world. This stems from a deeper issue. We dive into more detail to discover what innovation skills separate those with limited success from those with continual success. The skill sets that can allow you to be successful no matter your organization type, size, or geographical location all have the same foundational elements. Self-Confidence in Creativity The number one skill set I have discussed is self-confidence in your creativity. We were all born highly creative. From an early age, the education system drives creativity out of us. Grade school through college teach children conformity, instilling the belief that acting the same is crucial to relevance. Then, in our professional careers, we are expected to think differently, be more creative, and generate solutions despite sixteen or more years of being drilled in conformity. It's no myth that CEOs recruit creativity. Creativity drives innovation. It's a catalyst for growth in a business. If you are not exercising your creativity and unlocking its potential, you could become irrelevant because of conformity. Bravery Another essential skill set is bravery. The opposite of innovation bravery is conformity. You need to go out and apply your creativity. Share your thoughts and ideas. Take some risks. Try something you haven't done before. The fear and feeling of failure a detrimental mind block because it holds us back and kills our bravery. You have to get over the fear of failure to be brave. Step out, get permission, or permit to go, and fail. Go out, experiment, test the limits, break the norm, and be brave. Seeing with Fresh Eyes One vital skill set that gets harder to use as you get more experienced and set in your ways is your perspective. Seeing with fresh eyes and having a beginner's mind will guide you to develop breakout products and services. Don't let your area of expertise cloud your vision but come into every new project with an attitude of openness. Every year of experience in your area of expertise can enable you to become more and more closed off to different approaches or new opportunities if you are not careful. By adopting an open-minded approach, you can avoid getting caught up in a limiting cycle of repetitive groupthink. Ability to Craft & Ask Great Questions How does one get creative thoughts and ideas flowing? The answer is by asking questions. Questions hold great power. They get people thinking. There are simple ‘yes' or ‘no' questions, leading questions, and questions you craft to discover. The power of creating and collecting your questions is critical in the innovation world. It will help you develop new ideas and eliminate problems. Coming in as a new leader, I crafted four questions to gain a unique insight. Creating these questions is vital to deriving input from your team, vendors, partners, leaders, and potential beneficiaries of your idea. Continually developing different ways of asking a question can generate unique discoveries. For instance, if I ask you, “What is half of thirteen?” and you respond, “Six and a half,” I would give you an ‘A' on a math test, but in innovation, I would give you a ‘C.' Why? The reason is that you stopped at the first obvious answer. What if I craft the question slightly differently and ask how many ways you can convey half of thirteen? There are more ways than one, and how creative you can get would surprise you. To help, I've crafted a card deck that asks questions from ...

Resuming our Best of Killer Innovation series, we look at key ingredients to build innovation success for organizations. The Innovation Success Formula Innovation is about translating ideas into products, services, and solutions. Ideas without execution are a hobby.  Is your organization in the business of Innovation? This episode boils it down to a simple equation. Ideas + Innovation Culture = Innovation Success.  The process starts with ideas and the management of them.  But ideas won't develop and thrive without the right culture.  Core Attributes are about setting the basis for Innovation Culture.  When you set up a good system of gathering ideas and lay a foundation for an innovation culture, innovation success ensues. Creating Order from the Brainstorm of Ideas The process starts with ideas coming from many sources.  Then comes the question of how to manage your ideas.  How do you log, track and rank them?  Where are your ideas today in the innovation lifecycle?  What about all the brainstorming sessions over the last few years… could you quickly put your hand on the list of those ideas?  Ideas have value over time. The Idea Management System, Step By Step If you believe ideas are the economy's currency, you need to manage ideas as a valued asset for innovation success.  Treat ideas as valuable asset. What's needed in an idea management system? Idea capture and tracking * It is an easy way to put ideas in the system, track them over time, evaluate them, and link them to other ideas that could grow into something significant. * Done by people on the innovation team but also open to other people in the organization who can submit an idea easily – have one place to look for all assets Idea evaluation – some form of an idea evaluation tool that allows management to assess and look at ideas more closely * Does everyone in the organization look at it and vote * Use a ranking process like F-Focus, I-Ideation, R-Ranking, E-Execution * Crowdsource feedback The system must allow for Ad Hoc Team Collaboration * As people submit an idea, people can search the system to see if someone has a similar idea across the organization – can team up, combine efforts and areas of expertise * Social hub of Innovation within an organization * Get better ideas – cross-organizational efforts – collaborations that generate exciting ideas Supports whatever your organization's process is for Innovation * The tool needs to match today's and even tomorrow's process * Track ideas through the gating process your organization uses * Follows phases of Innovation used A lot of tools out there that force you to follow their process – be careful – you need a tool that follows your process. Needs to support pausing ideas * The difference between a good idea and a great idea is not about the idea.  It's about the timing. * Market, customer, organization, and government regulations are not ready for many reasons. * The key is you always need the ability to pause the idea – capture it so that you can pause and pull out an idea later when the timing is right Ability to issue challenges * Don't run an idea management system like an electronic suggestion box – ideas will become incremental * For breakthrough ideas, issue challenges: carefully worded questions, problems, and areas of interest put out to the general population...