Making Innovation Work (and Designing an Exciting Life!)

Whether you are designing a new product or service, or  designing the ultimate life, designing something that is new, by definition, requires experimentation.

Understand the subsystems, get familiar with how things are behaving when you push the envelope.

Experiment in measured ways that enable you to correct and learn and not get discouraged if you don’t see the results you want.

Learning is key.

You want to build the body of knowledge about what it is you’re trying to innovate. That knowledge will help you take the next steps and inspire you to even greater things.

What if we know what works?

There is nothing wrong with tried and true- if that’s what you want.

But if you want to do something new, if you want to explore the edges of what is possible,  If you want to create an experience, a product, an inspiring life- Experimentation amd learning are key.

If you’d like to chat more about how you can take flight,  drop me a line.

Lessons on Innovation from Coffee Coca-Cola

I have to say, it’s not terrible.
😁
Is this coca-cola with mocha coffee great?

No, but it’s got a flavor in the world of coca cola that I’m sure will resonate with some.

It’s unique.

It’s a combo one wouldn’t expect, so kudos for the experiment.

It’s about adding complementary flavors to create a different experience of:

fizz+coffee+mocha+caffeine.

Would you put those four experiences together?

Maybe you should try.

Don’t be afraid to challenge assumptions, experiment and try to fly…

After all, innovation only flies on the wings of experiments.

What’s your Creativity Management Technique?

Whether you are building a business,  a team, or  working on yourself,  how are you approaching the use of expertise and talent?

Are you at the helm of a boat with a whip in your hand, forcing bodies and minds to struggle against the waves?  Are you leaving yourself and others exhausted and burning out and not living life?

Or do you see yourself  and others as amazing gifts to the world- People who have unique viewpoints and expertise?

Humans, and the systems they create, function the best when they can play from their strengths and have time for recuperation and rejuvenation.

People need rest, they need to be inspired, to feel wonder.

They need to play and be curious, feel they can make mistakes without negative repercussions.

People need to feel that someone has their back.

That’s the difference between nurturing greatness  in yourself and others, and strip mining your talent. Strip mining  may work for a while, but you won’t get your best results and eventually you use everything up and there’s nothing left.

Life needs nurturing!

You will do your best creative work, as will  others, when coming from a place of nurtured greatness!

Know that someone has your back…always…

If you’d like to chat more about this, leave a comment or drop me a message.

Design Inspiration from Dragonflies

Right angles don’t seem to be super common in nature. But then…
Check out the front edge of a dragonfly wing (above). Reinforced at right angles, where the forces are the greatest  and the greatest stiffness is required.
Not only that, while casually looking they seem flat, but when you look on edge, they’re not. Again, they’ve got peaks and valleys for reinforcement. (See below)

Contrast that to honey bee wings that have a different wing loading and flying technique.

In all cases, beautiful, elegant design. Stiff or flexible in appropriate places. Strong yet light.

The lesson?

In any system ask if we really understand what is happening, where. Learn. Be curious. Then design appropriately.

If you’d like to read more about the amazingly efficient design of dragonfly wings check out this paper

We All Have This Superpower-Claim it!

When each of us claims this superpower we become

unstoppable

A force

Of love

Goodness

A font

Of transformation

Waters

For all to drink

The Key to Better Human-Centered Design

Self-Empathy isn’t just important for personal well-being, it’s important because it allows you to view situations through a more transparent lens. If you’ve got issues with yourself, you could project those onto other people. (A great series of articles on self-empathy at Psychology Today )

Your best self is a clear thinking, creative self.  Self Empathy helps get you there.