Innovation is about not being small

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness which frightens us.

We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be so beautiful, talented, gorgeous, fabulous?" Actually, who are we NOT to be?

You are Child of God.

Your playing small does't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. This is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

Nelson Mandela 1997

21 Beautiful Questions for the newbi and the (Oldbi) Entrepreneur

My 21 beautiful questions for any new ( or old ) business to ask itself.... and should keep asking daily

1. How can you charge a premium price so you have a large margin to provide an extraordinary value and experience?

2. What is the ‘Reason Why’ customers should do business with you and pay you a premium.

3. What rules do we want to make the rules for your business and how can you prevent industry norms dictate how you’ll work or who you’ll work with.

4. How can you create your business around your life instead of settling for your life around your business?

5. How can we constantly force ourselves to focus on the ‘critically few’ proactive activities that produce exponential results. And prevent getting get caught up in minutiae and bullshit?

6. How can we minimise start-up risk but have maximum upside potential?

7.How can you get your idea out there as fast as possible even if it’s not quite ready by setting must-hit deadlines. Let the market tell you if you have a winner or not. If not – move on and fail forward fast! If it’s got potential – then you can make it better.

8. How can you find partners and team members who are strong where you are weak and appreciate being paid on results?

9. How can you avoid ever get paid based on hours worked.

10. How can you leverage your marketing activities exponentially by using direct response methods and testing?

11. How can you measure and track your marketing so you know what’s working and what’s not?

12. How best to Bootstrap? Having too much capital leads to incredible waste and doing things using conventional means.

13.Keep asking the right questions to come up with innovative solutions. “How?”, “What?”, “Where?”, “Who Else?” and “Why?” to open up possibilities. How can you get the headspace to realise that you will never have a perfect business and you’ll never be totally “done”? Deal with it.

14.How can you focus most of our time on your core strengths and less time working in areas you suck at?

15. How can you make it easier for customers to buy by taking away the risk of the transaction by guaranteeing what you do in a meaningful way?

16.How can you have something else to sell (via upsell, cross-sell, follow-up offer, etc) whenever a transaction takes place? The hottest buyer in the world is one who just gave you money.

17.How can you fire your most annoying customers? They’ll be replaced with the right ones.

18.How can you prevent the market from beating you down into being just a commodity? And how can you develop and build your business’s personality so that it that stands out. People want to buy from people.

19.How can you create your own category so you can first in the consumer’s mind?

20.What is the opposite direction competitors are headed – how can you go there? You’ll stand out.

21. How can we do the unexpected before and after anything goes wrong so customers are compelled to ‘share your story’?

Beautiful Questions for Innovation NO 98

Beautiful Questions 98


What do I not want to do? What do I want to avoid doing?

Ask these questions rather than "What do I want to do? " or "What do I want this product, service or process to do?"

Waking up your Creativity Mojo

To Julia, who reminded me...

Creativity IS the best therapy. Tell your therapist that you won’t be coming in today. Next time you feel anxious, sick, frustrated (insert negative emotion here), don’t TAKE something,– go MAKE something. Anything. Doesn’t matter what. Bake a cake, make a snowman, blow upa balloon and paint a face on it. When you channel your energy into the creative process and enter into flow state, you’ll forget all about that feeling of hanging on the edge.

Try it. Every single day, spend at least fifteen minutes making something out of nothing. I absolutely guarantee you will feel better. And if you don’t, draw a picture of how stupid I am, then send it to me. What are you turning your problems into?

Wisdom without distribution is selfish and soul-less. What you scatter is more important than what you gather. And hording wisdom without circulation is a dangerous act of selfishness. Now, that doesn’t mean you need to publish or share every single thought you’ve ever had.

But if you’re debating whether or not to tell the world, ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I distribute this idea?” Odds are, the answer won’t be as detrimental as you think. Are you being selfish with your exeriences?

Brainstorming sucks,… mostly. You don’t need another meeting. You don’t need another conference call. And you don’t need to spend another afternoon talking the life out of your idea. You need to take massive action. Today.

Otherwise you’ll get hooked on the addictive power of brainstorming – when what you REALLY need is to slide down hill in the plastic sack of execution. That is what is truly exhilarating

Creativity without innovation is useless.Sure, creativity is fun and cool and healthy for the soul, but there comes a point when you need to stop thinking and start executing.

Because there’s a HUGE distinction between creativity and innovation: One is a state of being – the other is a practice of doing. Both are essential, but neither can sustain you alone. Are you an “idea guy” or an “execution girl”?

Inspiration isn’t a Pow thing.If you sit around waiting for inspiration, the only thing that will ever come to you is lower back pain. That’s not the way creativity works. You can’t force inspiration.

You can only live your life in a conscious, creative and adventurous way – listen carefully to everything that happens to you through the filter of your Theory of the Universe – and then render what wants to be written or accomplished in a disciplined, structured way.

You’ll soon discover that reckless brain engagement truly is the best idea-generator. And you’ll never have a creative block again. When was the last time you made the choice to be inspired?

Lack of discipline dulls the blade of creativity. Inspiration is overrated. If you want to make Idea Lightning strike, you need to make yourself into an earthing rod. The best way of doing this for doing so is to cultivate creative discipline. To make yourself sit down at the workbench at the same time, every day, ready to create.

As a writer, I call this being “due at the page.” That way, every morning at 7AM when I sit down to work, lightning strikes. Because everything yields to diligence. What is about to hit yo uin the face if you let it?

Pic of the week

When all the world around you seems to be crumbling, it's nice to see an eternal optimist.

Idea filter tool

OK, you have a room full of post it notes, , a blizzard of flip charts, a list of product or service  ideas. You have brainstormed until your  grey matter is dry and wrung out like a window washers rag. 

How do you know which idea  is going to work and is worth pursuing?

If you can't answer yes to any of these three questions the answer is simple, bin it. Somewhere where you can find it later though - The present may just not be ready for it yet.

Here you go.

1. Does this idea fundamentally change the value chain of the client. Are they getting something that they would perceive as having added value?

2. Will this idea fundamentally change the expectations of the customers.

3. Will this  change the competitive landscape of the industry.

If you answer YES to any of these then move on to two more questions ..

4. Will you be making a contribution

3. Can you make money from this idea?

If the answer is Yes to the last two then congratulations.  You have an idea that stands some chance of success.

That was the easy part. Next comes the hard part. Innovation. How you get that idea out there.

This is a tough time for people who don’t like change.

Which is the most successful company in your sector? Depends what you mean by success of course. The chances are it’s the one that applies imagination and creativity to meet their customer needs.

Who is the most valuable person in your business?
It’s the girl or guy who actively think, and then helps others to think and provide solutions. Sometimes referred to as the mavericks, rebels, oddballs - they probably have a surfboard strung up over their desk. Sweeping stereotype there but my apologies. I just liked the image in my head.

And who is the happiest person you know? Again what do we mean by happy? I'd venture that it is the one person you know who has found the point where their passions and talents meet.

What do all the three have in common? Well apart from feeling very proud of themselves, and so they should, you could say that each has found a way to plug into and use their creative power within themselves.

But, before we go on, let me tell you what creativity isn’t.

The word creativity has been hijacked somewhere along the line. Its use now is as a catchall, encompassing word, sometimes applied in a slightly derogatory way especially when used by those who ‘don’t get it’ to describe the slightly bohemian, hippyfied amongst us or those people who march to a different drum - It is used as both and adjective and a verb those that write paint, play, dance, sculpt, do stuff with their hands, generally hang around at Hobbycraft. It is often accompanied by a slight shaking of an exasperated head. We have a guy in Barnsley who wears shorts, knee high scarlet socks and matching bobble hat every day of the year; He is just brilliant and you can see him marching proudly around our shopping centre almost everyday in any weather. Is he creative or just weird? Bit of both really

So here is my view; It's so much broader than that - you just can't describe just how broad an impact it has made and will continue to make in our World.

Creativity is what happens when imagination has focus; innovation is what happens when creativity has a bottom line; enterprise is what happens when innovation meets ability, entreprenurship is what happens when all the aforementioned are put on the same cart and passion becomes the fuel.

And, if you ask most entrapraneurs, which is what I do a lot in my innovator workshops ; after they get over the shock of realising that they can actually make money from something they love most will say that it’s the fulfillment of creating something from nothing that makes them warm and fuzzy. And then it’s a compulsion to do it again and again. They like the money too, obviously. Now that is creativity. OK it’s a bit of simple analysis I grant you but at least it gets you thinking. And lets me move on a bit.

To this bit actually - There are roughly 6000 languages spoken in the World, ( although we have just lost Manx apparently) These weren’t dreamt up spontaneously by the dictionary compilers or an infinite number of blindfold monkeys with typewriters but by humanity's inherent ability to create. There is a glorious bloke down my road who has some fantastic flower beds. Bob at Number 48 is linked directly, in so many ways both genetically (Obviously as I now know from the current avalanche of of books articles and programmes on the subject) and spiritually, to another eminent biologist and current media flavour of the year, Charles Darwin - Why does it take an anniversary to remind us just how blooming remarkable people are. Each, in their own way, required a certain spark to illuminate, the ability to look at things in a different way, to see a new pattern.

But I am digressing slightly. Why is creativity or innovation so vital and especially now in our current economic and social conditions? Well some would say the current situation is largely the result of 'karaoke' thinking in the banking industry, an exercise in bandwagon riding over the edge of a cliff as it happens and innovation impotence. The old ways, methods and rule books are having to be torn up. The impact and success of companies will now depend on as much as the ethical way they do business, their CSR programmes and how they manage their customer relationships to establish trust and credibility as much as the value of product or service they market. Innovation and different thinking has never been so keenly needed to be enabled universally, not just by individuals but by every public and private organisation.

Innovative companies attract innovative thinkers which contributes to them becoming more innovative and attracts the….so the cycle goes on. What are you doing to day to address the innovation gap?

You may like to reflect on this. ‘Creativity can be applied to any aspect of human endeavor and enterprise’. Well there is brassy and bold statement. Certainly it can be used to improve or change a process, or a product, or a service, or to improve a relationship.

For what its worth I beleive that anyone can be creative. the label 'creativity' applies to just any progressive thinking. The creative superstar starts to think where the others stop. They break out of pattern, they zig while the others zag. You both get there in the end but they go a different route. By doing so they uniquely separate themselves out from the rest. And, curiously they appear to have a hell of a lot more fun and fulfillment than the zaggers in doing so. The happiest person you know? Maybe, probably.

The really good news, and this is really, really good news, is that anyone and any organisation can learn to harness creativity in all its manifestations. Its not hard. Learning to unleash your creativity is like learning to play golf. We can all swing a club and hit a ball ( except my mum) but that every so often anyone can connect and hit that one beautiful shot. It is the promise of repeating that shot that keeps us coming back for more. Everyone has that in them, the possibility to hit a hole-in-one but…. not all of us can be Tiger Woods. Creativity requires practice and the more you practice the better you get. But somebody has to show you how to do it right to start off or help you so you can experience that feeling of the sweet sound of connection and power as the ball flies into the sky often as possible.

Alternatively you and your colleagues can be (un)happy with your lot,and sit feeling sorry for yourself, quietly fermenting in the culture of mediocrity. Conformity and risk aversion has come home to roost and he is a big, big turkey with a bad attitude.

If you were to ask me, and I hope you are, embracing creativity and innovation, at its fundamental core, is the recognition of the fact that that we don’t know everything but it’s really fun trying to. Well that’s the answer I would give today, but I’m not sure about tomorrow. None of us are. That is the point. But what I am sure of is that the only people who will lead us out of this mess are those that can truly embrace change, and apply their creativity muscles.

Darwin was right on so many levels. We have before our own eyes proof that it is not the Survival of the Fattest. It is those that can adapt most quickly to opportunities that survive and flourish. And we have a tool that surpasses every other leaping, flying, jumping, seeing, skill. Our minds. An incredible tool that can visualise a Billion futures and a Billion solutions. We had better start learning how to use them again.

Questions about questions

Types of Questions and Why They Work


Asking The Beautiful Question is essential to creativity. Ask the right question and people will move into different places in their head and help them to see the same landscape but with new eyes.

In innovation and creativity there are a whole slew of questions based around the principles of TRIZ that I use to enable people with the opportunity to shift their preconceived ideas. But even at its most basic level a brainstorming session will only be productive if the questions the participants are asked to throw their energies into are refined enough paradoxically to open up the horizons. Creativity loves constraint.

Questions and what to ask when are essential in any communication, building engagement, rapport and trust. We don't ask enough or use their power to anything like their full potential

So here is a whistle stop tour of some questions I use, how and why they work.

1. Are you saying…?
Identifies someone’s language patterns.

2. Are you willing to…?
Tests someone’s limits.

3. Can you give me…?
Encourages examples and specifics.

4. Can you remember…?
Taps into someone’s memory.

5. Did you ask…?
Questions someone’s questions.

6. Have you considered…?
Non-threatening proposal of options.

7. Have you given any thought to…?
Suggestive, yet doesn’t sound like advice.

8. Have you thought about…?
Forces someone to think!

9. How are you constantly…?
Promotes consistency of action.

10. How are you creating…?
Proves that someone has a choice.

11. How can you become…?
Future oriented, motivational.

12. How can you make…?
Enlists someone’s creativity.

13. How could you have…?
Focused on past performance improvement.

14. How do you feel…?
Feelings are good.

15. How do you measure…?
Clarifies and specifies someone’s statement.

16. How do you plan to…?
Future oriented, process oriented, action oriented.

17. How do you want…?
Visualises ideal conditions.

18. How does this relate to…?
Keeps someone on point, uncovers connections between things.

19. How else could this be…?
Encourages open, option-oriented and leverage-based thinking.

20. How long will it take to…?
Clarifies time specifics.

21. How many different ways…?
Enlists someone’s creativity, explores various options.

22. How many people…?
Clarifies and specifies.

23. How might you…?
All about potential and possibility.

24. How much energy…?
Identifies patterns of energy investment.

25. How much money…?
Identifies patterns of financial investment.

26. How much time each day…?
Identifies patterns of (daily) time investment.

27. How much time…?
Identifies patterns of energy investment.

28. How often do you…?
Gets an idea of someone’s frequency.

29. How well do you…?
Uncovers abilities.

30. How will you know when/if…?
Predicts outcomes of ideal situations.

31. If you could change…?
Visualizes improvement.

32. If you had to…?
Possibility thinking.

33. If you showed your…?
Imagining what others would say.

34. If you stopped…?
Cause-effect question.

35. If you were…?
Ideal situation.

36. In what areas…?
Searching for multiple answers.

37. Is anybody going to…?
Deciding if something even matters.

38. Is there any other…?
Challenges someone to find ONE more answer.

39. Is there anything else…?
Yep, there probably is. Answers are rarely absolute.

40. Is your idea…?
Forces someone to think objectively.

41. On a scale from 1 to 10…?
Putting a number to an emotion clarifies it.

42. What are some of the…?
Encourages list making.

43. What are the biggest mistakes…?
Negative based for preventative measures.

44. What are the keys to…?
Searching for best practices.

45. What are the patterns of…?
Uncovering commonalities.

46. What are the things that…?
Because there’s probably more than one answer.

47. What are the ways…?
Freedom (not) to resign to one solution.

48. What are you currently...?
Assesses present situations.

49. What are you doing that…?
Assesses present actions.

50. What are you willing to…?
Explores limits.

51. What can I do to…?
Demonstrates a desire to serve.

52. What can WE do to…?
Partnership-oriented.

53. What can you do right now…?
Focuses on immediate action being taken.

54. What can you do today…?
Focuses on daily action being taken.

55. What causes your…?
Uncovering true motives without the dreaded, "Why?"

56. What challenges are…?
Identifies barriers.

57. What did you learn…?
Because people don’t care what you know; only what you learned.

58. What do you need to…?
Needs assessment.

59. What does that tell you about…?
Encourages someone to figure out the answer individually.

60. What else can you…?
Because there’s always options.

61. What evidence…?
Because specificity is persuasion.