Nine Rules Of Innovation

There was a facinating posting over at Innovation Tools Blog that highlighted Google's Nine Principles of Innovation. The discussion itself was based on an online video in which Marissa Meyer, VP at Google, defines the principles they work from. Consider your organization's rules of innovation...do they compare to those at Google. Here's their list, with additional comments from me:

1. Ideas come from everywhere
I couldn't agree more with this statement yet we seem to lock ourselves into patterns that suggest otherwise. We need to stay open to new ideas.

2. Cheer everything you can
We all strive for more when we are recognized. Be a great cheerleader for your team and watch them react positively.

3. You're brilliant, we're hiring
There are many brilliant individuals in the world, but we have to be wiling to look in all areas. I see to many organizations that have a very narrow view and miss out on exciting people with incredible potential.

4. A license to pursue dreams
My personal favorite on this list. Work for me and you have a license to pursue your dreams.

5. Innovation, not instant perfection
I use three words to describe my work...creativity, innovation, and transformation. Instant perfection isn't included.

6. Data is apolitical
Nothing more to say here.

7. Creativity loves constraints
I always need to know where the limits are...as long as they are appropriate limits.

8. It's users, not money
The customer comes first, then the profits. Employees also need to come before profits.

9. Don't kill projects, morph them
Do you want to see transformation in action. Then don't kill a project, let it grow into something worthwhile.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

A July 4th Parade...Time To Bring Out The Streamers

I went to our local July 4th Parade in Menomonee Falls, but here it
occurs on the evening of July 3rd. I consider myself a patriotic type of
person. I support the work of our troops...even had an opportunity to
work with them. And I love our Country. But I didn't enjoy this parade.
The first 15 minutes was focused on recognizing our Veterans...and
then it became one big advertising opportunity. The MF Optimist
Club sponsors the parade and they are a wonderful group. But this
parade had 14 politicians waving, saying hello, and handing out flyers.
There are a number of significant political races developing in
Wisconsin...Governor, Attorney General, Local District Attorney,
Local County Sheriff. But I didn't come to a parade to have contact
with politicians seeking office. I would have been fine if a couple local
leaders were involved, but there were too many "hopeful" candidates
and their teams trying to gain "my" vote. Then there were the
numerous entries that just mounted to a giant advertisement for
windows, dance companies, vacation bible school, and environmental
friendly "stuff." There weren't enough bands...where were the
bagpipe players, where were other things that could represent the
holiday. I remember the parade when I was maybe 12 years old...the
village had a bike decorating contest and my younger brother won a
prize. Everyone that had a decorated bike could ride in the parade.
And where were the flags...we use to have someone handing out
flags...yes it gets expensive...but it means something to hold onto the
American Flag during the parade. Maybe....I miss the parades when I
was younger...in rural Wisconsin...10-12 tractors were the normal
amount...followed by the tractor pull and a huge softball tournament.

Oh well...maybe next year we'll be more creative...and more
respectful of the holiday. Or maybe next year I will decorate my old
10 speed Schwinn with red, white, and blue streamers and ribbons
and enter the parade.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

Games Develop Creative Thinking Skills

It shocked me to read the other day that many school districts around the country are banning games during recess. The article in the USA Today stated that schools are banning touch football, soccer, dodgeball, and recently TAG. The concern...that children may get hurt playing games that aren't supervised as they would be in a physical education class. I wonder if there are bans on musical chairs or duck duck goose? How about the monkey bars that I climbed on when I was a kid...even sprained an ankle one time...I suppose they aren't allowed. Maybe we should just tell children that they can't play...only study. My question is what happend to allowing kids to just play. Sure, sometimes they get bruises or maybe a cut, but there are too many benefits. Play leads to creativity, to socialization, to problem solving. In the long run...this is not a wise decision.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com

Creative and Fun Advertising

I love finding creative advertising. Take a look at this advertising for Bloom, a bakery retailer. Now if only we could harness some of that creativity for other aspects of business development.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com

My Prayer's Go Out to Sedona

Hey...this is my first day back from a week's vacation in Sedona, Arizona. Fantastic trip...but also a very sad trip. If you've been watching the news...you may have heard about the brush fire in the hills above Sedona...Brin's Fire. It started on the first full day in Sedona...and never stopped. Sometimes we could smell the smoke late at night or early in the morning...and most nights we could see fire burning high above. The last count I heard was roughly 700 firemen and women were there to fight this one...and numerous helicopters and airplanes. Even a couple teams of Hot Shots were there...they are the experts at putting out wilderness fires. I talked to quite a few people that were evacuated and scared that they would lose their homes. It's hard to imagine fires of this size, especially if you live in Wisconsin where we get lots of rain and snow. We have our own potential problems such as tornados and floods...but it's rare for us to have a serious fire. When we left Arizona, there were five or six of them...including a larger one on the north side of the Grand Canyon.

And so it went...that I spent my week playing...flying in a balloon over the state park, riding in a train through the red rock valleys, bouncing in a hummer that took me deep into areas I wouldn't have ever seen, taking a trip to one of the seven wonders of the world...the Grand Canyon, shopping, eating great Mexican food, and having my daily afternoon swim.

And yet the fire continued to burn.

So, I would like to say to the people of Sedona area and to all the firefighters involved...that my prayers are that all of you remain safe and that the fire is brought under control in a very short time.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com