Camping, Hiking, and an Inspirational Poem

Well, I thought I needed to write one more post before taking off on a short vacation..four days of camping with some very good friends. We will have a great time even if it rains - and it usually does rain.

It will also give me an opportunity to hike longer steeper hills. In less than a month my son and I will be heading to New Mexico for 10 days of hiking in the mountains. I've been training for about a week...hiking with a backpack on for over an hour per day.

I thought I'd leave you with a short poem that I discovered a few months ago.

I WILL DO MORE
I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And what I can do, I ought to do.
And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.
I will do more than belong...I will participate.
I will do more than care...I will help.
I will do more than believe...I will practice.
I will do more than be fair...I will be kind.
I will do more than dream...I will work.
I will do more than teach...I will inspire.
I will do more than earn...I will enrich.
I will do more than give...I will serve.
I will do more than live...I will grow.
I will do more than talk...I will act.

I will be more than good...I will be good for something.

-Anonymous

Michael T. Bauer

http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

Accidents and Innovation???

Did you have time to read the newest HBR Working Knowledge article. It's titled " The Accidental Innovator" and it highlights a recent paper authored by Robert Austin and Lee Devin. They explore the concept of accidental innovation. As you would suspect, many discoveries and inventions were connected to an accident of some type, such as breakage or spillage of something important. This unintended action led to some surprising outcomes.

The article includes examples of items that were developed in part as a result of an accident. They include: cellophane, cornflakes, dynamite, the ice cream soda, Ivory soap, NutraSweet, penicillin, photography, and the small pox vaccine. The list is larger...but this still gives you a great perspective.

In review, it seems that sometimes the unexpected (accidents) can lead to great outcomes, while other times highly controlled, scientific approaches are just as successful. Therefore, the process of developing new innovations is important to understand. If you strongly believe in a scientific process then you will design a discovery method based on that. However, if you believe that the unexpected can influence design, then you might want to build into your innovation process a way to create an "accident" and explore the outcomes.

Take a look at this facinating article when you have time.

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

Seven Ideas To Boost Innovation

Here's another seven ideas to help transform your organization into one that is more creative and innovative. This one comes from John Winsors blog...so be sure to check it out...it has some wonderful points and it's based on an interview with a CEO that is known for his creative thinking. The seven ideas are:

Focus On The Work
Be Honest
Remove Barriers
Develop a Broad Corporate Vision
Co-Create With Your Competitors
Spend Time With Your Teammates
Live Your Products

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

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