Monthly Archives: February 2009
I saw this Conan O’Brien interview with Louis CK a while back, and it is hilarious.I came across it again today and I thought I would post it on my blog because it is also something worth pondering at a deeper level. We too often take the innovations in our lives for granted, but if we reclaim that sense of wonder, we are actually more likely to create new innovations, not less.The 20th and 21st century have been times of amazing innovation, that has quickened in pace and changed our lives for the better, forever. It is definitely worth the time investment. Check it out:Everything's amazing, Nobody's happyWhat do you think?How can you make the world even more amazing (even in a small way)?@innovate
I received some additonal notes from Hallie Middlebrooks of UTEK Corporation from the Gary Hamel “Innovation in Tough Times” webinar on February 17.After cleaning up what I got, it is my pleasure to present these additional questions and answers from both Tim Jones, Ph.D., and Regina Lewis, Ph.D., below.Q: In the Economist a couple of issues back, it was suggested that companies are pulling back from innovation and re-focusing on the bottom line and conserving cash. Are you seeing this in companies you consult with?TJ: Yes in some areas but not in others. It differs both by market and my management stance: we are seeing steel companies proactively invest for the future even when laying-off staff and seeing FMCG companies cutting budgets at the same time as having highest profits ever Q: How can FMCPGs take advantage of people tracking technologies – or will it only be for the …
“Inside Project Red Stripe – Incubating Innovation and Teamwork at the Economist”by Andrew CareyPublished by Triarchy PressI’ve been reading the innovation tome “Inside Project Red Stripe” off and on for some time now and I must say that it is unlike any other book on innovation that I have read to date. Instead of espousing a single innovation theory and taking 300 pages to do so, the book attempts to provide a neutral, anthropological look behind-the-scenes into the journey of Project Red Stripe.Project Red Stripe was the code name for a discreet innovation effort at The Economist that brought together six team members for six months to research, select, and develop an internet-related innovation project for The Economist on a budget of £100,000. The project’s aspiration was to deliver the organization’s next big thing.I found the book to be very well-written, interesting, and definitely worth the read if you are … Continue reading
Here is another very interesting video from Juan Enriquez, futurist, speaking at TED 18 months ago. The topic of this one is agriculture and energy, and whether or not we can approach hydrocarbons with biology instead of brute force in the same way that we have innovated in agriculture over the years, and as a result drive efficiency.Check it out: What do you think?@innovate
Here is an interesting video of Juan Enriquez, Futurist, speaking about some of the startling things he sees in our future as innovations in robotics and the life sciences collide with our country’s current financial situation.Will our current innovation trajectory create a new hominid species capable of controlling its own evolution?Check it out: What do you think?@innovate
For those of you not yet familiar, Twitter is the online service that allows people to share news, insights, or their lives 140 characters at a time. My Twitter handle is @innovate if anyone wants to follow me. I typically share my thoughts on innovation and marketing, along with links to articles on these topics.Here is an interesting video of Evan Williams, Co-founder of Twitter, speaking about some of the startling things he’s learned from users, and the way they’ve driven his business forward. It’s well worth the time investment.Check it out: What do you think?@innovate
